Barefoot Horses pg. 2
On this page I will continue to share with you my experiences with barefoot trimming as I continue to go through the AANHCP program. It is my desire to relate to you this fascinating process of natural hoof care with pictures and words, as best as I can describe it anyway. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would actually be trimming my own horses! Not having to try and schedule the farrier to come to the farm, especially when I went out that morning and discovered the horse I was going to ride that day had lost a shoe! OR having a shoe come loose on a trail ride or come off! Jaime Jackson makes it easy through his books and literature. You don't have to go through the training or be certified to trim other people's horses, not yet anyway. Come to think about it, a farrier doesn't have to be "certified" either! Have you ever asked a farrier for his "credentials"? There is plenty of easy to understand literature, DVD's, CD's and bulletins to be good at trimming and there are many CP's to contact with any questions. All you have to do is go to the
AANHCP website and locate a practitioner nearest you!
This is my friend Jan Wendike and myself with our first Mentor Dell Watkins (middle) in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This was a very exciting day for Jan and I (we are going through this whole AANHCP program together), we trimmed ponies for our first mentorship. Dell runs a non-profit chapter of an organization called Personal Ponies. This organization puts ponies up for adoption to handicapped children and adults.
This is Dell filing one of Nate's back hooves. Jan and I are still observing at this point.
Here Dell is taking a look at Nate's back right hoof before she cleans and trims it.
Nate's back left hoof after being trimmed. Mustang roll has not been applied yet.
Dell took in this pony (Lyle Lovett) that had foundered on spring grass. He was only out on it for a couple hours! The next picture show closeup of his front feet.
Here you can see a lot of ridges in Lyle's hoof walls. From the coronet band down about an inch is NEW hoof growth and is growing at a straight "natural" angle. All the ridged area is damage done from being foundered but as you can see from the new growth Lyle is on his way to having a whole new healthy hoof!
View of one of Lyle's back hooves before the trim. See how long the hoof is? Notice stretched white line in second picture down.
Measuring TL (toe length)
In this picture you can see the stretched white line where it has pulled away from the hoof wall.
Jan working on Lyle's back hoof.
Here I am using my hoof knife on one of Lyle's back hooves.
                ..........and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth"...........Isaiah 58:14