Natural Barefoot Hoof Trim Part 1

[mgrande11]

Amazing how the horse stands still while you do this, I can't even get my daughters dog to sit still during a bath.

[boats2000]

Your Knife is way to dull. You know enough to be dangerous to your horses and hopefully not other peoples horses. Stop while your not sued. V/R BM2

[thehappyhoof]

@boats2000 Yeah, I can understand why you'd say that in watching this video I made over 3 years ago. But tell me, is a "sharp knife" all there is to it? Even with my limited knowledge at the time I did this video, what I'm doing is FAR LESS damaging than what many so called professional farriers with sharp knives do. You have no idea what it really takes to sue someone over something like this, or you wouldn't have said it. Hope you come to learn more about the hoof than you do the law.

[thehappyhoof]

@boats2000 After visiting your channel to see just what you're into since it tells a lot about a persons character and intelligence, am I really suppposed to take anything you might say serriuosly, since it's obvious your head is only full of having sex, big boobies and the "F" word. Is that what you put in your head on youtube on a continual basis? I would say please repent and turn to God and get your mind and life cleaned out before it's too late.

[FarrierNA]

That was hard to watch, I have no problem with you trimming your own horses because you have the right to screw them up, but dont get on youtube and act like this is an educational video on how to trim horses just because you saw it in a book somewhere. A good farrier is in constant pursuit of gaining knowledge on equine mechanics and anatomy, and if every horse and every foot are different, then how is it that you know more than someone that works on 10,000 feet a year?

[SassyMustang1980]

I've been doing my own horses for the last 4 years and I have to say I prefer it.. I don't have to worry about a farrier coming out and my horses being lame for a week because they take all the hoof wall off!.. my horses have been sound, happy and unlame!!.. great way to trim so natural and your horses will thank you.. take off the shoes and let it go natural like nature intended.

[Nizingur]

My third horse came from an abusive home when I bought her. She had pretty bad hooves. A lot of things to say about her condition at the time, but one thing I noticed was her frog was shedding massively. There were tufts of frog sticking out everywhere. After a while it disappeared. Why do frogs shed?

[thehappyhoof]

@Nizingur Sorry but not sure why they shed, but why don't you research it and let me know.

[SassyMustang1980]

@thehappyhoof MY gelding shed his frog after he got a nail stuck in his hoof .. when I pulled he was lame but after about 2 weeks he shed-ed the frog completely off.. it grow back and its good now..but its because of massive trauma I believe.. its a way for the horse to fix its self.. I also had a friends horse shed its frog because it was fully dried out, due to the lack of rain and when we got lots of moisture it fall off and regrow.. hope that helps.

[shaneshaneshoer]

yes you can trim your self but dont use this vid to help. theres lots out there cjf s (certified journeyman farrier) all follow similar protocal agreed on by leaders in equine care. They arent out to profit off of trends,they are hoof doctors and use facts to solveproblems. roy bloom is a good guy to start with

[shaneshaneshoer]

yes you can trim your self but dont use this vid to help. theres lots out there cjf s (certified journeyman farrier) all follow similar protocal agreed on by leaders in equine care. They arent out to profit off of trends,they are hoof doctors and use facts to solveproblems.

[dbortz169]

You shouldn't do that if you don't know what you're doing. I cringed when you started tearing into the bars, and you never rasp the outside before nipping the hoof. You want the foot level and balanced on both side and the frog needed to be trimmed more than what was done.

That is why a professional will have to come out one day and fix what you have messed up.

[naturalkat]

May I ask why you're taking the tags off the frog and what you're doing with the bars?

[3quiitatiion]

Hi, your videos help me a lot ! you're an excellent teacher :). But I was wondering : I've looking like 100 trim (because my friend trims a lot of horses) and i was wondering :how do i know if i'm ready to trim my own horse ? She is already barefoot for about one year. I know all the concavity and everything of that but I don't feel perfectly safe.. thank you :) (sorry for my bad english i'm french !)

[MrBlacksmith007]

butcher

[MrBlacksmith007]

butcher



[CountryHouseGent]

Really enjoy watching your videos. Did you know that the swedish hoof school have a facebook page. Its just that after you talking about them I had a look. I have learnt loads from you please keep posting your knowledge.

[229farrier]

lady i'm sorry but you got the effort down pat, but as far as ability and know how..... i don't think you know a whole lot lol.....

[buddymacs]

someone please guess how much movement and abrasive wear would it take to keep this hoof in the condition at the finish of this trim..........how rough of ground and how many miles would this horse have to move to maintain this hoof form? i live in wild horse country......and most all horse-people would never ever believe how abrasive and rough this country really is and the horse RUN thru it like it was sand.....

[FirstClassSkeptic]

@buddymacs A wild horse travels about 20 miles a day. Or so say those who watch them.

[buddymacs]

Most hoof trouble is caused by lack of WEAR. The hoof GROWS more than it wears...that tells me the horse is on unnatural SOFT GROUND and doest move enough...........this creates work and income for FARRIERS.......separation is caused by lack of wear/trimming....thrush is caused by standing in bacteria/manure...every other condition you can think of is CAUSED by something that u ca learn to avoid in your horsekeeping.......its your horse and your money....wild horses never need trimmed THINK.

[animalrights800]

can you trim ur horses hooves by urself even if u didnt go to school but knows how to do it?

[thehappyhoof]

@animalrights800 You don't have to go to school to do it, just take a lot of time and care to learn hoof anatomy, and trimming tecnique, have the tools learn to use them etc. And most especially learn the right tecnique. There are books by Pete Ramey that can help you. But the important thing is to educate yourself pretty thoroughy. But many, many people are now doing this, even old women like me and young girls like you. You could do it.

[Naessly]

@animalrights800

Agree with thehappyhoof.

I'm 16 years old and I trim my horse myself. My father's girlfriend went to some sort of conference about barefoot trimming, and she taught me how to do it. As long as you know the hoof anatomy and you know what to do and how to do it, anyone can trim.

[tdavritt]

I agree learning to use the tools correctly would give me more confidence in what is said. I want to help with the knife part!

[thehappyhoof]

@tdavritt Can you peel potatoes with a knife? Or slice hard cheese real thin with a knife without cutting your self? Practice peeling potatoes drawing the knife towards you, and I swear it will help. You just have to learn "controled" cutting. Cutting away from you and cutting towards you. And you have to have a sharp knife. I don't sharpen mine like I should.

[hyperfocus2011]

The hoof was perfect when the video began....

[fourshoesatatime]

She's a beginner she don't even know how to handle her tools correctly .Any shoer when pushing a rasp that don't have a long smooth motion while pushing is a beginner.I wouldn't even post a vid if I wasn't good enough

[saguarojetta]

How do you know how much heel to take off?

I am always worried I will take off to much heel.

[thehappyhoof]

@saguarojetta the key is not just getting the heels balanced and to the right height but also the toe backed up so that the breakover is correct. Try abc hoofcare and look for articles on finding the baseline heel height. and read up on mapping the hoof, so you have guidlines to go by.

[teenyrific]

how do horses keep their hooves trimmed out in the wild?

[thehappyhoof]

@teenyrific constant movement on rough terrain, they wear them smooth and rounded as they grow. BLM who catches wild horses say when they are first caught their hooves grow very fast. After about 6 months of captivity the growth slows, and they run them into hydrolic shoots lay them down and trim their feet about twice a year or before they get adopted.

[FirstClassSkeptic]

@thehappyhoof Very interesting that hooves grow faster in the wild. I've read that boots are recommended for people who runs horses a lot on pavement (Amish, specifically). But if hooves grow faster in the wild, maybe a horse that's run a lot on abrasive ground will start to grow a hoof faster? I would think so.

[DerEifelschmied]

1.Die begründer dieser "Lehren" verdienen sich eine goldene Nase an den unbedarften Pferdeleuten die ja immer "das Beste" für ihr Tier wollen.

2. Hufbeschlag ist böse

3.jeder kann das lernen

4. wer anders denkt ist ein Tierquäler

Leute Packt euch doch mal an den Kopf. .

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied As to your 4 points, I agree, but also that is not true in all people that study and learn Natural hoof care. but true is ANYONE can learn, even if they cannot or do not want to do it. And true is also there are incompetent farriers who follow very harmful teachings and do just as much damage.

But as you said no more debate here. To bad you are so closed minded, and throw baby out with bathwater.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Als Ihr 4 Punkte stimme ich aber auch das ist nicht bei allen Menschen, die studieren und Natural Hoof Care lernen wahr. aber wahr ist jeder lernen kann, auch wenn sie nicht oder wollen nicht, es zu tun. Und wahr ist auch dort sind inkompetent Hufschmiede, die sehr schädlich Lehren folgen und dies nur so viel Schaden.

Aber wie Sie sagte nichts mehr Debatte steht. Schade du bist so engstirnig, und werfen Kind mit Bade aus.

[DerEifelschmied]

Es kann doch wohl nicht wahr sein,. das unter dem Deckmäntelchen der "Tiergesundheit, und der NAtürlichkeit" anleitungen entwickelt und insbesondere ja auch vertrieben werden , nach denen jeder dahergelaufene Hans-Wurst aufeinmal zum Hufexperten mutiert. Es ist erschreckend wie viele sogenannte Hufexperten im moment ihr Unwesen treiben.

All die schönen Methoden, sei es jetzt natural hoof care, oder dieser Strasser Wahnsinn...u.v.m. haben doch eins gemeinsam.:

[DerEifelschmied]

Bitte.! ICh brauche nun wirklich keine Nachhilfestunde in alternativer Hufbearbeitung. Ich habe mich schon mit Gene Ovnicek und Konsorten beschäftigt als Ihre Pferde noch Fohlenschuhe hatten. Was ich meine ist,(und ich hoffe das kommt auch so an wie ich es schreibe) : Ich finde es anmassend, rücksichtslos und dumm ein Video zu veröffentlichen in dem der Eindruck vermittelt wird das jeder Hins und Kuns Hufe trimmen oder sogar noch besser korrigieren kann.

[DerEifelschmied]

3 Antworten auf mein Koment. Witzig. Aber zu ihrer Anregung doch mehr konstruktive Kritik fallen zu lassen. : GErne doch.

Meiner Meinung nach täten sie gut daran sich einmal vernünftig ausbilden zu lassen, weniger im Internet herum zu hängen und mehr Praxiserfahrung zu sammeln.Ich denke das es absulut bescheuert ist ein "How-to" Video zu produzieren , wenn sie das was sie dort beschreiben nicht in den Ansätzen beherrschen.

Aber wir können noch Stunden Diskutieren. You`r the best! ;-)

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Ich denke, "DerEifelschmied" = engl. THE Eifel SMITH; Du bist ein Hufschmied? irgendwo auf der Eifel in Deutschland. Sie sagen, wir brauchen Bildung, und Sie sind richtig. Kein Video ersetzen können Ihre Ausbildung und Erfahrung, die wahr ist. Ich bin sicher, du bist ein Meister deines Handwerk.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Nicht zur Debatte, sondern um zu informieren, ich bin nur einer von Tausenden von Pferdebesitzern, die ihre eigenen gelehnt sind, ihre Pferde Hufe schneiden. Also ich meine Reise und lehnte meinen Fehlern. Viele können nicht an die Schulen gehen aus einem Grund oder dem anderen. Einige haben keine Hufschmiede in der Nähe oder gar keine gute Hufschmiede oder hatten schlechte Erfahrungen mit Hufschmieden.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Das ist alte Videos und ich habe viel, da ich es gemacht gelernt. In Amerika ist Natural Hoof Care Entdeckung vom Studium Wildpferde oder Mustangs Hufe. Dies wurde durch Hufschmiede, die jetzt tun Bücher und lehren Pferdebesitzer und andere, die hauptsächlich nur trimmen gestartet. Einige wollen nicht in Hufeisen glaube überhaupt, andere verbinden das Erlernen von beiden Schuhen und Korrekturmaßnahmen Trimmen, um beste Huf zu bekommen, und dass der beste Weg ist.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied die Hufe der Wildpferde von der Geburt gebildet werden, wie Hammar und Amboss auf iorn wegen schwer stampfenden und ständig in Bewegung zu schmieden. Sie behaupten, perfekt gesunden Huf zu bilden. So können wir daraus lernen und anwenden Grundsätze, wie wir und schneiden lernen, wachsen aus Huf Deformitäten und gesunde Hufe, auch für Hufbeschlag.

[DerEifelschmied]

Einer der miesesten und selbstherrlichsten Huf-Bearbeitungsversuche die ich je gesehen habe.

Diese Dame hat absulut garkeine Ahnung von fachgerechter Hufpflege.

Ihr Handwerkliches Geschick gleicht dem einer Nacktschnecke. (wobei diese wenigstens Schleim produziert)

Apropos produzieren: Es ist mir ein Rätsel wie ein Mensch so viel Unsinn von sich geben kann.

Dieses Video ist definitiv "kein" Lehrvideo.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Here let me translate that for you: One of the most horrific and high-handed hoof-processing experiments I have ever seen.

This lady has absulut garkeine idea of professionally hoof care.

Your craftsmanship is like a slug. (Although the least mucus produced)

Speaking of produce: it is beyond me how a man so much nonsense can give of themselves.

This video is definitely "no" instructional video.

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Warum sagst du nicht, wie Sie wirklich fühlen? (translation: Why don't you say how you really feel? : ) (lol...laut lachen

[thehappyhoof]

@DerEifelschmied Seien Sie nicht so sauer kraut. Sie würden gut daran tun, mehr konstruktive Kritik zu verwenden, als handelnde wie eine Schnecke sich. Sie verlassen genug für uns beide Schleim.

[tmacatthelodge]

your video included no mention of the horses conformation. did you use a t square?

[tmacatthelodge]

barefoot is not always the way!

[r1brygo]

@thehappyhoof That hoof wall in the video is nice and strong and prob more of an attribute to genetics. Most hoof walls would crumble with that much growth. That foot has stretched laminae based on the speration. The average horse owner isn't going to know how to handle flares, chips, cracks, etc. What about a horse with thin shelly feet? What about thrush and white line? Not all horses feet are the same. Thats why a 5 minute video isn't going to work.

[evaclaeye]

@r1brygo

Indeed you need more information to start" with your horses hoves..

[evaclaeye]

@r1brygo

Indeed you need more information to start" with your horses hoves..

By the way, some of the techniques she's teaching bad, like the rasping of the heels and foot, she is going over the frog in stead of rasping from heel to toe.. she probable does this because she knows how to rasp straight, but new people don't.

And like she rounds the hove at first, en then afterwords she rasps the heels and the rest, that doesn't make any sense.. You totally delete the rouding like that..

[r1brygo]

OMG! This is absolutely painful to watch. That is a pretty bad trim job. Trying to teach people to trim a foot in a 5 minute video is not good.

[Pumanic]

My oh my...I have only watched a few of your videos, but I am learning so much. I am saving up money to buy my first american miniature horse, is it more or less work with small hoofes? Of couse I am for the first year going to watch, and possibly try, this out under the guidance of a proffesional, but what is your point of view on small hoofes? I have so much to learn...I loved horses when I was a kid, but that feels like such a long time ago...I want everything prepered when my baby gets here.

[BridlePath977]

Its SOOO much cheaper doing the hooves myself! Im only 15 and I know how to trim my horse's feet. =) This video helped me ALOT! thanks so much!

[thehappyhoof]

@BridlePath977 Good for you, you go girl. But I also bet now you know why they charge as much as they do huh.

[BridlePath977]

@thehappyhoof Yeah its a lot of work. But i enjoy it.  =)

[r1brygo]

@BridlePath977

That was a pretty bad trim job and trying to teach people to trim feet in a 5 minute video is absolutely ridiculous. There is soo much more to it than running a rasp over a foot. That foot has wall seperation that needs to be addressed.

[thehappyhoof]

@r1brygo Could you please tell me how you would have addressed that hoof wall seperation? Would you have rasped the wall flat with the sole and then rapsed down to try and find clean white line?

[r1brygo]

@thehappyhoof Yes! I routinely "gut" the quarters of a barefoot hoof in order to eliminate the speration. Once there is seperation it will not fix itself because dirt is always packing in the cavity. I think of a horse's foot as the same as ours. We walk on our heels and toes with an arch in the middle so "gutting" the quarters is ok. That is the weakest part of the hoof anyways and is the first to chip and break apart. Hope that answers your quest.

[thehappyhoof]

@r1brygo that's the way I do it now, always looking to learn and change. I'm not trying to teach someone to do this in 5 minutes, and basically people are teaching themselves. I think the last video I did was a year ago and I've gotten more proficient at some things since then. Thanks for the info.

[r1brygo]

@thehappyhoof Yes! I routinely "gut" the quarters of a barefoot hoof in order to eliminate the speration. Once there is seperation it will not fix itself because dirt is always packing in the cavity. I think of a horse's foot as the same as ours. We walk on our heels and toes with an arch in the middle so "gutting" the quarters is ok.

[r1brygo]

@thehappyhoof Yes! I routinely "gut" the quarters of a barefoot hoof in order to eliminate the speration. Once there is seperation it will not fix itself because dirt is always packing in the cavity. I think of a horse's foot as the same as ours. We walk on our heels and toes with an arch in the middle so "gutting" the quarters is ok. That is the weakest part of the hoof anyways and is the first to chip and break apart. Hope that answers your quest.

[thehappyhoof]

@r1brygo Also I kind of give some farriers a hard time in some of these videos, which sorry but "some" farriers deserve that. But I think there is a happy medium, that "depending" on the varriables it's okay to shoe horses, and you can learn things from both sides.

[thehappyhoof]

The best thing if you are in dry country is just to soak your horses hooves in water for an hour or so every week. But a lot of times, when horses are shod, and even with some barefoot trimming, they rasp down too much of the outer wall and take off what's called the periople, which is a very thin layer of protection the hoof needs, and is there to keep both moisture in and moisture out, and keep the moisture content of the hoof balanced.

[BarrelRacer955]

@thehappyhoof Ok thanks. I will try that. Your videos are very helpful.

[BarrelRacer955]

I have a question. If you use a type of hoof conditioner, what kind do you use? Cause my dad said that if you dump oil on the hooves, it will give condition the hooves so they arent dry (I think he said oil, he might have said some thing else though)

[sillystring200]

also what were you using a 1:26?

[sillystring200]

Can you please list everything ill need to trim the horses hoove? thankk you

[thehappyhoof]

That was a hoof knife, used to trim out excess sole and frog. You'll need a rasp, rasp handle, hoof knife, hoof pick, wire brush, hoof nippers, hoof stand and gloves. Or you can use a small grinder, with flap disk sanding wheels, you should learn to use all of them.

[MickeyLWalker]

thias hellpd me out a bushell

[shycountrymiss]

My mustang gets a trim every 8 weeks year round from my farrier which seems to be correct for her. When I got her, her front hooves were overgrown(and one got a vertical split), and I was told it was because she would get sore in the front if trimmed. We havent found that to be the case at all, so someone must have been trimming her incorrectly. Her hooves are great now.

[MyMareRena]

there has been a debate btw we and my trimmer im not sure mabye you could tell me but sould you see the outer hoof wall all the way around the hoof i say yes my trimmer says no he says you shouldn because when the horse walks the hooof wall seperates from the lamania or something like that help me help my horse!

[bullrider31]

maybe you should get a farrier not a trimmer

[racknwalk]

rite on!

[thehappyhoof]

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by see the outer hoof wall all the way around the hoof? Do you mean when you have the hoof picked up and are looking at the bottom and see the sole and hoofwall? Is your trimmer taking off so much that all you can see is the sole? That would be WAY TOO MUCH of what they call a mustang. There should be a bevel, but you still have to leave some hoofwall for the horse to walk on with the sole. Does that help?

[thehappyhoof]

A mustang ROLL is either rounding off the hoof wall or beveling it, but you should still be able to see hoof wall.

[MyMareRena]

likelooking at the foot from underneath should you see the outer hoof wall line my trimmer says no cause when they breakover it will cause the outer hoofwall to pulla away from the lamania ya they call it mustang trim or somethin

[thehappyhoof]

do a google image search of "wild horse hooves" and look at the cadaver hooves and you will see that you can in fact see the hoof wall from the bottom. But they naturally do a bevel and keep them trimmed down. But if your horse is not sore, after a trim, then I would not worry about it, but if she's sore, then they are talking off too much and doing to strong of a bevel, which is called a "mustang roll".

[DJBelbe]

@thehappyhoof I can say i never lamed a horse by taking too much wall (xcept at the heels). Only times I ever saw horses lame was due to sole, frog or heel sensitivity. I must confess I believe the wall has a very secondary part as a weighbearing surface in natural conditions. I might be wrong, bu that's what my limited experience has shown me so far.

[thehappyhoof]

@DJBelbe I am not talking about weightbearing, I am talking about "containment". When you "thin" the wall out, you get a different kind of flare called a bell flare, which is caused by weakening the wall, and thus the weight of the horse pushed the wall out into a different type of flaring, because the "containment" function of the wall has been compromised.

[DJBelbe]

@thehappyhoof oh, ok, never saw that one. What kind of trim is done for that to happen? thinning from the top? There are no barefoot trimmers here so I only know myself. I usually do a 45º bevel (90º at the toe if needed) on the pigmented wall alone or if needed, into the lamelar wedge and then smooth the edge from the top... don't think this accounts as thinning the wall, xcept maybe in the vertical cut case.

[bullrider31]

Do you think that shoeing horses is wrong?

[bullrider31]

whats wrong with it?

[ironmanbullfighter]

you got to b doin it to your own not 4 a living

[1madason]

ironman go back to school. You must have failed in spelling. Too bad it has also affected your ego

[sunsetangel1]

I just wanted you to know that because of your videos I have been doing my own horses hoofs and they have better hoofs now, Thank you for putting your videos on youtube

[ironmanbullfighter]

thin you have no clue whot you are looking at then

[sunsetangel1]

Well if you know a better way, post a video showing you trimming your horses hooves and in the movie tell me why it's better, because I have looked at different bare foot trims and it's one seems the best.

[thehappyhoof]

I'm glad I could help you. Good luck with your trimming.

[peasenhalljesus]

Don`t give up the day Job

[1madason]

dont give up being an ass it suites you just fine.

[dawg1157]

she didn't do anything wrong.... maybe you would like to educate us since apparently your an expert

[samj1992mcfc]

hahahahahah oh my god your an absolute joke ha ha!

[thehappyhoof]

Well I try hard, and I'm glad someone finally noticed.

[101horsegirl1]

it is 100% better to go bare foot then putting shoes on your horses i agree :) im so glade we have you to teach us the right way to do it! your one of the best farriors i no :)

[ironmanbullfighter]

you dont know any thin do ya

[buddymacs]

that old girls hoof looks fantastic...almost texbook

wow!

[solesister2]

Is this the same as Pete Ramey

?

[wightchemist]

In fact it ISNT illegal to trim horses feet in the UK without a farriers qualification, it's illegal to prepare the hooves for shoes.

[nags2bitches]

I know you're in America, but you may like to point out to your British viewers that it is ILEGAL to trim your horses hooves yourself.

[AnemoiTheullai]

My understanding it that it's not illegal to trim the hooves, only to shoe a horse if you are not licensed.

[AnemoiTheullai]

The only time it IS bordering on illegal is in a severly lame horse.

[nags2bitches]

You are quite right, I checked it up ; the rules says it's illegal to trim a foot in PREPARATION FOR A SHOE . Basically it's a loop-hole due to it not being worded right (the intention was there ) . Thats a relief, as I trim my own feet and thought I was a criminal ! lol.

[HoofSupport]

only in countries whos government has far too much power over the equine industry.

[Ntrlhrsgrl]

she has lovely concavity. Barefoot is the only way to go :D

[Jaan135]

Hi, seen it again. Mette from Denmark

[MuffletLove]

I look after a pony that I look after has her feet trimmed by a normal farrier (as the speacil barefoot natural one is way to expensive for her) and he normally shoes but he trims aswell. He rasps on the wall of the hoof but here feet are never cracked and the horse that I share (whos feet are done in the same sort of way as you do feet) but we have a lont of problems with his feet being cracked is this just individual or because of their breeds (Shetland x and TB X Warmblood) or something else?

[thehappyhoof]

All I can say, is that I've never had a problem with cracking on any horse I've ever done if I do not rasp the hoofwall. But it depends too on what kind of cracks you are talking about. All barefoot and or farrier trims are not created equal. It may look like the same trim and not actually be the same trim, there are so many details. I'd have to see the feet to be able to tell you why they are cracking. Can you get me some pictures to my email?

[fiddler9635]

When we rasp the top we are trying to take off most of the flair. Then we roll the two together. It just makes for a healthier hoof.

[MuffletLove]

Im not saying what you are doing is wrong at all I really agree with natural barefoot trimming and I share a horse and his feet are done like this and they are great, hard and well shaped but he hates walking on gravel ect but everyone says he has good hard feet, how can you stop this from happening?

[CowgirlAshley22]

By the way... The rasp only works when you push it.. not when you pull it... Your rasp wont dull as fast if you only make contact with the hoof when it is productive. Rasp, Lift, Move back. I can tell you do it alot because your rasp is really dull. Again, not trying to be mean... Just giving some input.

[thehappyhoof]

Cowgirl Ashley, You have no idea how much I appreciate you kind critique of what I'm doing! Advice and observations noted, and will try to be applied.

[CowgirlAshley22]

LMAO... I'm sorry, but it's so funny seeing you struggle to do that... You havent been "trimming" long have you? (Well... Rasping really) I would reccomend that you include the 'fact' that you are not a professional while you're teaching these people. Let me guess, you attended some clinics and read some books? Sorry... Not trying to be mean. Just expressing my feelings.

[thehappyhoof]

Don't be sorry, I appreciate your observations, and can tell your a great hearted gal, that will go far. But Please considder too, that I am 53, have a bad back, have had major sholder surgery, and chronic tendenitis on both arms. AND a very dull rasp as you said. But your part wrong about my education, I never got to go to no clinics. (smile)

[thehappyhoof]

Ashley, there are a lot of people out there, that will never have the chance to go and learn from anybody. Since you know how to use a rasp, could you do some videos showing the right technique?

[CowgirlAshley22]

I would love to do something like you're doing... But I do not have the camera setup to put it on youtube. (not up to "par" on the comuter stuff) Besides, I dont consider myself a professional. I wouldnt feel right teaching people without being a teacher. I've worked with a farrier as an "assistant" for about 7 years and have actually been trimming and shoeing for 3. Sorry... Yes... I did say shoeing. I am interested in Natural Balance Trimming... But I wouldnt say I'm convinced.

[CowgirlAshley22]

I've seen alot... and I mean ALOT of hooves. And there are some 'hooves' that just plain need shoes. Wether you glue them or nail them... Some horses just do. But the "Natural Blance" people say otherwise. I dont understand it. I'm speaking on the way i've learned and who i've learned from. I initialy learned not to take the periople layer off... But in horseshoeing school... We take it ALL off... It really does make a nice looking hoof. What do you think about hoof sealant? Yay or Neigh?

[CowgirlAshley22]

One more question, (sorry) What do you do if the horse has an enlongated toe? Do you just leave it "dubbed?" My problem is, my customers pay for looks as well as funcionability. I wouldnt want to pay $25 a horse for my horses hooves to be "dubbed." I want to do what's right for the horse and keep customers. ????

[thehappyhoof]

Well Asnley, you are a teacher, you just don't know it. A good teacher is the one who asks all the right questions, in fact who stil has questions, and questions even what they think they know. They make the best teachers.

[thehappyhoof]

You have told me here a wealth of information, and asked questions right along the line of what I happen to be the most passionate about, namely rasping down the hoofwall. What you innitially learned was right on, but then you went and got an "education". Einstein said: the only thing that gets in the way of my learning is my education.

[thehappyhoof]

I do think if your going to take all the periople off, you should seal it, since the p. keeps water out and keeps water in. That's why when you come back you have all those find cracks on dry looking hooves.

[thehappyhoof]

On elongated, which I call flared toes, that is where owner education comes in. they might want it to look nice, but we want it to GROW nice and you can't always have both. I back up the toe and even do a rocker toe sometimes, and keep the leverage off it, so it will grow the flare out and be a normal hoof.

[thehappyhoof]

How long depends on how high up the hoofwall it's flared out. I'm doing a mare now that had toes as long as her normal hoof, and so half her hoof was toe. I'll find this article for you showing where to prove a point the guy puts a nail right though the toe. Pretty interesting.

[Farrierman52]

i say yay i use a sealant on all horse i shoe after i've dressed the foot. the sealant will hold all your moister in the foot after you've rasped the periople off

[emr2e]

Why not just not rasp the periople off? Then you won't need to use the sealer.

[Farrierman52]

can i ask you mam how long have u been doing this

[Farrierman52]

and where did you learn from

[eldrama1]

my farrier does a "natural trim" but does rasp a bit high on the hoof wall and my horse's hooves are ALWAYS cracked. Could that be why?

[thehappyhoof]

Absolutely that is the reason. Look real dry, and can get lot's of fine thin cracks. Because you're taking away what keeps moisture IN the hoof and OUT of the hoof. And yes you can use a grinder. I'm 53 a friend of mine is almost 60 she just started about 1 1/2 yr. ago and we both have bad backs, knees, arms .....

[thehappyhoof]

Have you watched the hoof WALL anatomy videos? You really have to get a good understanding of that, so you don't get talked out of why rasping the wall is a bad deal. I am seeing more and more improvment in horses since I quit that. Horses with flares and long toes that are coming right together.

[eldrama1]

i simply don't have the stamina to trim four hooves. do you recommend using an electric sander?

[thehappyhoof]

Use a small grinder or mini grinder with what they call a flap disk sander. And variable speed is the best. And you'd be surprised how horses take very quickly to them. Any questions, or pictures you'd like me to answer ot look at, or help you need just ask.

[thehappyhoof]

Oh and in case you didn't notice, I barely have the stamina to trim 4 hooves. See comments above.

[skydove103]

can you give a manufacturer name for that type of grinder or who sells them?

Thank you!

[okcismelanie]

Get a right and left handed hoof knife and learn how to use them....digging out the bars the way you are doing is wrong and will contract a hoof! Also using a rasp that is not dull and rusty will help...the hoof is not flat-you need to scoop the quarters.

[thehappyhoof]

Thankyou for the criticism. I have an idea, why don't you do some videos and show us how to do that. And instead of just making blanket statments about how digging out the bars (which is not actually what I'm doing) will make the foot contract, why not say what you think should be done and why.

[thehappyhoof]

I also quit scooping out the quarters from the bottom, and try to just make the walls level with the sole. But then I relieve the bearing wall with about a pencil sized bevel which relieves the quarters more naturally than scooping them out. The hoof don't lie, so if I find out later this isn't working, I'll go back to scooping.

[arno8]

Very nice! Wonderfull ;-)

See our channel as well, we're advocates of barefoot trim as well.

[thehappyhoof]

I know and am already subscribed to you, I think your videos are wonderful.

[WeeMiniMoose]

Thanks so much for posting this! I'm getting ready to start trimming my horse myself, so I'm getting any information I can, and this is awesome. My horse has already been barefoot her entire life, and I think it's about time I learn how to do the trim myself. This video is very helpful.

[happycampersMT]

Happy New Year El! ANOTHER fantastic job - I really liked how the bevel was shown in this - and the importance of not touching the hoof wall with the rasp.

TONS of snow here - the lil Saucey filly still needs work - it packs in her hooves as she is still too narrow and a lil high - but my Mare Joy has NO buildup os snow and GREAT feet! Lil long right now - but we're on it. Joy is a houdini - so she and I have been "talking" - I call her Nagatha when she escapes! Talk soon I hope!

[glovekn]

Yet another wonderful video. Inhave learned so much. Thank you

[thehappyhoof]

Oh man, not half what I learn by having this opportunity to share. It is in helping and sharing what you learn with others that helps your learn yourself, and grow. Thanks for your kind words, it makes it more than worth the time and effort.

[Bhukshine]

thanks for posting this video.

it's really informative and easy to follow :)

i'm definitely going to try the barefoot trim on my horse.

[thehappyhoof]

Thanks. This mare has been being trimmed regularly over 3 years. Depending on the shape your horses hooves are in, it takes time to grow them out and get them right. Going barefoot is a commitment to give you and your horse time to get things right. You might have set backs and think it doesn't work, but don't give up. Keep learning, it's usually something we're doing or not doing that's the main problem. Good luck and I'm here to help if you need me.