Hoof Trimming Videos
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Posted in Hoof Articles, Services, Trimming | Tagged about me, barefeet, experience, hoof mechanics, tools, trimming 18 Comments
4 Sweet Feet
For the Natural Trim, and the Natural Horse
Dawn,
I just wanted to say thanks for your great videos and views on natural hoof trimming. I just started doing my own horses here in California after my natural trimmer started to have an issue getting to me, I moved further from her location. I, in desperation, hired a local “shoer” to do a barefoot trim on my girls and I was very unhappy with the end product. Hence my need to glean all the info I could about it all over again. A couple of years ago I witnessed a natural trimmer at our barn and was hooked by the logic of it, even went out and bought Pete Ramey’s book. I’ve bought all the toys need:hoof jack, 14 in rasp, gloves, hoof knife, and nippers which will allow me to do my own feet now. I do believe nobody cares more about the welfare of my horses more than me and I am the one willing to spend all the time to do it right. Anyway if you have and comments or feedback please feel free to write. Thanks again….
Bravo! That’s just how I got into it.
My horse was lame after each professional trim so I thought, heck, I can learn this even if I just do one foot a day. I will say my first “victim’, Banjo, a former steeple-chaser, nearly lost his cookies when I came at him with my rasp. I even had the “bike” seat that KC LaPierre uses. I immediately whacked my poor boy with the bottom of it.
One word of caution, Pete (and I am a huge fan of Pete and Dr. Bob Bowker…I have notes on their seminars in “Articles”) has changed his trim from the book. The update is on his web site. His articles are priceless and I keep them in a binder, rereading all the time.
Your best friend in this hoof thing is correct diet and lots of miles! My friend Laura Florence has studied a semi-feral herd of Shetland ponies at New Bolton, U. of Penn. By all parameters those ponies should have all died of founder but they haven’t. Even though they are up to their eyeballs in green grass, they are moving a lot. Bands of mares with foals + 1 stallion cover on average 10 miles per day. Stallion herds 50 MILES PER DAY!!! Of course having their hormones working and the correct interaction certainly help.
I would be glad to look over photos of one of your horse’s feet, mark them and give comments, email, talk on Skype or phone. If you are interested that is like a trim as it does consume some time. So $50. But after that we can look at photos of your other horses and you can tell me what you should do! If they are perfect I will send you a Reiki gold star. If there are issues, you no doubt repeat the same mistake. In some cases, I can actually tell which farrier does which horse because I have gotten to know their “styles”. No doubt others could pick my trim out, from say a Strasser trained trimmer! I sure hope so!!! (snap)
It sounds like you are far enough along that pulling together 10 or so friends and offering a clinic is over kill. Just know that I am here if that every sounds interesting to you. I do a presentation and then work with each owner on her horse. Usually we can get it all done in a long weekend. I like my plane and parking covered with at least $300 in my pocket on the return trip (but more is really great).
Owners just have to trim. There won’t be enough of us for years to come! I fly out of Philadelphia, Pa.
I still have some updating and writing to do on this site but I do have a nice Power Point Presentation completed…it was for the Panama clinics. Maybe I could do a voice over and put it here? I will ask my web master, son Adam! It’s good info but no trimming.
Let me know what you want to do, if anything.
Congrats and keep up the good work. Remember feet are organic. Right now my Sunny has a crack on his right front. Big deal I hacked out for hours, barefoot and no boots today! I soak to be sure there is no bacteria and it is growing out just fine. Feet change and adjust to climate, diet, stress, feed. It doesn’t sound like you will listen to any naysayers but I just wanted to give you some encouragement!!!
Happy Trails!
Dawn
Dawn. Thank you so much for these videos! You have given me the confidence to learn to trim my horses between farrier visits. Your teaching skills are terrific Thanks as well to the videographer. Very well done!
Thanks Lynell,
I am so happy that the videos helped!
Today I visited my youngest client (16) and frankly I didn’t expect that she had put much effort into the trim. We miss each other a lot and I end up doing the work.
And on top of that, she had moved to a more traditional barn where there’s a trainer to help with her young horse. Last month, before the move, I tried to bolster her up as best I could but I fully expected the adults to come down on her and eventually make her get the little guy shod. Adults can really overwhelm kids! The only person in her court was me!
On the last visit I leaned a little harder because I was tired of doing her horse. Being under the same horse forever, is not my plan! When she brought her little Arab out, I was so very impressed. Except for a tweak here and there, he looked fabulous! The boy has never been in shoes and he looks terrific.
Frankly I think the horses are much better off having a touch up every week, rather than an overhaul every 6 weeks!
You keep up the good work and I hope, one day you will retire your farrier and take over the job. If you would like to run any photos past me, I would be glad to look at them.
Trim on Gal!
Dawn
I really found these videos interesting and informative. It is so hard to get decent information on the internet these days.
I was also happy to note that I use the same rasp as you.
I just wish I could download the videos to play on my DVD player.
Keep up the good work.
Kim,
Thanks for your note. The video’s are also on You Tube… 4sweetfeet. Can you download from there?
[...] Equus Girl, If you rasp once or twice between farrier visits, you make his work easier. Offer to pay a little more for a lesson in how to rasp inbetween his visits. If you rasp every three to four weeks, you should not need nippers. You will need a real rasp, not a 'rider's rasp'. Here is a link to 'how to' videos from Dawn Willoughby, the person that taught me how to trim. http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/hoof-trimming-videos/ [...]
Hi…I encourage everyone to learn to trim from a natural trimmer.
If you are in the area I can recommend 2 women to you. They will do the heavy lifting on the first “set up” trim and then you can begin your maintence work on a weekly basis. The healthy, well connected hoof will grow right out of the hairline.
You will absolutely not need nippers. As far as rasps go, I still have the short Heller legend. That is the rasp I started my clients on because it’s so easy to handle. Then down the road as you have the technique down, move up the to the longer rasp if you want to. Many folks, just trimming their own horse, stay with the short rasp. I will be glad to sell you one as long as the supply lasts. Sadly they are discontinued.
The Rider’s Rasp is not only useless but it’s quite expensive. They sent me 2 and I tried it and I let clients try it. There was no good feedback.
If you can file your nails, you can trim your horse! Body workers are now telling me that the barefoot horses who are maintained often by their owners have fewer problems and less severe ones. The horses are never out of balance.
I gave my business to Kate Simmer this past summer. She is excellent and loves to teach people to trim. You can reach her: “Kate Simmer”,
If your horse has a lot of problems I recommend Laura Florence and you can google her.
If you are not, I will work with people online, with photos etc. But it’s best if you locate a good natural trimmer. Personally I would not recommend or use anyone who learned to trim from Dr. Strasser or her people. I find that trim much too aggressive and damaging to the horse.
I actually posted an article on my site about how to find a trimmer. I hope that helps!
Good luck. I promise you that in 7 months your horse will have the best feet ever. In 8 years of trimming I saw exactly 1 well trimmed pony. Shocking.
Dawn
Dawn,
Your videos were very, very informative! I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. I’ve recently started studying how to keep a good barefoot trim in between farrier visits. By far, your clips on youtube were the most helpful. My Tennessee Walking Horse has been barefoot for the majority of his life, and he has strong, healthy hooves. In the two years I’ve had him, he’s never had any lameness issues and only had a touch of thrush once that quickly went away. I would love for you to take a look at my first trim, if you wouldn’t mind seeing my pictures. My regular farrier keeps rescheduling on me, but he should be out in a week (or not, depending on his schedule and the barn owner’s – very frustrating) to check up my gelding. He doesn’t specialize in barefoot trimming, but he’s done a decent job on him. I’d like someone who knows barefoot feet very well to tell me their opinion on his hooves.
Thanks for uploading the videos!
Blair
Hi Blair…sorry for the delay. Sure I would be glad to look at the photos. Why don’t you check on my site the article on taking photos so you get all the angles. Be sure the foot is scrubbed clean and dry. Have your horse on a good flat surface so I can see the foot. send to 4sweet.feet@gmail.com. FYI I have been posting on the Easy Care Blog for the last 3 months. Go to Blog, then Guest Blog, then Notes from the Field. When I have a chance, I need to copy them to my site.
Chat soon,
Dawn
Absolutely. Send photos. Did I not respond to you earlier? sometimes I get a little lost here.
4sweet.feet@gmail.com. also check out Easy Care Blog, my articles are in Notes From The Field. Take care! for photos check out my site to you get the most helpful angles. I have an article up on that.
Good Morning D~
I really enjoyed your videos…did our lesson one last night with the boyz. They were very impressed with mommy practicing and seemed interested and then very relaxed.
They are Friesian geldings and so have a tad bit of flare…I am carefully trying to overcome my newbie nerves and decrease it.
It was a wonderful experience, we will be continuing on…thank YOU.
Do you sell your video on dvd? It would be an invaluable resource to have at home.
I did go to the American Hoof Association Website and it said they didn’t have any natural hoof practitioners in my area.
Do you know anyone in North-Western Michigan?
Thank you for all you do and for being our inspiration!
S~ Titan and Kerrick xo
Dear Titan and Kerrick,
Tell Mum, Good on her! I am in Australia for a month helping daughter Brie with daughter Matilda!
May I suggest you contact Derry at Equine Science Academy. She will definitely be able to put you in touch with someone.
I will be in Charlevoix June, 2012.
Check Dr. Robert Bowker’s address. I wonder if his equine center is near you. He has a staff member who trims.
Derry first though.
Good for you. I touch up the mustang roll every week…esp with big feet, and do the heels once a month. You will get a very nice foot. Not a bad idea to have an “expert” check your trim. But it is science and part art so if you feel funny about any one, just move on.
I have a techie friend and I will ask him if I can put those videos on DVD.
Happy Trails!
OBTW I am writing for the Easy Care Blog under Notes from the Field.
Thanks D! and hello to your “little sheila’s”
Have a safe and fun trip.
Give us a note on your way to TC!
Best and most heartfelt wishes.
T, K and Mum
Excellent videos! Thank you for posting these. I’ve been trimming my own for several years, and picked up some new tidbits from your videos. Very helpful.
Hi Carrie and good for you! I hope you are teaching others and spreading the word. I am now writing for Easy Care Blog here: http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/notes-from-the-field I haven’t gotten them to my site yet but I know you will enjoy them! Take care, Dawn
[...] AllHorse, Here are a series of videos that may help. Only one thing I disagree with – I won't rasp the outer wall of the hoof. I think these videos were made when this was in vogue. These aren't gosple, but they are helpful. This trimmer has retired and now blogs for EasyCare. Hoof Trimming Videos4 Sweet Feet | 4 Sweet Feet [...]
When I taught folks to trim, I never taught them to trim the outer wall as that is only an issue when there is flaring. Flaring hopefully will disappear when the owner has grown a good foot. Having said that I have never experienced any problems with doing the outer wall. When these horses show up with huge flares, I address the bottom third as recommended by Pete Ramey. You can definitely get there without touching the outer wall. I did an OTTB that way just to prove it to myself.
Go Owner Trimmers!!!