Amy Allen Horsemanship
My journey into barefoot trimming started because of my own horse. I own an OTTB, TJ, who had the typical thin cracking walls, could not hold a shoe for over 5 weeks, long toes, low heels, thin soles... just bad feet.
After consulting with my farrier, we tried glue on shoes. On the second set, one of the shoes broke at the quarters. I was fed up and frustrated because these shoes were very expensive. I made the decision to pull his shoes and since December 2002, he has never worn another pair of shoes. The above photos are Tj's hooves.
I began researching the barefoot trim method. I educated myself by attending clinics, reading everything I could find and practicing on my own horses. There is so much that I have learned about barefoot horses, and so much more I continue to learn. Barefoot trimming is not just about the horse's hoof, it's about proper nutrition, correct trims on a 4-6 week schedule, movement and a healthy hoof environment.
Rock crunching trail hooves. This owner takes her mare on trails in WA., rarely needing to use her Easyboots. She has her horses on a balanced nutrition program, good environment and lots of exercise.
April 2006 I attended a Pete Ramey barefoot clinic in Jacksonville, Oregon at ABC Hoof Care. I had already been studying Pete's web page and book and attending this clinic was another educational step in my journey.
Above mare in shoes and three months later. This horse was unsound with a hip problem because of her unbalanced hooves. She is now sound and continuing to grow in strong healthy hooves.
I started trimming for clients in October 2006. Going barefoot is a package, its not just the trim, it encompasses the horses environment, diet, movement and correct trimming every 4-6 weeks. The use of hoof boots, the modern day shoe, is also part of going barefoot, they offer protection when transitioning to barefoot, transitioning from season to season and riding on rocky terraine. Horses hooves reflect their environment. In Wa., the ground is soft and wet in winter/spring, hard and rocky summer and fall. Our horses hooves also reflect this, especially if they are in a muddy paddock, they change to reflect their living conditions. We can help them be more comfortable if we provide hoof boots during the transition phase. I recommend Easyboots, Gloves, Epics, Bares....depends upon the shape of your horses hooves and your needs as a rider.
Rates:
Mini and Ponies $35.00 Set up trim $40.00
Horse $40.00 Set up trim $50.00
Draft $60.00 Set up trim $70.00
Casting $50.00 per hoof, after trim
Travel fee many apply depending upon your location.
* Because of the high fuel charges, I try and group clients in the same area, so I won't have to raise my prices.
Equicast hoof casting. Why would we put a cast on a horses hoof? To offer support and protection while the horse continues to grow a new hoof. The hoof in the example below has very thin soles, I can freely flex them with my fingers. This horse is sound on the sand arena but if she hits a rock she really feels it. By applying hoof casts, she can freely travel, and her hoof will lay in more sole. Casts are not intented to be used while riding as it wears them too quickly. They are good for horses that would need to wear boots 24/7 during transition. They allow the foot to still breathe, and you can also soak the hoof.
Rehab case, 10 yo Paint Gelding, Dakota. The above photos are his first trim. He was a severly neglected starvation case and one shoe was still on, but ready to fall off. He had long toes, under run heels,
Notice these changes. The location of his heel bulbs, the decontracted heels, the width of his frog, and the size of the frog. Also notice the nice tight growth on the side view, which shows about 3/4 of the way down the dorsal hoof wall.
I have become a distributor for California Trace Minerals. I use to use, and suggest a popular NW supplement but it is costs more per day and is too high in maganese. I also started to see hoof wall separation in the horses on this product. CA Trace Minerals meet all the vitamin/mineral and hoof needs of Washingon equines.
Most Washington hay is very low in selenium, copper and zinc (Ive seen about 6 hay tests to confirm this). Copper and zinc are vital for hoof growth and repair. I feed CA Trace to my own horses with 1/2 cup of timothy pellets as a carrier, or soaked beet pulp w/ rice bran to balance the calcium phosphorus ratio. It can be fed alone but its a strong concentrate and doesn't have fillers.
If you are feeding CA Trace, you should only use a white salt block or add loose salt. The mineral blocks are too high in iron and block the copper, thus your horse is not receiving the benefits of the CA Trace.
A 10 lb bag of California Trace will last 80 days (2oz per day) and its $46.00 plus tax. This figures out to be $.58 cents per day. You can read more about California Trace on the mfg. website. California Trace
If you would like to purchase, please let me know and I can bring a bag with me to our appointment, or you can pick up here by calling me at 360-480-5327 to set up a pick up time (cash only if you are not one of my trimming clients). If you need it delivered, please order from the mfg. website.
EasyCare dealer stocking Easyboot Glove, Glove Wide, Epics and Trails.
Easyboot Epics - $70.00 pony size through 2, $70.00
size 3-7, $80.00
Easyboot Glove and Glove Wide - $60.00
Easyboot Trails - $50.00
I fit the boots for correct size and show you the easiest way to put them on and off. I use the Epics, Glove and Trail on my horses and horses in training. They are beneficial in barefoot transition, rehabiliation and riding on trails. I often hear of people who have bought boots but have had them come off easily, often this happens because of incorrect size, too big or the wrong boot. The fit kit that I use ensures a nice tight fit with the Glove, and saves you the time and hassel of the wrong fit.
I am a certified Pacific Hoof Care Practitioner (PHCP). I joined PHCP in 2009 to further my education and continue to improve my trimming skills. PHCP has an intensive training program, a very active group of supportive members and various clinics, including nutrition, anatomy, reading radiographs (these are all clinics I have completed) to help members continue to learn and keep themselves abreast of the latest in barefoot trimming. If you are interested in becoming a barefoot trimmer, I would encourage you to join this group and be a part of their program.
