New Client Package
My dear Friend and Fellow Horse Lover,
Thanks so much for contacting me about the natural trim and natural horse care; the two go hand in hand. I look forward to meeting you and your equine friends.
I began trimming my own horse in 2002 and began doing horses for other people in 2005. This is not a job; it is my passion and avocation.
I do not intend to have a large practice. Rather I look for clients with really sore or sick horses because I can make a difference in their lives. In many cases I am their last hope. I also look for clients who might be interested in trimming their own horse once the hooves are rehabilitated from shoeing or poor trims.
You will find that I am very different from a farrier. I take all the time I need with you and your horse. I want you to understand exactly what is going on. I hope you will be open to learning as much about natural care as possible because it’s so good for your horse. A great habitat supports great feet.
If this sounds like the kind of relationship you would like to have, let’s move forward and make an appointment.
At our Appointment please:
- Have your horse ready with clean feet. If you want to learn about the hoof, consider giving them a scrub so you can see the parts.
- Please concentrate on holding your horse and leave side conversations and cells for another time. This is as much for my safety as your horse’s happy feet.
- Horses must hold their feet for longer periods than a typical foot cleaning. Please train your horse. With a youngster, consider ground-working her beforehand. If you would like information on clicker training to have a model citizen, just ask and I will email you a handout.
- I will try to be on time but things do come up. If I am later than 15 minutes I will try to call you. Normally I prefer e-mail if that works for you.
I would like to be paid in cash at the time of the visit. If the bill includes boots and tools, I am glad to take a check.
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Posted in Services | Tagged barefeet, experience 2 Comments
I have a 9 yr old quarter horse who has been having issues with lameness. He had and MRI which revealed Bilateral DDFT tears and navicular in both front feet. I have read Pete Ramey’s book and articles . I want to use a blacksmith who follows his techniques, but i cant find one. I have also changed his diet as Pete has recommended in his book. I tried to get a consultaiton with Pete, but he no longer does them. My horse is very athletic and I would love to help him return to the highest level of wellness that I can. If you can help me, I would be deeply grateful. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for your help.
sincerely,
sue muller
Hi Sue,
Of course I can get you some help!
First off do not worry about “Navicular”. All it means in most cases is this: the back of my foot hurts so much that I must land on my toe, then heel. By doing this my tendon rubs the navicular bone and creates inflammation and bone damage. What the vet hasn’t told you is that the tip of the coffin bone has suffered even more damage from landing on the toe. Pete has rehabbed Every Single “Navicular” who has come his way. So stop worrying.
Here are some options:
1. No doubt Diana at Pete’s suggested you check the group he started American Hoof Association. Some of them are terrific and some, well, I don’t know how they got accepted, let’s put it that way. So check that and see who lives near you, get back to me. Where do you live?
2. If you lived near me, I would refer you to Laura Florence. (When there are radiographs, MRI and a history, I refer to her. I am more like a GP) So that’s what I will do. Google her for email and phone. Tell her Dawn sent you. Laura is a barefoot farrier who worked at New Bolton for many years and has seen everything.
A. You could set up a fair fee and have her teach you how to trim your horse, via email. You may initially have to take a big breath, but Sue, I promise you that if you touch up your horse every week or two, he will get better faster than if you work with a pro who will come out every 5 weeks. If we find a good pro, you could trim in between visits. If Laura says this is straight forward I would be glad to work with you long distance, too. But I would prefer she evaluate. I would encourage you to make a phone apt with her after you send photos and MRI. (I do not know what her consultation fee is but it’s worth whatever she asks!)
B. There have been times that Laura is willing to fly to a horse, do the set up trim and then work with you afterwards. Or I could.
C. What ever you do, anyone will need good photos. Clean, Scrubbed, on a clean floor. I have suggested angles on my web site. As you take the photo, check it to make sure the angle and light is good. It would be a wonderful idea for you to print and put them in a notebook for yourself too. You can watch the changes and check your trim more carefully.
I am glad that you have adjusted the horse’s diet. We can pretty much assume a QH is laminitis prone. It’s nice to get that off the table.
What you have is very common. I can already visualize the front hooves, upright, long heels that are suppose to release the tendon tightening on the bone. But of course the tendon retightens to accomodate. Dr. Rooney published articles on what “navicular” really was and how to treat it in 1975…then he said, pull the shoes and turn the horse out for a year with a herd. Sure enough the horse moved around and built a healthy back of foot; the excess hoof snapped off during a good canter. I wish I knew why the vet world opted to ignore him? I absolutely love rehabbing naviculars because more often then not they trot right out of the barn in padded boots!
Let me know what you decide to do. My email is 4sweet.feet@gmail.com
Dawn