tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82379691472007508412011-11-27T16:19:25.912-08:00Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-77272357337872149782010-10-22T19:53:00.000-07:002010-10-22T19:54:28.194-07:00

Nov 09: First saw the mare. 18 degrees rotated in both front feet. A mile of heel. No sole. Millimeters from sole penetration. Owner had the vet out for my first trim on her: he vehemently disagreed with my trim plan. After an animated discussion with the very traditional vet, I reluctantly acquiesced, hoping to make better progress at the next appointment. For the next three trims, the owner

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-9896727885499118402010-03-02T21:06:00.000-08:002010-03-02T21:11:58.396-08:00

Messages like this make it ALL worthwhile..."Hi Maria,I'm the American girl living in Spain who contacted you via your amazing blog almost a year ago about who needed reassurance about going barefoot. I'm happy to report that I finally found an amazing vet and hoof care specialist who has helped me through the process, and eight months later my pinto, Indio has some rock hard bare hooves and

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-55220852882788285962010-02-20T22:00:00.000-08:002010-02-20T22:03:02.594-08:00

A good friend of mine recently went to listen to one of the prominent proponents of barefoot hoof care speak. This particular speaker is a scientist, which clearly lends him some degree of instant credibility, and my friend and I very much agree that good science is the only way barefoot hoof care will ever reach the mainstream. Much to her surprise, his lecture failed to cite ANY research, and

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-38319809997291557902009-12-16T19:52:00.001-08:002009-12-16T20:34:58.429-08:00

Well, no time to put together a newsletter this month, but I did have one topic I wanted to address, so here it is.IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TRIM.I know I've said that about 84 gazillion times. For some reason, that phrase gets lost between my lips and the eardrums of many wannabe barefoot horse owners.Let me make a distinction here. I am a Professional Barefoot Hoof Care Provider. All I do is

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-71336475588051819732009-10-23T23:17:00.000-07:002009-10-24T09:37:48.927-07:00

Blonde sorrel...I've never heard the flaxen-mane/tail sorrel coloration termed thus, and I love it!On the other hand -- "psuedo palomino" to describe a blonde sorrel??? Mispelling NOT mine...but nevertheless...ummmm...wow...I have to say, it's a pathetic marketing ploy, but creative....Why do people who expect perfection under saddle constantly make excuses for their horses' poor ground manners?

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-33962283351716581372009-09-10T19:01:00.000-07:002009-09-10T19:12:39.674-07:00

1. Breeding horses that are HYPP N/H or HYPP H/H.2. Breeding horses that are Herda N/HRD or Herda HRD/HRD.3. Not only soring, but also stacks, chains, and pads used to create the horrific, unnatural movement known as the "Big Lick" in Tennessee Walking Horses.GGGRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-57517115449184892912009-08-10T22:16:00.000-07:002009-08-10T22:26:29.795-07:00

Yes, I agree that the horseracing industry does everything wrong, including racing babies, inbreeding, and other questionable breeding practices. But for a long time now, I've squawked about toe grabs, race shoeing practices, and the hoof pathologies created by gallop training. David M. Nunamaker, VMD, DACVS, apparently concurs:http://www.vet.upenn.edu/PennVet/News/Bellwether/WebExclusives/

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-65568632994029017182009-07-17T08:02:00.000-07:002009-07-17T08:23:22.387-07:00

Pete & Ivy have just released a new 3 DVD set documenting the rehab of a single horse for 16 months. This set is an excellent look into the ups and downs some cases present. Of particular interest to me, though, was the final segment, where Pete describes the new radiograph markup techniques he and Dr. Taylor have developed. Using barium paste, the important landmarks (hairline, heel, sole at

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-78188362453089358802009-07-05T21:10:00.000-07:002009-07-05T21:31:32.256-07:00

Making Sense of Natural Horse Training TechniquesPhilosophies on HorsemanshipThoughts and ideas to help guide you and your horse to a more rewarding partnership.What the heck is natural horsemanship, really? Although much of what I've written here is essentially theory, and not specific step by step instruction, I believe you'll find the answers to guide you through many of the places you

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-18605218271963025752009-06-28T19:28:00.000-07:002009-06-28T19:32:27.364-07:00

Folks, if you need to hire a couple of linebackers to manhandle your colt/weanling/yearling for hoof trimming (or any other activity), the basic fact is YOUR COLT NEEDS TRAINING. Don't know how to do it yourself? I'd be happy to do it for you, for my going rate. Training a young horse to be docile and manageable for hoof trimming beats the hell out of hiring SIX linebackers to wrestle your now

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-67955386333243181152009-05-11T21:25:00.000-07:002009-05-11T21:27:23.890-07:00

So there I was, trimming the (salad-plate-sized) right hind hoof of Tolstoy, a ginormous young Warmblood.  He was being a very good boy.  I had his leg back behind him, foot resting in the cradle of my hoof stand; my left foot anchoring the stand, right foot between his back legs.  Suddenly, I see something moving near my right foot.  And here comes a snake, slithering purposefully under Tolstoy,

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-86297605319694031932009-05-06T21:26:00.000-07:002009-05-06T21:47:35.913-07:00

The lovely mare Gracie, owned by my good friend Maren Thompson, foaled a precious filly Sunday night.  Little Aliyana kindly allowed Maren to take these beautiful pictures of her amazing, itty bitty foal feet.  Here's the baby hoof model herself: And here are her perfect, tiny hooves...at 12 hours old:...and at 2 days old:

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-13060783178713850142009-04-27T22:07:00.001-07:002009-04-27T22:12:37.325-07:00

"Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Sunday that he was planning to treat the hoof with “Thrush Buster” as a drying agent and also with Animalintex poultice." ...this from the trainer of Kentucky Derby favorite, Quality Road, on how he plans to treat the second quarter crack (which is at the coronet band, and bleeding) the horse popped last week...because of course, the priority is not healing

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-46035357311986159362009-04-25T22:40:00.000-07:002009-04-25T23:24:34.112-07:00

(Editor's note:  Today's Guest Blogger is 7 yr old Mixer, AKA Drum's Dunlight Shadow, dun tobiano gelding by APHA stallion, Drum's Double, and out of AQHA mare, Tilly's Twilight.)Got to thinking about it today.  There's just some things that a self-respecting Paint horse can't abide.  Things that sorta preclude the sensible, calm, trustworthy, unflappable side of a horse like me.  Here are the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-12438245557697462352009-04-13T22:27:00.000-07:002009-04-13T22:29:44.899-07:00

...here's one for ya: my advice du jour? Go to Farrier's School. Or at least purchase the text books and read the certification requirements.No, really -- I mean it!First of all, the biggest stumbling block most aspiring trimmers face is how the heck to use a hoof knife, nippers, and a rasp. Not to mention how to gracefully wrestle a shoe from a hoof. I've yet to attend a barefoot hoof care

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-47017640090748229162009-04-01T22:07:00.000-07:002009-04-01T22:14:41.274-07:00

We have some very talented individuals providing barefoot hoof care services these days. We're starting to present an organized front, and we're beginning to sound a lot alike in what we preach. This is all very good and positive news for barefoot hoof care and healthier horsekeeping practices. But it continues to be a very grass-roots movement, and while that in itself is not detrimental, the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-3477051122298821632009-03-29T21:10:00.000-07:002009-03-29T21:33:19.474-07:00

I spent a good portion of my week long "staycation" revamping the website.I've added tons of links, more thorough information on all topics, references, articles, research studies, downloadable how-to documents, downloadable forms and information flyers, and an archive of past newsletters. I hope you find the new format easy to navigate, and the information enlightening and helpful!It's not

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-7817811814430500372009-02-22T20:01:00.000-08:002009-02-22T20:27:16.034-08:00

Think barefoot is a new idea that goes against hundreds of years of farrier science? Think again. Even in 1889, it was widely recognized that shoeing and traditional farriery caused most of the hoof and limb maladies suffered by domestic horses. We knew it then...we just didn't know how diet and environment thwarted our attempts to keep barefoot horses comfortable!Read the section on horse

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-72407503915559527082009-02-18T22:27:00.000-08:002009-02-18T22:32:02.104-08:00

Nothing ruins my month like a horse going even slightly tender after a trim. So the rainy season -- when it actually *rains* -- gives me fits. You'll hear a lot of people refer to the wet weather as "abscess weather". That's not really true for healthy footed horses, and I'll explain why in an article on abscesses in the upcoming newsletter. But it is absolutely true that the soggy conditions

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-61837742930840395012009-01-15T21:37:00.000-08:002009-01-15T21:40:47.755-08:00

Carefully formulated to compliment thetypical Southern California forage. Our Mineral Blend exceeds theNRC's Nutrient Requirements of Horses while carefully adjusting major & trace mineralratios for optimum absorption. Horses thrive best on adequate amounts of forage, and most of the popular hays provide ample amounts of

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-79712412707277871312009-01-09T18:56:00.000-08:002009-01-09T19:07:59.680-08:00

People. I don't give you detailed explanations of your horse's pathologies and in-depth suggestions for correcting them by improving nutrition, hygiene and lifestyle just to hear myself talk (or type). If I tell you your horse suffers from laminitis and diet changes are imperative, but you just can't believe that maybe I know what I'm talking about, for God's sake, at least read the research I

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-84836452381682682502009-01-08T21:43:00.000-08:002009-01-08T21:46:25.990-08:00

Hey, I figure I deserved a month off. December was sort of a doozy of a month, after all. I promise I'll get my nose back on the grindstone and put together a worthy February issue!

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-67799896025526794212008-12-19T22:12:00.000-08:002008-12-19T22:22:41.875-08:00

If you spent time in the flood waters in the Tijuana River Valley on Wednesday, and you have not previously been vaccinated for Hepatitis A, please contact your physician, or call Passport Health in Mission Valley. We went today, and received a dose of Hep A immune globulin to immediately protect us against Hepatitis A. We're going back in 3 months (when the IG wears off) for our Hep A vaccines

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-73559133040495701092008-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:002008-12-18T08:56:31.925-08:00

Let me just start by saying that ALL OF THE SUN COAST HORSES ARE SAFE AND SOUND!!Kirk & I arrived at the ranch at about 9 yesterday morning. We had debated about going down at all; it was raining steadily, and we figured there wasn't much we could do with the horses. But we wanted to see them and make sure they were snug, feed them their supplements, and come home. We left the house without my

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-61809262239449502402008-11-30T20:30:00.000-08:002009-01-18T21:16:34.925-08:00

The difference between what barefoot hoof care specialists do and what shoers do doesn't end with the trim and the absence of shoes. The new regime in hoof care has realized that diet, hygiene, lifestyle, and movement are paramount to a truly healthy hoof. We've made it our business to learn what it takes to build a robustly healthy hoof from the inside out. Keeping a barefoot horse 100%

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-69220267266682577752008-09-15T21:30:00.000-07:002008-09-15T21:48:48.624-07:00

Meet Sport, a 6 year old Paint Horse gelding. Sport's shoes came of at the beginning of May. His toes were so long, they were practically in the next zip code!Sport has been completely sound and comfortable throughout his transition. We fitted him with boots and pads when we pulled his shoes, but he has not needed them at all. He is growing quite a bit of bar, probably because he has some

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-57857248821789723382008-09-15T19:53:00.000-07:002008-09-15T20:01:30.342-07:00

I wanted to clarify this because it seems to be a sticking point for a lot of folks, and it's come up a lot recently. I'm borrowing an image from Marjorie Smith's website, barefoothorse.com, (thank you, Marjorie!) but I've relabeled the image because there were a few landmarks unacknowledged or labeled by a different name than I generally use in the original.First and foremost, we need to

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-10848470771522941752008-08-06T22:11:00.000-07:002008-08-19T21:29:14.913-07:00

I take ALL the blame for this one. And in all fairness, nobody did anything really "wrong". The problem is that I had not prepared the horse appropriately for the group lesson I blythely rode him in to. Here is a nice little horse that I started in the way that I have learned, and which has turned out some very nice colts: soft, relaxed, self confident, and willing. My horsemanship in the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-34208042343261453312008-07-28T21:33:00.000-07:002008-07-28T22:13:14.541-07:00

As I made my rounds today, I was depressed to find several of the horses in my care still suffering from nasty, chronic thrush. While a good trim is essential to grow a healthy hoof, it is utterly useless if the horse lives in conditions that literally rot the hoof...small pens that make it impossible for the horse not to stand in urine or manure; deep, soft bedding or footing that holds

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-628799553982074902008-06-22T05:42:00.000-07:002008-06-22T05:45:22.878-07:00

The answer is physiologically, yes, every horse can go barefoot. Unfortunately, barefoot requires a level of commitment from the horse's owner that not all owners are willing to accommodate. To grow and maintain a truly healthy hoof requires:1. Adequate, proper movement, preferably over the same type of terrain upon which the horse will be required to work. That means as many heel-first

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-9789313726445004072008-06-07T07:41:00.000-07:002008-06-07T07:50:18.775-07:00

As of April 2008, all thirty six horses of the Houston Mounted Patrol are barefoot, working on asphalt and concrete daily. Read the whole story here:http://www.thehorseshoof.com/success_Houston1.htmlAnd check out some photos of the horses here:http://easycareinc.typepad.com/photos/houston_police_mounted_pa/index.html

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-88112134996067461332008-05-31T06:39:00.000-07:002008-05-31T06:47:00.349-07:00

Our first issue will be making its way to your email inbox or tack room door this week! We hope you will find the barefoot, horsekeeping & horsemanship facts, news and tips useful and informative. A big thank you goes to my editor and all-around assistant, Kristi Inzunza, for working her tail off to get the newsletter off the ground!

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-32446066428578106042008-05-14T20:36:00.000-07:002008-05-17T19:38:09.706-07:00

I guess a red flag should have popped up in my head when the subject line of the email included the phrase "high performance barefoot trimmer". That was exactly the terminology used by the last Strasser follower I crossed paths with. But this individual had found and, a logical person would have presumed by what she said in her email, read my website, which describes in detail my trimming

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-57153131214055013502008-05-13T06:55:00.000-07:002008-05-13T12:56:24.092-07:00

I know I harp on feed issues a lot, and I'm sure plenty of you shake your heads and mutter "it's just ONE molasses cookie", "but he LOVES to be turned out to eat grass all day long", or, "she needs alfalfa to keep weight on her". I'm also sure that there are plenty of vets and trainers who will blythely tell you a little bit won't hurt.But what we're seeing in the field, and what current research

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-59092583247347482302008-05-03T17:11:00.001-07:002008-05-03T21:33:28.292-07:00

Well, as much as I have mixed emotions about horse racing, I watched the Derby today. Actually, I was very interested to see if they talked about the PolyFlex glue-on shoes worn by Big Brown and Pyro; while it's not barefoot, and still a peripheral loading device, it IS a break from the traditional nailed on aluminum shoe, and bound to make people -- even non-horse people -- think. Eight Belles'

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-29431605651575251682008-05-03T15:56:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:39:38.254-08:00

The barefoot hoofcare contingent is talking a lot about frog health these days, and I believe we are all starting to agree it is a MUCH bigger issue than anyone ever suspected. The consensus, after many case studies, is that bacterial/fungal infection attacks the entire hoof capsule, and treating the entire foot with oxine or chlorine dioxide can dramatically aid rehabilation.In my March 5th

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-71287191871488759942008-04-30T20:14:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:39:38.988-08:00

I struggle daily with trying to explain to all of my clients the changes individual horses must undergo to have healthy, comfortable, balanced feet. For most people, who have yet to see a truly healthy equine foot in person, it is very difficult to grasp. Even if I pick up a very healthy foot and show them, and then walk over to their transitioning horse, it's tough to keep the differences in

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-1355355015740542712008-04-30T19:51:00.000-07:002008-05-11T21:33:57.041-07:00

I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for taking the leap of faith to entrust me with the care of your horses. I am thrilled and hugely optimistic about the barefoot hoofcare revolution based upon the sheer numbers of owners taking the time to educate themselves on the subject, and then embark on the sometimes scary, sometimes lengthy, and still largely controversial road to barefoot

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-28550493784061590722008-04-24T20:13:00.000-07:002008-04-24T20:17:20.449-07:00

It is not an uncommon practice among farriers to straighten a crooked limb by leaving one side of the hoof longer than the other. The logic is that both heels should strike the ground at the same time. But if the whole LEG is crooked, which it will be to some degree in a horse that turns in or out with a medial/laterally balanced hoof, forcing both heels to land simultaneously cannot be healthy

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-52166011765278700372008-04-10T14:33:00.000-07:002008-04-10T21:21:14.473-07:00

Some distinctions that ought to be made...I spend lots of time reading everything I can dig up on the subject of hoof care. I have no bias in my quest for knowledge -- I devour horseshoeing texts and conventional hoof care information as well as barefoot. I do, however, have a clear bias in what I believe to be healthier for the horse. The more I learn, the more hooves I pull shoes from, the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-82650384837037211442008-03-27T20:05:00.001-07:002008-03-27T20:05:39.716-07:00

Rarely does a horse's training progress without having to go back occasionally to re-train or reinforce things that the horse had already successfully mastered. Usually it happens right when you have a breakthrough...you work and work and work to get a better bend to the right, and suddenly the bend to the left that was the GOOD side is gone. Two strides forward, one stride back. Is this the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-64935340331883162512008-03-27T13:34:00.000-07:002008-03-27T14:11:35.986-07:00

A common thread runs through the thinking of the best of the best involved in the barefoot hoof care revolution: hoof function promoted by trimming that respects the internal structures. Traditional farriery relies heavily on angles and markers that can easily be misinterpreted. Dr. Doug Butler, author of “The Principles of Horse Shoeing II” (required reading for anyone studying for the AFA

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-45797936630660902162008-03-20T20:34:00.000-07:002008-03-20T20:46:25.488-07:00

I am frequently asked what sets the physiological barefoot trim apart from the barefoot trim practiced by most traditional farriers. Because many unshod horses suffer from the same sort of ailments the physiological trim successfully corrects or avoids, it is important to understand that there are a number of differences. It is a fact that farrier schools and texts seldom address the different

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-33297099597932794802008-03-20T08:50:00.000-07:002009-05-17T14:26:12.722-07:00

Whose responsibility is it? And how do you go about making it happen?A good trim is critical to your horse's hoof health. But a horse that has not been schooled to balance and give his feet for as long as one needs them makes it much more difficult to implement. Of course, sometimes it's hard to discern whether the horse has not been properly taught to help the hoofcare professional, or the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-37619085748598508192008-03-09T20:14:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:39:39.290-08:00

Now there's a recurring theme with new barefoot clients."My old farrier was trying to grow heel." "Don't we need to grow heel to stand his foot up and correct the toe angle?"Here's what I want you to do:FORGET EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ABOUT THE HOOF. Especially anything your last farrier told you. Please. I'm sure he was a nice guy. He may have even been well trained in farrier

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-44180839624973178472008-03-08T18:17:00.000-08:002008-03-12T22:08:49.799-07:00

Flare is bad, we all know that. Flare left unchecked literally pulls the wall away from the inner structures, and stretches and weakens -- sometimes even tears -- the laminae. It is critical to keep any portion of the wall that is flaring very strongly beveled, in order for the wall to grow down from the coronary band with a healthy, tight laminar connection.It is also important to preserve the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-59134327381166888402008-03-06T08:44:00.000-08:002008-03-06T08:50:41.556-08:00

So my very favorite-est horse (and I only feel comfortable writing this because I'm pretty sure my beloved herd does not read my blog), my 6 yr old home bred Paint/Quarter cross, Mixer, and I are currently on a little learning journey. Mostly -- historically, anyway -- I haven't been one for doing much arena work since my days riding hunt seat as a teenager. And Mixer fairly early on had

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-58435101367685463862008-03-05T21:41:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:39:39.714-08:00

So, remember when we all thought your horse only had thrush if his feet smelled nasty and he had that oily black sludge along his frogs? And that it usually meant your horse was living in soggy, less than adequately clean conditions?(Crickets chirping.)You mean that's still the only thing that tips you off to frog infection??Wake up, kids. This is a freakin' epidemic. Probably one in five

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-57684411248295810232008-02-25T21:42:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:39:39.771-08:00

I have to confess that over the years, my opinion on whether the bars should be trimmed has run the gamut. Now, I believe that it depends on a lot of different things...first and foremost, what makes the horse most comfortable.Early on in my learning, I gave some credence to the idea that the bars could become impacted, and that impacted bars could be a cause of heel pain, and even navicular

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-4400343119985300502008-02-21T18:56:00.000-08:002008-02-21T21:06:36.977-08:00

Too much sugar? Too much protein? Probably! Is he getting all of the nutrition he needs to be healthy and robust? With laminitis cases on the rise, it's worth re-evaluating your feeding program. Kathryn Watts, a professional agricultural contract researcher and consultant, offers up her expertise on the subject at SaferGrass.org. You'll be surprised...and you'll probably change your horse's

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-87938218515988682192008-02-17T20:55:00.000-08:002008-02-17T21:01:05.658-08:00

So you've decided you're ready to take your horse(s) barefoot. That's fabulous news! I applaud your decision. Now for the hard part -- finding a trimmer in your area who knows what they're doing.1. First of all, keep in mind that there are a number of different barefoot philosophies; some are based on theory, some are based on guesses, others are based on scientific research. If barefoot

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-61379600787105231272008-02-12T20:17:00.000-08:002008-03-31T21:08:17.565-07:00

I absolutely believe that the traditional "two wrinkles" bit position puts the bit in a constantly engaged position in the horse's mouth. Most traditional trainers will notch it up there; I've heard it explained that there is less slack to take up before the rider has contact with the horse's mouth; I've also heard people insist that it is the only way to keep the horse from getting his tongue

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-24925885744208072012008-02-12T19:32:00.000-08:002008-02-12T19:37:02.273-08:00

A little perspective is sometimes needed to combat the farriers vs. barefoot trimmers rumor mill. We find ourselves in a bit of a disadvantaged position, simply because the barefoot movement had some serious growing pains along the way. How couldn't it? No one had done the research. We were feeling our way along with little more than guesses and experimentation...some educated, some not so

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-77997351366016252702008-02-04T07:37:00.000-08:002008-02-12T19:31:10.560-08:00

The overwhelming resistance to the idea of barefoot hoofcare is discouraging, but not surprising. After a thousand years of shoeing horses, people want science. After several decades of less scientific barefoot ideas, including the four-point trim (which continues to invade the sole plane at the toe) and the Strasser technique (which literally carves the sole into the desired shape) I don't

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-90125126242953936292008-02-02T16:43:00.000-08:002008-02-02T19:36:11.969-08:00

I have been riding a beautiful little Paint mare for several months now. She is an absolute sweetheart…lovely on the ground, affectionate, soft in the bridle. She is also a young 7 years, and recently came off of a six month lay-up...she needs miles. Somewhere along the line, she has been taught – yes, taught – to fling her head up and fight the bit. She’s mostly stopped that reaction when I

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-5030276847852905822007-12-18T06:37:00.000-08:002007-12-18T06:51:13.608-08:00

Every day I am further astounded by the resistance horse people have to the barefoot revolution. Again and again, I hear the same objections...but none of the objections hold up. Doesn't matter; the general horsey public is as stubborn as the mule persuasion on the topic.They say, "where's the research?"...you show them the research that proves this is right...you even show them the research

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-82709469542056193772007-10-03T20:29:00.000-07:002007-10-06T18:55:00.442-07:00

Over the past 300 years (or possibly longer) a recurring debate has smoldered: to shoe, or not to shoe?Believe me, when Nike starts making technically advanced, anatomically considerate gel running shoes for horses, I'll be placing an order. But as long as our best attempt to shoe our horses involves a hammer, nails, and a hunk of steel (or aluminum, for that manner -- oooo, how very advanced!),

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-31391173602574135702007-09-08T15:46:00.000-07:002007-09-08T15:47:40.285-07:00

"...and I whispered to the horse: trust no man in whose eyes you do not see yourself as an equal." -- Don Vincenzo Giobbe, circa 1700An interesting quote. I liked it immediately...but spent a lot of time considering why: it seemed to make sense in my way of thinking, but I knew if I posted it on my chalkboard, it would spark some animated debate. So I contemplated. And now it's on the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-34805112953621495432007-07-19T17:39:00.000-07:002007-07-19T18:23:18.187-07:00

I read a very interesting article recently in the Eclectic-Horseman.com archives by Bettina Drummond. The subject was the phrase "on-the-bit" -- not a discussion of what the phrase means -- but rather a discussion of the fact that the phrase is based on NOTHING in the classical horsemanship literature of the 16 - 1700's...instead, it is, perhaps, simply a bad translation from French or German.

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-30785425892660612512007-07-05T20:14:00.000-07:002007-07-05T20:21:33.608-07:00

Lots of folks seem to think that the roundpen is all about "hooking on". While it's absolutely important to be sure the horse is paying attention to you, hooking on is something that can easily be overdone...and it's one of the harder things to UNtrain. The point of hooking on is NOT "getting the horse to follow you as leader." It is simply teaching him that when you're around, he should be

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-87622717162824990582007-06-21T17:34:00.000-07:002007-06-21T19:19:33.052-07:00

WOW, have I been remiss in my blogging! So many thoughts I should have written about here over the last several months. Guess it's time to play a little catch-up.Of all the things we can do to get more in tune with our horses, and get our horses more in tune with us, probably the most beneficial thing -- the thing that will make your horse SO much more secure and reliable -- is also the hardest

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-84054771617803543692007-03-08T19:16:00.000-08:002007-03-12T08:10:00.886-07:00

Wouldn’t it be nice if your horse was SO light that he ALWAYS left the float in the rope or the reins?? The only way to achieve that is for YOU to always leave the float in the rope or the reins.As your feel and timing improve, you should find that you can get even a very green colt to respond to your feel through considerable slack in the lead rope. I used to believe that taking the slack out

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-48333820918992185482007-03-01T20:39:00.000-08:002007-03-01T20:43:21.213-08:00

Contrary to what it might seem to imply, "pressure" does not equal force.It took me an awfully long time to figure that one out, I'll admit. I suppose a lot of my old-school thinking got in the way. No matter how far I tried to take my horsemanship AWAY from the forceful ways, when I'd hit a brick wall, I'd find myself wondering if I had "spared the rod and spoiled the child". Maybe I was

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-23936097248753837112007-02-09T20:17:00.000-08:002007-02-08T19:52:19.899-08:00

It’s important to understand that the natural horsemanship approach is a total philosophy towards horses. It can’t be applied to just one part of the horse’s interaction with humans. The first lessons on the ground -- yielding the front or hindquarters, suppling the head and neck, following the feel of the lead rope to lead up and back freely, working at liberty in the roundpen -- are the

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-6619307357946456212007-02-01T22:21:00.000-08:002007-02-01T22:43:32.524-08:00

What we want is a willing partnership with the horse. In order to achieve that, we have to be consistent, we have to make sense to his way of thinking, and we have to present the things we want him to do for us in such a way that he is able to do them. To my way of thinking, you don’t just ride your horse…you have a relationship with him. So we’re not just going to talk about how you sit him,

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-83085058121705349722007-01-30T21:10:00.000-08:002007-01-30T21:12:07.251-08:00

What is the goal of ground work? To teach the horse to feel of you…and by doing so, teach him to flow with your feel, instead of resisting it. To make him safe (or at least safer) to handle from the ground. And to lay in the foundation for being ridden.It is so hard to define feel. Feel is not a movement that the horse does on cue. It is NOT a cue. Feel is much more complex. It is very

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237969147200750841.post-26728886715605824732007-01-30T16:32:00.000-08:002007-01-30T17:20:31.735-08:00

A lot of phrases have been coined in an attempt to describe a type of horsemanship that eschews traditional training methods of force and instead embraces what has become widely known as "feel". I gave a lot of thought to what I would call my website and blog dedicated to that very sort of horsemanship; "thoughtful horseman" is truly what finally summed it up. The dictionary definition of "

Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01942782223530386838noreply@blogger.com0