Ted & Sandy Macy; Buddy & Sarge (Tennessee Walkers) - "We decided to remove the shoes on our horses about six months ago, because we kept losing shoes and the hooves were becoming weak from all the nails. We were given the name from our farrier of Todd Osborne...The boots were very helpful in the transition from shoes to barefoot. We are using the EasyCare Epics, and we like them. We ride everyday and also take a lot of trips to very rocky terrain, and we definitely needed the boots. They have worked real well to protect their soles. Now, when we are not riding on rocks, we don't even have to use the boots because their hooves have toughened up a lot. I would recommend Todd and his expertise to anyone that wants to have their horses go barefoot."
Pam Williams & Romeo (Kentucky Mountain Horse) - "Since going to a "natural" trim, Romeo's hoof walls no longer crack, his frogs, soles and hoof walls seem healthier and are easier to keep clean. His natural gait has really improved, which has also made my ride smoother."
"Joe Camp is a natural when it comes to understanding how animals tick and a genius at telling us their story. The Soul of a Horse is a must read for those who love animals of any species." Monty Roberts
Author of New York Times Best-seller - The Man Who Listens to Horses
"The Man Who Listens To Horses" -When Monty Roberts was thirteen years old he went off on his own to the deserts of Nevada to watch mustangs in the wild. What he learned about their methods of communication changed his life forever. Unique and inspirational, and with a message that resonates far wider than its application to horses, it might change your life too.
Natural Hoof Care - W5H
What? What exactly is natural hoof care? Surprisingly, it has less to do with the trimming technique and more to do with lifestyle. Diet, exercise, and living conditions should be addressed first and foremost so that the optimal benefits of proper trimming may be realized. In short, natural hoof care is holistically aligning the domestic lifestyle to imitate as closely as possible the way of life nature intended. Even the trimming approach is designed to manufacture the wearing pattern that would be shaped if the horse were traveling long distances daily across varying terrains, as would be the case in the wild. It is about letting the hoof function freely without encumbrance or restriction. It is a sound, functional hoof that does not hinder the normal body biomechanics which are essential to efficient locomotion. Give thought to the type of footwear that athletes prefer for long distance running, jumping, twisting, and turning. If playing volleyball on the beach, would you prefer to be barefoot or wearing Dutch wooden clogs?
Where? Where do you as a concerned horse owner find a qualified, caring natural hoof care provider? There are a number of associations whose focus is to ensure that its caregivers are knowledgeable, skilled and competent to provide professional and caring services related to equine hoof health. Examples of such organizations would be theAmerican Hoof Associationor AANHCP. They can assist you in finding a qualified natural hoof care provider in your area.
When? When is the best time to start natural hoof care? Like starting a new diet or exercise program, there is no time like the present. One might wonder if their horse is too old or if their horse has been subjected to adverse diets, living conditions and man-applied hoof appliances for too long. Naturally, horses placed on a natural hoof care regimen early in life may well avoid the inherent long-term damage of improper diet and hoof care. That is not to say an older horse will not receive some benefit as well. It's just that premature wearing of the joints, tendons and ligaments; tissue ossification; bone lesions and spurs; and other similar issues are typically irreversible. When does the caring horse owner begin applying the resulting knowledge from the various clinical studies and technologies that are so widely available?
Who? Who do you as a horse owner want providing hoof care for your horse? Sure the hoof care provider should be knowledgeable and skilled, but there are other things to consider. Organization, scheduling, record keeping, tool care, and continuing education are among other traits to think about. They all speak to a level of professionalism. The smart horse owner always verifies the reputation of any prospective care giver in advance. At the end of the day, the most important question that you as the horse owner must answer is, "does the hoof care provider really care about what he/she does?"
Why? Why should you as a horse owner be concerned about natural hoof care or keeping your horse barefooted? First, consider the wild (feral) horses that have roamed the earth for ages. They are not moving across well prepared arena footing or manicured pastures. They walk, trot, canter and gallop across the mountains, plains and valleys over the most rugged terrain imaginable. You would be hard pressed to find one limping or wincing its way across jagged lava rock. Unlike the domestic horse, it would be the exception for one to suffer from the common pathologies that plague those in domestication - founder, laminitis, navicular syndrome, white line disease, thrush, etc. They often live longer and in a healthier state than their most pampered counterparts. For example, when the domestic equine athlete is being retired, a stallion of equal age in the wild is just challenging for its own herd. Yet, they are without any man-made appliance attached to their hooves. If beyond man's influence, they will not have benefit of prepared grains, feeds, supplements and hays. Forged by nature, their hooves are hard like iron, callused and almost without blemish. And here is the question that the inquiring horse owner must ask themselves. Why do these almost perfect hooves, almost without exception, begin to take on the pathologies most common to the domestic horse just several months after entering domestication? If the domestic horse with its related hoof pathologies can be successfully rehabilitated; and the wild horse's hooves can be made to resemble that of its domestic kin after only a short time in captivity, is it reasonable tomaintain that we have bred the feet off of our horses? Should we simply dismiss common hoof issues as genetics gone awry and absolve ourselves of having any responsibility?
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"Looking forward to more. I valued all of it. Great job, very informative...I would absolutely recommend the clinic to others" - Jamie
"I was quite satisfied. I learned lots and much I already knew from reading Pete Ramey's and Jaime Jackson's books were reinforced throughout. I'll be much better able to judge my farrier's job. You seem to love this subject :-)." - Rebecca
"Excellent. I learned that the lifestyle is more important than the trim. My suggestion for improving the clinic is to allow more time...yes, I would recommend the clinic to others." - Anonymous
"Completely satisfied. Very good presentation. I would recommend the clinic to everyone." - Chuck
"Very satisfied with clinic overall...all parts were valuable...you are very good at conveying ideas" - Michael
"Great location. Loved the whole family here. Good combination of live animal, lecture, sketches. Presentation style just great. Drawings/sketches were very effective." - Susan
We believe a heel first landing is a good indicator that the horse is using proper biomechanics. There is essentially not a moment of impact and all parts of the hoof are allowed to function as nature intended. Literally no impact coupled with increased shock absorption means less stress to the joints, tendons and ligaments.
Conversely, we believe that a toe first landing creates unnatural stress on the joints, tendons and ligaments; shortens stride and causes imbalance due to uneven wear (toe region excessively worn while heels overgrow).
Ted & Sandy Macy; Buddy & Sarge (Tennessee Walkers) - "We decided to remove the shoes on our horses about six months ago, because we kept losing shoes and the hooves were becoming weak from all the nails. We were given the name from our farrier of Todd Osborne...The boots were very helpful in the transition from shoes to barefoot. We are using the EasyCare Epics, and we
like them. We ride everyday and also take a lot of trips to very rocky terrain, and we definitely needed the boots. They have worked real well to protect their soles. Now, when we are not riding on rocks, we don't even have to use the boots because their hooves have toughened up a lot. I would recommend Todd and his expertise to anyone that wants to have their horses go barefoot." 
Pam Williams & Romeo (Kentucky Mountain Horse) - "Since going to a "natural" trim, Romeo's hoof walls no longer crack, his frogs, soles and hoof walls seem healthier and are easier to keep clean. His natural gait has really improved, which has also made my ride smoother."
Diet, exercise, and living conditions should be addressed first and foremost so that the optimal benefits of proper trimming may be realized. In short, natural hoof care is holistically aligning the domestic lifestyle to imitate as closely as possible the way of life nature intended. Even the trimming approach is designed to manufacture the wearing pattern that would be shaped if the horse were traveling long distances daily across varying terrains, as would be the case in the wild. It is about letting the hoof function freely without encumbrance or restriction. It is a sound, functional hoof that does not hinder the normal body biomechanics which are essential to efficient locomotion. Give thought to the type of footwear that athletes prefer for long distance running, jumping, twisting, and turning. If playing volleyball on the beach, would you prefer to be barefoot or wearing Dutch wooden clogs?
You would be hard pressed to find one limping or wincing its way across jagged lava rock. Unlike the domestic horse, it would be the exception for one to suffer from the common pathologies that plague those in domestication - founder, laminitis, navicular syndrome, white line disease, thrush, etc. They often live longer and in a healthier state than their most pampered counterparts. For example, when the domestic equine athlete is being retired, a stallion of equal age in the wild is just challenging for its own herd. Yet, they are without any man-made appliance attached to their hooves. If beyond man's influence, they will not have benefit of prepared grains, feeds, supplements and hays. Forged by nature, their hooves are hard like iron, callused and almost without blemish. And here is the question that the inquiring horse owner must ask themselves. Why do these almost perfect hooves, almost without exception, begin to take on the pathologies most common to the domestic horse just several months after entering domestication? If the domestic horse with its related hoof pathologies can be successfully rehabilitated; and the wild horse's hooves can be made to resemble that of its domestic kin after only a short time in captivity, is it reasonable to maintain that we have bred the feet off of our horses? Should we simply dismiss common hoof issues as genetics gone awry and absolve ourselves of having any responsibility? 
