What students say about us . . .

---

I am coming from a very traditional, scientific background in the medical field but have always been interested in alternative, natural ways of approaching subjects. So when it came to my horses and their well-being I was, of course, quite interested in checking out this thing called ‘Barefoot Trimming and Natural Hoof Care’.

I had not been too happy with the work my traditional farriers performed and after the last one who 5 years ago left quite an emotional mark on one of my yearlings with his roughness I began looking. I took a local one-day information session and was pretty much sold, mainly because of the immense knowledge the presenter provided. I attended my first 5-day course soon after to be able to work on my own horses with the occasional ‘check up’ of my new Natural Hoof Care Specialist. I also began reading anything I could get my hands on. In the fall of 2007 I came across the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care and signed up for a one week course hoping to pick up some ‘new stuff’. It was the best thing I have ever done. Cheryl Henderson’s hospitality, her openness and approach to teaching, her passion and willingness to share her seemingly unlimited knowledge, and especially her non-judgmental way in regards to accepting all the different approaches within the natural hoof care profession are one of a kind. I spent the most enjoyable week learning, making new friends, and getting so much practical and theoretical information. I only have praise for Cheryl’s school and will highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about this very scientific field of Natural Hoof Care.

 

- Sonja, Ontario (Canada) samwyss@earthlink.net

---

A year and a half into horse ownership our two quarter horses had experienced shoeing at the hands of four different farriers.  Each farrier was highly recommended by the well known equestrian set of our area and by local veterinarians.  While under the care of these farriers our horses kicked themselves, stumbled, consistently threw shoes and moved out with a toe first landing.  We have learned that this was due to unbalanced sore feet. We had a farrier take a blow torch to their soles because it was too much work to use the proper tools on their very hard summer feet; we had several hot nails pounded into the sensitive tissue of a hoof capsule and the list goes on.  Being new to horse ownership, my husband and I were committed to listening, reading and learning all the things necessary to take proper care of the new members of our family.  We really were trying to do the right things, we really did do research to find the “right” farriers.  I think the farriers really believed that they were offering a good service.  But our horses were suffering and contrary to the beliefs of many horse owners it did not have to be that way.  

We decided that we needed to be more proactive in our equine foot care education.  We needed to have our own opinions about what was right and what was clearly wrong.  We decided to attend the Oregon School of Natural Hoof care not because we objected to shoes, but because we were interested in learning about how the equine hoof works, what makes a sound hoof and how to recognize developing or festering issues.    

During the first couple of days of our seven day class we learned in detail about the inner workings of the equine foot.  We studied the bones, learned how the blood flows (and doesn’t when constricted by shoes).  We learned the function of the hoof cartilages and the pain that is caused when they are not healthy.  We learned the value of the frog, the sole and the wall.  Most importantly we began to understand and see the difference between a healthy and unhealthy foot.  By the end of day two, I was in tears knowing that our horses did not have healthy feet and that one of my geldings, who was consistently lame for “unknown” reasons, was likely suffering from severe problems in his feet that neither a farrier nor a vet had recognized.  

Over the course of the week we learned basic trimming skills and what to do about the problems that were facing us at home.  We were guided by an excellent staff from many different disciplines, all living in a philosophy that “is all about the horse”.  We came to understand that healthy feet require a commitment to the health and nutrition of the whole horse not just a method of trimming.  We witnessed serious debates about the proper treatment for a particular problem, but true to the school’s philosophy they were centered in finding a solution not holding onto an opinion.  Many of our class participants were farriers, natural hoof care practitioners or very experienced horse owners.  My husband and I had the least amount of experience, but the Oregon School team embraced us and worked hard to ensure that we either took home the knowledge we needed, or told us where and how to find it.  

When we returned home we had our farrier, truly the best of the bunch, pull the shoes.  She performed her standard pasture trim and with our new knowledge we understood that the “standard” was just not a true barefoot trim.  Since then with the support of Lin Seeley, an instructor and local mentor, and Cheryl Henderson, the angel that created the Oregon School, we have been trimming our own horses’ feet.  Every time we pick up a foot we learn something new and when we get stuck there is an entire support network to help us. 

Nine months later both horses are still barefoot and being ridden several times each week on trails of the Sierra Foothills and in the arena learning the good work of cows.  One is a barefoot rock cruncher and the other requires boots on the trail as he continues the healing process from his previous laminitic conditions.    

My husband holds a PHD in physics and is certainly not the horsey person in our family, but still, he considers our week at the Oregon School one of his best educational experiences.  We both felt empowered by our new knowledge, yet humbled by all that is yet to be learned.  We are truly grateful for the Oregon School and the dedicated instructors that helped us along the way.  So are our horses.  

Lee and Cindy Hodge 

Mount aukum Ca. cskeltonhodge@yahoo.com

---

When my wife, Peggy, and I decided we would become horse owners upon her retirement, we probably knew as little about horses as any two people could.  We had ridden a little many years ago, but had never truly taken care of a horse.  Our solution was to read every book in the library about horses.  In December 2006, God put our horse in front of us.  Charley is a Quarter Horse who was enroute to slaughter when rescued, had bad feet from years of neglect, was probably depressed, and was at the bottom of the pecking order where he lived, would probably be yard art for the rest of his life, and would bite men when the opportunity presented itself.

We started working with Charley under the guidance of a neighbor who owned the property where he lived.  The more time we spent with Charley the more we wanted to learn but also became more convinced we had made the right decision.  Our neighbor is a barefoot trimmer and I started learning by watching and eventually doing some closely supervised rasping.  Since we were planning to move to a metropolitan area in Texas (the nearest town has 61 residents and there is nothing larger than 20,000 people within 50 miles), it was obvious that Peggy and I needed to develop some serious horse care skills in a hurry.  I decided to learn how to trim.  I started looking for a school and found the school in Oregon; it appeared to be a good fit.

When I arrived at the class, I knew the basic mechanics of trimming...yep I could hold a rasp and a foot.  What I learned from Cheryl and the other exceptional instructors was why, when and what to trim.  I also learned that there is no absolute right answer in trimming and if you are going to trim, you can never stop learning if you are going to fulfill the obligations you have accepted in caring for your horse(s).  While what I know is still limited, I am getting better at trimming.  I have passed an important test; no one has come up lame or tender footed as a result of what I have done to their feet. 

If you noticed that the narrative went from Charley to horses, it is because horses follow us home.  We bought Aurora, Charley’s last daughter before he was gelded.  She was in a small pasture by herself; hay, water, and sweet feed were put out once a day.  At nearly two years old she was barely halter trained; at three and some months, she is lady most of the time.  Jupiter is a Belgian whose owner was reducing her herd (translated she dumped him) who is now the herd food services supervisor and follows Peggy I around the pasture.  Shady is the newest arrival, he is underweight and had fence staples put in his mouth to keep him from cribbing.  The staples are gone, his weight is up, and he still cribs some (but less and less);  there are not enough boards to buy and replaced chewed ones to justify what was done to his mouth.  Charley is now alpha in the herd, is rideable, and does not bite.

Since we leave for Texas on June 25 for a forever home for our friends, we will not get more horses in Florida.  We are building a sixteen stall barn in case we get followed home by Texas horses.  Larry Neaves To ABC Hoof Care Providers,       I really have to take a moment to thank you for your approach to barefoot trimming.  I have owned horses since I was 12 years old.  I was raised in a traditionally influenced home where the thought toward horses was the accepted belief that horses needed shoes, but your care has proved that to be wrong.  I always assumed that having a horse shod was in the best interest of the horse until one day when I was urged to consider letting my horses go barefoot by one of my neighbors. She explained the great benefits my horses would experience and why I should consider this new concept.  I vividly remember thinking that my horses would never be able to go unshod due to the fact that I tend to ride what can be some very rocky terrain, but the idea intrigued me and the monetary savings was appealing as well.  I tend to be a bit of a skeptic, but at the same time understanding the fact that nutrition and natural healing play important parts in the makeup of humans, I decided to give my horses the test experience of barefoot trimming while remaining alert for any possible set back.  I am ashamed to say that I was so skeptical that I kept expecting...almost believing, that any day there would be a huge problem.  Much to my delight, not only did my horses exhibit very little soreness initially, but I went on to ride them for 3 days on the Pacific Crest Trail covering over 20 miles a day after only 2 months of being barefoot with NO  PROBLEMS  AT  ALL!!  This trail is very steep in places, rocky and a great challenge to any horse, let alone horses recently unshod...Unbelievable.     Since that ride I also purchased a new 5 year old horse that had been in shoes since he was 2 years old and was horribly contracted.  I immediately had his shoes pulled off and he also had very little soreness initially.  That was 3 years ago now, and he too has been ridden on some very tough terrain including obsidian rock trails with no problems.  His contraction is responding well to the barefoot trim and is slowly but surely redefining his hoof shape into a more open heal with much less contraction.  I fully expect his hooves to continue to improve with your continued trims.      It has now been 5+ years that my horses have been barefoot, and not one of the 3 horses has experienced any problems.  In fact all the horses have much better movement, are more surefooted, and carry themselves with an agility that they never had before.  Thanks ABC Hoof Care for your dedication to the horse, it's comfort and health, to the owner, and for your absolute love and belief in what you do!  You have made a believer out of me!  

Larry Neaves  lneaves@bellsouth.net