We all come to learning barefoot from different venues. I have always been an advocate for having horses living outside. This is how I was raised and I had seen many horses living in all seasons on the wide open plains of the prairies with no ill effects. My philosophy about horses living out was not always embraced by places where I worked or people who I trained for. People who care that “my horse is worth more and he has to be protected against the elements. He can't go outside. If he was just one of those 'back yard' horses I would ... but he might hurt himself. Or “my horse 'needs' shoes. “He's the exception” … or whatever their argument is.

I started to look at barefoot trimming when my own horse was diagnosed with navicular. I was horrified that this had happened to my show horse given the 'better' than natural care he had supposedly been given. I would not go the bar shoes route. I had seen it done on other horses and it did nothing but prolong their agony ... much too long for me to watch ... so I dismissed my farrier and started trimming myself. At this point I thought that I couldn't do any more damage than had already been done to my horse ... and if I did ... I was prepared that he would die at my hands and no one else’s. I studied and looked at the 'free range' horses raised on the prairies bought a computer and read Dr. Strasser’s and Jaimie Jackson’s research - which was very, very new to the world at that time. They were the only 2 'out there' (apart from people like Bracy Clarke who's writings from the 1800's are still spine chilling to me).

What I read made perfect sense and was very close to being what I was already doing. It was great to read their works and to find out that I was not the only voice out there. What I was doing was so different from anyone around me that I felt like I was about to be labeled the 'village witch' or something. Thankfully that has changed (a bit) today. :)

The only one who speaks the truth at all times is the horse!! His comfort and conduct speaks volumes.

The truth is that there are many people out there who have had great success trimming their own horses by reading a book or websites or taking a clinic or two...or by sending email pictures, etc. There are many people who trim their own horses and have actually taken them from lame to sound through their own trimming efforts and the 'key' lifestyle components.

The rates and speed at which they make poitive gains ranges, but the truth is they are making progress through their own hands. Despite differences in the horse and his life circumstances, the climate or location of people, there are people that can and do learn to do a performance trim with very little help. Most are working on their EQ system or the living space of the horse to enhance it to the best of their ability to assist with conditioning and shaping the feet. It is best if you can get hands on help to learn the basic applications at first.  

To dramatically shorten your learning curve, Equinextion now offers Trimmer Courses.  The intricacies of performance trimming will come with time, practice and patience. If you can look at many naturally born and raised 'free range', you will see very similar feet. Near perfect!!

If you buy or have a horse with natural feet, one that has been born and raised in a natural environment, the task of trimming (and training) is much more easygoing than trying to start trimming by correcting acquired long term pathologies, but, having said that, there are even people who start there and make progress as well. Your learning curve can be dramatically decreased with proper footing and exercise for the horse ... and initial help to get started working with the tools.

Virtually constant movement is key!   Key to the foot functioning...key to rapid changes/recovery taking place, key to performance, balance and conditioning. Enhance the land the horses live on. Make better footing for your climate by adding gravel or crushed rock to cover muck in high traffic areas. Combined with a proper shaped foot, lameness will disappear as well as many vet bills. Design a better EQ system now!!

What some Trimmer Course Students are saying...

"Wow Lisa,  I came thinking I pretty much had things down packed..not much more to learn and bang!  I learned so much this second week that I have so much better understanding of how to look at the entire horse.  Thanks..it's amazing"

"Lisa, you blew me away with knowledge this week.  I'm totally changed."

"My horses are doing so great after taking the Trimmer one course.  I even get asked to trim my friends and neighbors horses and I see (and they do too) much progress in them.  We'll never look back!   Thanks for all you do"