paula@hoofsense.com
Initial Trim and consultation:
The initial trim usually takes longer than a maintenance trim depending on the condition of the hooves, the
horse, if shoes need pulled, etc. You should plan to allow about 30-45 minutes per horse, in the beginning.
I may also take pictures and measurements or record data about the hoof in order to track future progress.
The initial trim consists of evaluating the hoof, the horse's living environment, the amount of exercise the horse
is getting and the horse's diet. This is not some "magical" trimming method, nor will every horse be able to go
barefoot immediately. Some horses, that don't have natural living conditions, may ALWAYS need some form of
hoof protection over terrain it is not adapted to. What I advocate involves the "whole" horse and getting everything
about the horse as close to it's natural state as possible. Getting the horse's diet & living area more "natural" is
just as critical as the method of hoof care. Most of the work requires the owner's effort.
Almost all horses will need a "transition period" due to under-developed internal structures, traditional trimming
practices, dietary issues, and their living arrangements. The use of hoof boots is almost a MUST until the
internal structures strengthen. Some damage to the internal hoof can not be reversed or corrected.
It is recommended the hooves are trimmed every 4-6 weeks to prevent excess growth and flaring. Please don't
neglect, or overlook the importance of, your equine's hooves!!!
What I Charge:
( I carry EasyCare Epics, Old Mac G2's, and Boa Boots, and sell new ones at
suggested retail prices. Used boot prices and availability will vary. Other EasyBoots
can be special ordered)
horse, if shoes need pulled, etc. You should plan to allow about 30-45 minutes per horse, in the beginning.
I may also take pictures and measurements or record data about the hoof in order to track future progress.
The initial trim consists of evaluating the hoof, the horse's living environment, the amount of exercise the horse
is getting and the horse's diet. This is not some "magical" trimming method, nor will every horse be able to go
barefoot immediately. Some horses, that don't have natural living conditions, may ALWAYS need some form of
hoof protection over terrain it is not adapted to. What I advocate involves the "whole" horse and getting everything
about the horse as close to it's natural state as possible. Getting the horse's diet & living area more "natural" is
just as critical as the method of hoof care. Most of the work requires the owner's effort.
Almost all horses will need a "transition period" due to under-developed internal structures, traditional trimming
practices, dietary issues, and their living arrangements. The use of hoof boots is almost a MUST until the
internal structures strengthen. Some damage to the internal hoof can not be reversed or corrected.
It is recommended the hooves are trimmed every 4-6 weeks to prevent excess growth and flaring. Please don't
neglect, or overlook the importance of, your equine's hooves!!!
What I Charge:
( I carry EasyCare Epics, Old Mac G2's, and Boa Boots, and sell new ones at
suggested retail prices. Used boot prices and availability will vary. Other EasyBoots
can be special ordered)
| Training & Education |
I received my training from the American Association of Natural Hoofcare Practitioners www.aanhcp.net
initially. I have attended Pete Ramey's Orientation Clinic held in Gainesville, TX and a second time in
Harrisonville, Missouri. I have completed Intro to Trimming on Cadaver Hooves, Intro to Trimming on Live
horses, and Hoof Anatomy in Suches, Georgia. I have also attended a boot fitting course and trained with 6
different Certified Practitioners in Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.
I have been studying the hoof since 2003 and trimming professionally since 2005. I specialize in hoof
pathology and helping horse owners realize the importance of regular hoof care and a more natural lifeway
for the horse.
The AANHCP has recently changed its name (but not the acronym!) to the Association for the Advancement
of Natural Horse Care Practices.
initially. I have attended Pete Ramey's Orientation Clinic held in Gainesville, TX and a second time in
Harrisonville, Missouri. I have completed Intro to Trimming on Cadaver Hooves, Intro to Trimming on Live
horses, and Hoof Anatomy in Suches, Georgia. I have also attended a boot fitting course and trained with 6
different Certified Practitioners in Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.
I have been studying the hoof since 2003 and trimming professionally since 2005. I specialize in hoof
pathology and helping horse owners realize the importance of regular hoof care and a more natural lifeway
for the horse.
The AANHCP has recently changed its name (but not the acronym!) to the Association for the Advancement
of Natural Horse Care Practices.
| My "Barefoot Horse Farm" mailbox sign!! |
| Barefoot from birth!! This baby won't ever have shoes! |
Welcome to HoofSense ... because natural hooves just make sense!!
| Interested in Natural Hoofcare? |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Natural hoof care is more than just typical farrier
service. It is a complete package of establishing
a more natural lifestyle for equine. If you are
ready & able to make changes that will allow
your horse to live closer to it's natural state,
including diet & proper management, please
contact me.
service. It is a complete package of establishing
a more natural lifestyle for equine. If you are
ready & able to make changes that will allow
your horse to live closer to it's natural state,
including diet & proper management, please
contact me.
| Learning to trim your own Horses |
Occasionally, I will have horse owners interested in learning to trim their own horses. At first, I
had mixed feelings about teaching owners to trim at each visit because there is so much to
know and learn about the hoof, first. It is also very easy to do harm to the horse if you don't
fully understand what you are doing and why. Any future requests to learn to trim your own
horses will begin with the required clinic listed below. After completing this clinic and trimming a
cadaver hoof, I will then teach owners on their own horses.
1-DAY NATURAL HOOFCARE CLINIC - $250 (limit 4 participants per clinic)
Morning All presentation & lecture/discussion
-Hoof Anatomy - it is more complex than most realize
Gain a thorough understanding of the hoof and how it functions
-How & why the domestic hoof fails
-Problems with shoeing - it's an evil, but not a "necessary evil"!
-What is natural vs. what is tradition -exposing the myths
-Barefoot misconceptions
-Natural boarding ideas for healthier hooves & horses
-Equine Nutrition and how conventional feeding practices affect the hoof
Afternoon Hands-On Trimming on Cadaver Hooves
had mixed feelings about teaching owners to trim at each visit because there is so much to
know and learn about the hoof, first. It is also very easy to do harm to the horse if you don't
fully understand what you are doing and why. Any future requests to learn to trim your own
horses will begin with the required clinic listed below. After completing this clinic and trimming a
cadaver hoof, I will then teach owners on their own horses.
1-DAY NATURAL HOOFCARE CLINIC - $250 (limit 4 participants per clinic)
Morning All presentation & lecture/discussion
-Hoof Anatomy - it is more complex than most realize
Gain a thorough understanding of the hoof and how it functions
-How & why the domestic hoof fails
-Problems with shoeing - it's an evil, but not a "necessary evil"!
-What is natural vs. what is tradition -exposing the myths
-Barefoot misconceptions
-Natural boarding ideas for healthier hooves & horses
-Equine Nutrition and how conventional feeding practices affect the hoof
Afternoon Hands-On Trimming on Cadaver Hooves
Evaluation/Initial Trim ......... $45 per trim *
Maintenance Trims ............. $40 per trim * (regularly scheduled trims not exceeding 6 weeks)
Draft horses ..........................$65 per trim *
Training ..................................$40 per hour - (Must attend Natural Hoof Care clinic first
-see below.)
*excessively long hooves or untrained horses that exceed a 45 minute trim may result in
higher trim price
*Founder or Navicular cases may require purchase of hoof boots in addition to trim price
**TRIP CHARGE (based on distance from my home)
~under 20 miles ...... no charge
~over 20 miles ........ .25 cents per mile w/$5 minimum
** You are welcome to trailer your horses to me and save the trip charge**
**Diet & Feed Consulting - $29 for hay analysis (payable to the Lab)
$40 Consultation fee
I will sample your hay and show you how easy this is to do, as well as help you send it
in for analysis. When the results are in, I will go over your hay analysis with you and explain
the major items of interest. Then, with the help of a vitamin/mineral balancing spreadsheet
designed by Dr. Eleanor Kellon and others that work closely with her, I will interpret what
supplements you need to add based on your hay analysis in order to balance your equine diet
to the specific needs of each horse. For horses with severe health issues, I will refer you to
a private consult with Dr. Kellon via email or an equine veterinarian.
Maintenance Trims ............. $40 per trim * (regularly scheduled trims not exceeding 6 weeks)
Draft horses ..........................$65 per trim *
Training ..................................$40 per hour - (Must attend Natural Hoof Care clinic first
-see below.)
*excessively long hooves or untrained horses that exceed a 45 minute trim may result in
higher trim price
*Founder or Navicular cases may require purchase of hoof boots in addition to trim price
**TRIP CHARGE (based on distance from my home)
~under 20 miles ...... no charge
~over 20 miles ........ .25 cents per mile w/$5 minimum
** You are welcome to trailer your horses to me and save the trip charge**
**Diet & Feed Consulting - $29 for hay analysis (payable to the Lab)
$40 Consultation fee
I will sample your hay and show you how easy this is to do, as well as help you send it
in for analysis. When the results are in, I will go over your hay analysis with you and explain
the major items of interest. Then, with the help of a vitamin/mineral balancing spreadsheet
designed by Dr. Eleanor Kellon and others that work closely with her, I will interpret what
supplements you need to add based on your hay analysis in order to balance your equine diet
to the specific needs of each horse. For horses with severe health issues, I will refer you to
a private consult with Dr. Kellon via email or an equine veterinarian.
Mules & donkeys are trimmed with the
same natural concept....the hoof tells
you what it needs. Contrary to popular
belief, mules and donkeys don't
always have high heels.
same natural concept....the hoof tells
you what it needs. Contrary to popular
belief, mules and donkeys don't
always have high heels.
| AND SEE WHAT'S NEW! |
Riding my Rocky Mountain Gaited horse in EasyBoot Epics.
This mare foundered 2 years ago and is Insulin Resistant -
-requiring a low carb (NSC) diet, close monitoring & EXERCISE!
This mare foundered 2 years ago and is Insulin Resistant -
-requiring a low carb (NSC) diet, close monitoring & EXERCISE!
| PUT AN END TO Wild Horse Round-ups and Adoptions!! SIGN THIS PETITION |
| The domestic horse market is facing hard times because of hay shortages, the price of gas and fertilizer, and a flooded horse population. The US slaughter plants have been closed, yet horses are still going to slaughter and facing even worse conditions in transport and having to be shipped hundreds of miles to the borders in the most inhumane conditions. Either way, slaughter shouldn't even be an option! Our Government is STILL rounding up BLM Wild Horses and holding WILD HORSE ADOPTIONS when DOMESTIC HORSES aren't even in demand right now. There are more WILD HORSES in Government Holding Pens than there are in the wild. You can adopt some wild horses for a measley $25 -which only encourages killer buyers to purchase them and provide minimal care until they can be taken to slaughter!! Wild horses are best taken care of in their most natural habitat!!! They should be LEFT ALONE and not forced into the current crisis of domestication!! For More Information visit: www.wildhorsepreservation.org |