Taking your horse barefoot is more than just pulling his or her shoes. If your horse doesn’t move 8-20 miles a day on the hard dirt and rocks of the American west where the horse evolved for millions of years, your task becomes: to replicate what the horse would be doing for himself if he did live in the wild of the American west.
When we lived in the high desert of southern California and our horses were moving at least 8-10 miles a day they were almost taking care of their own feet. Not quite, but almost. They were trimmed every eight weeks and it was generally just a “maintenance” trim. Especially during the winter when most of their protein was going to their winter coats.
Mother Nature is growing that hoof to be able to deal with the wear and tear of 8-20 miles a day on that American western terrain, so if the horses are living in middle Tennessee, where we are now (or anywhere other than the American west actually) they need assistance (trimming) to reach that level of wear and tear they would be getting in the American west. Because Mother Nature doesn’t know they’re living in middle Tennessee. She prepared them genetically for the American west.
This is why it is imperative that your Barefoot Hoof Specialist fully understand what is called the Wild Horse Model. And know how your horse’s hoof would grow and wear were it in the wild. And how to help your horse to grow the hoof he is genetically designed to grow, not the hoof the trimmer wants to see.
Run, don’t walk, away from any trimmer who attempts to tell you that he or she has a better method than God or Mother Nature. A “special” method that is superior to anyone else’s, or any metal shoe farrier who also trims barefoot, or anyone who ever says “I recommend a pasture trim”, or anything other than merely replicating what the horse would be doing for itself if it were in the wild of the American west.
Every horse is different and must be approached that way. There is no such thing as “do it this way for every horse.” And no trim should ever be to “look good,” but rather to set the horse up to grow the hoof he or she is genetically designed to grow. That, of course, requires a certain amount of study of wild horse hooves and a thorough knowledge of what’s going on inside the horse’s hoof, and understanding which parts affect which other parts, etc.
I personally like someone who is trimming hundreds of horses’ hooves every month, horses of every size, shape, and kind. Horses with issues and horses without. Who, chances are, has seen it all and will be much quicker than I would be about picking up little hints of an issue of some kind.
Doing this properly also involves a diet and lifestyle that replicates as closely as possible what the horse would be doing if he were in the wild of the American west. Which means free choice grass or grass hay 24/7, no stalls, and no sugar. Or anything that turns to sugar, like oats or corn (See our Diet page).
If you can’t quite do all of this immediately is it better to leave shoes on your horse? No, of course not. Metal shoes cause restriction or elimination of blood circulation in the hoof and that alone wreaks all sorts of havoc.
Okay… at last. Here are my ten questions to ask any natural hoof specialist – trimmer – before hiring him or her. The very questions we used when we moved from southern California to middle Tennessee:
One: Are you exclusively barefoot? This will not set well with some trimmers but I believe strongly that if he or she does not believe so passionately in the history, the genetics, and the scientific facts of the Wild Horse Model and lifestyle that he or she would never even think of nailing a metal shoe onto a horse, then that trimmer is not a hoof specialist I would hire.
When we moved to Tennessee I never got past this question with several prospects that I interviewed. The best natural hoof professionals I know are passionate about being exclusively barefoot because they know a barefoot horse with proper diet and lifestyle will be a healthier, happier horse. And these professionals are hugely successful at bringing horses back to full soundness that other farriers and vets have said need to be put down.
Two: Do you exclusively follow the wild horse model? Unfortunately there are a lot of folks who claim to be Natural Hoofcare Professionals who do not have a clue (or the wrong clue) why it works or what the Wild Horse Model is all about. They might be okay, but probably not. So I wouldn’t risk my horses’ well being with one of these. I would pass them by.
Three: How important is diet, lifestyle, and movement to a successful barefoot experience? If the prospect doesn’t say (as do Eddie Drabek, Pete Ramey, Megan Hensley, Mark Taylor and so many others) that diet, lifestyle, and movement are as important as the trim, then walk away.
Four: Do you incorporate the mustang roll? Eddie and Pete and others say this is the most important part of the trim. Must be used. Follow the wild horse example.
If the answers to the above are all positive, then continue:
Five: May I have some references? Call clients of the hoof specialist and engage them in conversation. Get a sense.
Six: Where did you get your training? There are no right answers here, but very important. Still it’s a judgment call, combined with all the other answers.
Seven: How long have you been natural trimming? Important, but not the end-all. But if only a short time it makes all the other answers even more important, especially the next two.
Eight: What sort of continuing education do you do? There is no right answer, but listen and be a good judge. If they say I don’t really need any, walk away.
Nine: Who are your mentors or instructors you can go to when you need advice about a specific problem. Very important.
Ten: This one is not a question per se but very important: If the person gets irritable or defiant because of these questions, or if you feel like the answers are BS, avoid this person like the plague.
Bottom line: You must find a trimmer who knows and understands how to help the horse grow the foot his genetics know how to grow, not someone who wants to “cut” the foot the way he thinks it should look… and it must be someone both you and your horse feel comfortable with. Seriously. Listen to your horse on this.
For more on Why Our Horses Are Barefoot:
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God and Mother Nature have done a terrific job of creating these magnificent creatures and even though most of ours are called domestic horses, their genetics are precisely the same as those horses still living in the wild, and those who lived in the wild thousands of years ago. This is a very important piece of the puzzle. And make no mistake, it is a puzzle, full of things you need to know, not later, but now. Before you start changing lives for the better or worse. The whole story of our journey (to date) is told in the two books that follow: The Soul of a Horse – Life Lessons from the Herd and its sequel Born Wild – The Soul of a Horse.
And what a story it is as two novices without a clue stumble and bumble their way through the learning process so that hopefully you won’t have to. If you haven’t read both of these books already please do because with that reading, I believe, will come not just the knowledge of discovery but the passion and the excitement to cause you to commit to your journey with horses, to do for the horse without waiver so that your relationship and experience will be with loving, happy and healthy horses who are willing partners and who never stop trying for you. Horses like ours.
The highly acclaimed best selling sequel to the National Best Seller
The Soul of a Horse – Life Lessons from the Herd
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But first read the National Best Seller that started it all
now in it’s 17th printing:
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Order Personally Inscribed Copies of The Soul of a Horse
Order Both The Soul of a Horse & Born Wild – Save 20%
Both Personally Inscribed
Please list the names for each inscription in the “instructions to Seller” field as you check out!
Read More About Born Wild
Read More About The Soul of a Horse
Watch The Soul of a Horse Trailer
Watch the Born Wild Trailer
“Joe Camp is a master storyteller.” – The New York Times
“One cannot help but be touched by Camp’s love and sympathy for animals and by his eloquence on the subject.” – Michael Korda, The Washington Post
“Joe Camp is a natural when it comes to understanding how animals tick and a genius at telling us their story. His books are must-reads for those who love animals of any species.” – Monty Roberts – Author of New York Timers Best-seller The Man Who Listens to Horses
“Camp’s tightly-written, simply-designed and powerfully drawn chapters often read like short stories that flow from the heart.” Jack L. Kennedy – The Joplin Independent
“Joe Camp is a gifted storyteller and the results are magical. Joe entertains, educates and empowers, baring his own soul while articulating keystone principles of a modern revolution in horsemanship.” – Rick Lamb – TV/Radio host – The Horse Show
Follow our latest journey with two amazing new arrivals from the wild. Kathleen’s terrific photos are worth the click.
In chronological order:
What an Extraordinary Weekend!
Firestorm’s Amazing First Day in the Playpen
No-Agenda Time – So Much Value!
An Amazing Birthday Gift from a Wild Mustang!
Saffron and Firestorm – Progress and Photos – Lots of Both!
Two Mustangs – Three Mind-Boggling Months!
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