Barefoot Trim

• How do horses in the wild manage without intervention by a farrier? (or veterinary care)
• Why do our domesticated horses only live on the average of 15 to 18 years (often much less), while the wild horses average life span is 30 to even 40 years?
• Why is it that a wild horse doesn't suffer as often from founder or navicular, yet our domestic horses often do?

Do you want to learn How to Trim? This High Performance Barefoot Trimming by Sarah Bell is a detailed ebook on how to take your horse barefoot. It explains the basics on how to trim your horse’s hooves so you will be able to ride your horse in all disciplines but still keep them barefoot.

For more information on how to prevent Laminitis & Founder Click here

These and many more questions were the basis of Pete Ramey, Jaime Jackson and Dr. Hiltrud Strasser’s (and others) research that now spans more that 25 years. They discovered that environmental and dietary differences of the wild horse vs. the domestic horse had a tremendous impact on the health of the horse. Since many horses were being put down due to lameness alone, they were determined to find out why.

Thanks to their invaluable research we now have the means to help rectify founder, laminitis and navicular issues using barefoot trimming methods. That’s right we can help these once thought of death sentences for horses. Too good to be true you ask? Not anymore!

The discoveries in traditional farrier methods vs. the wild mustang’s hoof care resulted in having to revisit our trimming procedures. Looking back in history and wondering why we put shoes on our horse’s hooves, it was further noted that we have been continuing a procedure purely based on tradition not the awareness and technology we now have available to us. In addition, with all the research now being done on nutrition alone we have better answers at our disposal.

This is not new information, in fact a veterinarian named Bracey Clark first published in 1831 an essay summing up decades of scientific study of horses hooves and the ill effects of shoeing had upon them. One of his earlier studies chronicles how the shod hoof grows continually smaller over time (becomes contracted) resulting in deformity and often lameness.

Dr. Hiltrud Strasser’s books, “A Lifetime of Soundness”, “Who’s Afraid of Founder?” and “Shoeing a Necessary Evil” , demonstrate these and many other scientific findings.

The importance of lifestyle with the barefoot trim!

When we look at the structure of life for a horse in a herd we find the basis of their survival. They are highly sociable creatures not loners, they enjoy open space not small confinements, they do not attach metal to their hooves and they do not search for blankets to cover them. So why then do we do this to them?

We are the creatures that put on a blanket/jacket for protection, seek shelter (we are after all cave dwellers), and put shoes on our feet for comfort and protection. It is time for us to rethink that what we may be doing to our horses isn’t in their best interest, it is likely only ours.

It is more concerning and dangerous for a horse to become over heated rather than being cold.

Our goal then is to provide the most natural environment for our horses as possible, while in a domestic situation. We can never replace mother nature in it’s purest form but we sure can improve many practices that we have become accustom to. See our page on Natural Boarding.

Here at Horses by Nature we have found Pete Ramey’s barefoot trimming methods the most logical and beneficial. Since implementing, we have seen only improved health and well being. And No, we will never nail a shoe to our horse’s hooves again!

If you are concerned with iron free riding on rough terrain, worry no more, there are many options available in hoof boots that can help you with this transition. Click here to visit the All Natural Horse Care website to compare the wide range of boots available.

The other major ingredient to accomplish natural hoof care is dietary needs. Today we see incredible numbers of horses suffering from chronic founder and diagnosed with the disease's that mirrors a diabetic (Insulin Resistance and Cushings disease). The number one cause is usually high sugar diets that come from two major sources. One is rich green grass, the other is our sugar high grains (often with added molasses based for palatability they say!). Please visit Safer Grass.org and Dr. Kellon to learn more.

Getting back to basics is the best and only option. Consult with your local equine nutritionist to be sure you address your horse’s specific needs. Age, breed and movement all play important and vital roles.

Here are the most common talked about parts of a hoof: