Barefoot Trimming

​My journey into barefoot trimming started because of my OTTB, TJ, who had the typical thin cracking walls, could not hold a shoe for over 5 weeks, long toes, low heels, thin soles... just bad feet. 
Barefoot trimming is not just about the horse's hoof, it's about proper nutrition, balanced trims on a 4-6 week schedule, movement and a healthy hoof environment.   

       

Rock crunching trail hooves. This owner takes her mare on trails in WA., rarely needing to use

her Easyboots. She has her horses on a balanced nutrition program, good environment and

lots of exercise. 

     

April 2006 I attended a Pete Ramey barefoot clinic in Jacksonville, Oregon.  I had already been

studying Pete's web page and book and attending this clinic was another educational step in my

journey.  

Below, paint mare left front hoof in shoes, and after shoe removal and barefoot trim.

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Below, same paint mare, left hind hoof in shoes, and three months later. This horse was unsound with a hip problem because of her unbalanced hooves. In the first photo you can see the bull nose on the dorsal (front) wall, and her very under run heel. The bull nose hoof often has a negative coffin bone angle. The farrier was trying to "grow heel" and heels wont grow up they grow forward when then are too long. This horse is now sound and continuing to grow in strong healthy hooves.  Her owner uses Easyboot Gloves on her front hooves as needed and rides her regularly. She has her on a balanced diet using California Trace minerals.

Below, QH gelding, four month comparisons. His radiographs showed side bone, ring bone, had severe thrush (weekly white lightening soaks and a balanced diet, with daily non caustic treatments (blue kote, ACV) got rid of the thrush) and it looks like an old fence injury.  He is sound and now ridden on the trails of Idaho in his Easyboots. 

 

I started trimming for clients in October 2006. Going barefoot is a team effort, its not just the trim, it encompasses the horses environment, mineral balanced diet, filtered water (if high in iron/manganese) lots of movement and correct trimming every 4-6 (max) weeks. The use of hoof boots, the modern day shoe, is also part of going barefoot, they offer protection when transitioning to barefoot, transitioning from season to season and riding on rocky terrain. Horses hooves reflect their environment. In Wa., the ground is soft and wet in winter/spring, hard and rocky summer and fall. Our horses hooves also reflect this, especially if they are in a muddy paddock, they change to reflect their living conditions. We can help them be more comfortable if we provide hoof boots during the transition phase. I recommend Easyboots, Gloves, Epics, Trails....depends upon the shape of your horses hooves and your needs as a rider. 

Canadian QH gelding (below), lamellar wedge and radiographs showed slight rotation. He was overweight and IR. First photo is his radiograph, second photo in shoes, and the major indentation (dorsal wall, inch down) is when the incident occurred. Third photo is first trim. Last photo is four months and he is half way to a new foot. He is sound, on a balanced diet however the wall rippling was from changes in his diet. (multiple hay sources)

In 2009 I joined PHCP (Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners which eventually changed their name) and in May 2011 became a Progressive Hoof Care Practitioner (PHCP). PHCP has a through training program, mandatory clinics include; nutrition, anatomy, and reading radiographs (xrays).

2012 I became a PHCP Mentor.

2012 I applied and was accepted as an American Hoof Association Certified Member.

2023 Stepped down from being a PCHP Mentor.

2024 left the PHCP organization

Rates: 
Mini, Pony, donkey             $55.00    
Horse                               $60.00

Half drafts                        $80.00
Draft - no longer accepting full drafts.                             

Limited travel area.  
High fuel charges and a tight schedule cause me to group clients that are in the same area. 

I am a distributor of California Trace Minerals. I use to use, and suggest a popular NW supplement but it is costs more per day and is too high in manganese. I also started to see hoof wall separation in the horses on this product. CA Trace Minerals meet the vitamin/mineral and hoof needs of Washington equines. 
Most Washington hay is very low in selenium, copper and zinc (Confirmed by hay tests). Copper and zinc are vital for hoof growth and repair. I feed CA Trace to my own horses, with Haystacks Special Blend as a carrier, along with a heaping tablespoon of white salt. It can be fed alone but its a strong concentrate and doesn't have any fillers. 
 
Always provide a white salt block, not a red as it has iron, and add loose salt to your horses supplements. Many mineral blocks have iron, iron blocks the absorption of copper, thus your horse is not receiving the benefits of the CA Trace. 

 The 10 lb bag of California Trace will last 80 days (2 oz per day- 2 scoops) for a 1000 lb horse. You can read more about California Trace on the mfg. website.  California Trace 
I also stock the 20 lb bag of California Trace.
If you would like to purchase, please let me know and I can bring a bag with me to our appointment, or you can pick up by calling me at 360-480-5327 to set up a pick up time. If you need it delivered, please order from the mfg. website as I do not ship.

I am an EasyCare dealer, as well as a Scoot boot dealer, stocking a variety of boots. I can help you select the correct boot for you and your horse. I fit the boots for correct size and show you how to put them on and take them off. I use the Backcountry and the Glove on my horses and horses in training. They are beneficial in barefoot transition, rehabilitation and riding on trails.

 I sometimes hear of people who have bought boots but have had them come off easily. This usually happens because of incorrect size, the wrong boot or the trim, it can also be mechanical, the horse is landing toe first. The fit kit that I use ensures a nice tight fit and saves you the time and hassle of the wrong fit/boot. Fitting is for customers only.

Quarter Crack rehab, 3 months. This horse was with me for training. I put her on a mineral balanced diet with filtered water, and trimmed her every 2 weeks. 

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