They told this horse she couldn't go barefoot...

Back before the internet was full of barefoot horse trimmers, I got frustrated with the repeated failures of shoes to keep my horse in riding condition. I had spent years studying saddle fit, better feeding, training and care of horses... everything but the foot. It dawned on me that so many experts had taken their instruction for granted on these other subjects, and fallen short, so perhaps there was more to learn in the standard hoof care approach, too. Why just accept it because it's always been done that way.

Thanks to the one person I could find close to me at the time, Debbie Dutra, of Truckee, California, I was able to receive quality instruction over 2 years and finally was able to take responsibility for my horses' hooves, too! It was a long but extremely gratifying journey.

We live in Penn Valley, California. Contact me if you'd like to learn more.

Much more help is available now than when I started. More professional trimmers, more instructors, and many more websites where you can begin your education. Get started today! But please, consult an experienced trimmer. Not all trimmers know what they are doing. Get references and check them out.

Thanks for viewing!

Sharon

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• barefoot
• trimming
• for
• horses
• hooves
• farrier
• debbie
• dutra
• pete
• ramey
• sally
• hugg
• jaime
• jackson
• michelle
• smith
• horse
• shoes

[Nizingur]

Lovely video, but wow D: You ride like a sack of potatoes. And your legs likewise. If you can do nothing about the bouncing, at least do try to keep your legs steady so you're not banging them against her sides all the time.

Nice video, though. Glad you found the realm of barefoot =)

[horsedesigns]

@Nizingur ... that was my husband riding and he's not much of a rider and he and I know that, because he doesn't ride. He's also not much of a photographer and I had to be the one to make the video so I put him on there. I'm a very good rider :-) with excellent quiet balance so be assured the horses do not have to put up with his bouncing and banging, lol. Thanks.

[doggiesarus]

How long did it take from the time you let her go barefoot till the time when you say her hooves were nice and thick? Just wondering. Thanks.

[horsedesigns]

It's hard to put an exact time on it because I think if I knew as much as I do now, back when she was first trimmed, it would have been a much quicker transition. With another of our horses, who transitioned much more recently, it only took a few weeks, but it can take up to a year for some... lots of factors to consider.

[JumpinHorses]

nice stride and heel first landings - kudos

[horsedesigns]

Thanks for noticing the heel first landings! it's not always easy for me to see in person so I was happy for that when I slowed the video down, too.

[mocowboy68]

better to run down the middle of the road & get a bruise then to go down the side & step on a glass bottle.........

[fifthavenuegirl]

This is my story, too! I was told my horse would need 52 degree eggbars. I got sick of the incompetent, abusive, unreliable farriers and learned to trim both my horses myself. My horses feet changed over time from flat foot, thin soles to thick walls and concave hoofs. I have started trimming friends horses now, too. It was not easy - had lots of peer pressure, patience of learning, seeing results, strict feed guidelines, etc. but it is definitely worth it.

[pecoslover97]

my horse was diagnosed with navicular by the vets without x-rays when he was said to have stone bruises and they werent getting better so i was gonna sell him as a companion horse because i couldnt afford correctives shoeing and meds but some1 told me about pete ramey and i learned about it and found a trimmer near me and now my horse looks like hes on his way to recovery, also i am so moved by this i wanna be a barefoot trimmer when i get older cant wait til my horse is like yours

[saddleup69]

HAVENT CHANGED MUCH but like in the 1800's barefoot is better just consider general custer and why he died chasing jeronimo's little barefoot war pony fact is the army better supplied and armed would lame a horse just trying to keep up

[deuces98]

CHECK your medial lateral level on the hind feet ! I noticed them both leaning to the outside ( lateral ) This is making your horse very base narrow . If you trim a little more on the medial side each time you can correct this !! Good work and happy trails

[Nizingur]

@horsedesigns Sweet! :D

[shaneshaneshoer]

@hosshoofho prooveing my example i bet you tryed shoeing but it as to hard so now its evil ahahaha ever seen a wild horses feet long and cracked, broken away and tender, or just fine is what you will see.

[shaneshaneshoer]

learn from something proper not lazy poeple who arent skilled so they wack the tor off with a rasp even. ever heard of nippers or ae they not natural enough? you are actually makeing people stupider