Why Barefoot?

My path to natural barefoot hoofcare began, as it does with many people who get there, with a desperate search for relief for a horse in my care. Along the way I have come to understand the benefits of proper diet, natural barefoot hoof trimming, and living as close to a natural lifestyle as possible. I have also learned about the harmful effects of over-rich diet, lack of sufficient exercise, and iron horseshoes nailed to his feet.

I was grooming our son's paint show horse, Apache, one day when he suddenly went down on his front knees in the barn, in obvious pain. Apache was an iron shod two year old at the time. Our vet prescribed "bute", with a caution not to continue for more than two weeks at a time; and our farrier said Apache's hoof walls were too thin and the previous farrier hadn't trimmed him properly. He changed his hoof angle and fitted him with aluminum shoes, which Apache couldn't seem to keep on for more than a couple of weeks at a time. I began to research hoof health online because I could see Apache was still in pain, and my gut told me there must be something more that could be done. My research led me to Pete and Ivy Ramey's website, www.hoofrehab.com. There I found a treasure trove of information about what it takes to develop truly healthy "rock crunching" hooves. Pete and Ivy have put together a site with priceless articles, and links to other sites offering decades worth of experience and clinical research addressing not only the the causes of hoof ailments, but the means of reversing them. The more I read, the more I became convinced that this was the way to go.

I located a natural barefoot trimmer in the area of Texas where we were living at the time, Eddie Drabek, (www.wholehorsetrim.com.) Eddie called it right, Apache was suffering from laminitis. I took Apache to our vet who took X-rays of Apache's hooves and confirmed that Apache was, indeed, foundered, with coffin bone rotation. After Eddie's initial set-up trim, I fitted Apache with a pair of Easy Boot Epics with neoprene pads. Soon I was riding him bareback in his boots for thirty minutes twice a day. With Eddie's natural hoof trimming on a four week maintenance schedule, a diet of mixed grass hay, regular exercise with 24/7 turnout, and hoof boots with pads, Apache soon began to enjoy life again. Within six months, Apache boy had grown new well-connected front hooves and I was galloping him across the pasture, pain free, with tears of joy in my eyes. In the meantime, I read Pete Ramey's book, Making Natural Hoofcare Work for You, studied the articles and links on his website, and attended one of Pete's clinics. With Eddie's expert instruction, I began trimming Apache's hooves, and those of the other six horses on my son's ranch. They all developed "rock crunching" hooves and thrived on a diet of mixed grass hay. Since I have been trimming horses using the "wild hoof" model I have seen a variety of hoof problems resolved with proper hoof care, diet and lifestyle changes.

I study every day, whether hands-on or reading, and, when I can, attending clinics. The more I learn the more I realize that the closer we can keep our horses to their natural state the healthier and happier they will be and the better they will perform.

24/7 turnout helps horses develop sound hooves by promoting exercise and providing the constant stimulation that helps maintain good hoof health. Every step a barefoot horse takes on firm ground helps circulate blood through the hoof capsule due to pumping action of the digital cushions and frog of the hoof being compressed and released. This circulation helps stimulate hoof growth. A stalled horse or a shod horse does not maintain healthy hoof circulation nearly as well as a barefoot working horse on 24/7 turnout in a herd.

Iron shoes nailed to the bottom of a horse's hooves limit the flexing of the hooves, preventing proper hoof development and setting up stress points which promote cracks. Dr. Robert Bowker of MSU (http://pathobiology.msu.edu/people/bowker.html) has written extensively about the hemodynamics of the hoof capsule and how its flexing and contracting promote the development of a healthy hoof, and Dr. James Rooney of the American College of Veterinarian Pathology has demonstrated that navicular syndrome is caused by horses making repeated toe first landings in their steps (http://www.hoofrehab.com/end_of_
white_line_disease.htm#Navicular). Natural barefoot trimming and properly fitted hoof boots and pads are bringing comfort to navicular horses, and miles of exercise in boots and pads is routinely reversing outward symptoms of navicular syndrome.

Diet is crucial to maintaining healthy hooves. Excess starch and sugars in a horse's diet, whether from excessively lush pasture, "sweet feed", or a combination of both, can trigger founder. Horses do best on a diet of mixed grass hay. Performance horses that are being worked hard can be supplemented with a high protein low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) feed.

Regular barefoot trimming, based on the model of the western wild horses' hooves, provides solid footing, reduces stress on the outer hoof walls, stimulates healthy hoof development, and puts a smile on your horse's face.

We have had excellent results using this method on our own horses. Our horses are always ready to go, and are sure footed on any terrain. We don't have to worry about them slipping and sliding on pavement, and they do well on trail rides over varied terrain. My customers also report improved performance of their horses in timed events, trail riding, and riding lessons, and "beautiful looking hooves."

Kissed by a Zippo ("Apache")

Apache was reluctant to walk due to the pain in his feet. It was difficult to get him to walk even a short distance. Natural barefoot trimming relieved the pressure on his outer hoof walls which was tearing at his lamina causing his pain

Note the rotated position of Apache's coffin bone. Also note how thin the sole is under the tip of the coffin bone. In a healthy hoof the bottom of the coffin bone should be ground-parallel, supported by a thick cushion of sole.

Apache exercising in his boots and pads. We walked thirty minutes twice a day for six months during which time he grew new well-connected hoof walls from the hairline to the ground. The boots and pads allowed him comfort and promoted better circulation of blood in his hooves, accelerating well-connected hoof growth

Natural barefoot hoof care is a total program, "treating your horse from the inside out". It includes diet, exercise, environment, and regular routine natural barefoot trimming.