I have owned my Appy mare almost all of her life (she's 25). Most of that time she has worn metal shoes just like every other horse we ever met. Yet she was always clumsy; couldn't stay on her feet in a tight turn. By the time I completed farrier school at Oregon State University in 2000 she was not just clumsy, but tender-footed. I was having to put pads under her shoes when I shod her and she had to wear "slippers" to come out of the barn onto the hard-packed earth during the winter months when we Oregonians normally let out horses go barefoot. Barefoot or shod, she was always having problems.

I knew there had to be a better way.

By 2005, after plenty of research in books and online, I decided to try the natural hoof trim method on my Appy mare and my National Show Horse gelding.  I began in January of 2005 and noticed marked improvement in the mare's hoof growth and her overall movement as early as the second trim. The NSH gelding already had good feet; the natural trims only improved him. By the end of the summer--six trims later-- we had trekked miles along the Oregon coast and then up into the Cascade mountains with barely a misstep. No stone bruises, no balance problems. No problem with even the roughest terrain! My Appy mare was one of my best and fastest transitions. My NSH gelding had really good feet to begin with and just took off  with the natural trimming.

Friends started asking me to transition their horses to bare feet.

I sold my farrier equipment and concentrate only on natural, balanced hoof care now. I keep up with my reading and research on trimming techniques and methods, on new products to help promote natrual hoof health, and on helping horses transition to bare feet easily as possible. This year I attended a regional symposium on natrual hoof care held in Reno, NV by the Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices (AANHCP). Natrual hoof care is a growing trend, and so much healthier for your horse.

EasyCare Horse Boots are an essential part of the natural hoof transition program.

Some horses have a hard time switching to bare feet. They have spent their lives wearing ill-fitting metal shoes which ultimately do damage to the natural function of the horse's frogs and hoof walls. Horses that have long hooves or uneven balance usually have the hardest time becoming bare footed. To help them make the transition, I recommend Easy Boots from EasyCare, the number one name in horse boots.  Boots help the horse deal with the new sensations and stimulation they are receiving when their hooves come in conact with the ground. The boots also help protect the newly bare hoof as it grows out stronger and healthier. Easy Boots are not just a transitional tool, they are also a durable and long-lasting addition to your horse's daily tack kit. See product pages for more info.

Case studies of new hoof health are self-evident.

After three years applying natural hoof trimming methods to over 100 horses, I am more convinced than ever that the natural hoof is the best hoof. a couple of cases with brief synopsis. To read more about these horses and their transitions see my blog at blogspot.com.

Want to know more about natural hoof care and who practices it in your area? See my Links page.