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Rebel Footwork - Natural Barefoot Hoofcare ANNHCP Practitioner - Located in Lindstrom, MN 55045
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Natural Barefoot Hoofcare / AANHCP Practitioner
Above all, cause no harm, respect the healing
powers of nature.
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After years of the standard 'Pasture Trim' my 6 year old Paso fino foundered to the point
that I could no longer get her to stand up, let alone walk. After a dim prognosis, and approximately $600 in veterinary proceedures
and drugs, I was left with a few farriers' phone numbers and the chance that my horse may have to be put
down.
I decided to see what type of treatments have worked for others with horses like mine on the internet. After
wading throught the virtual plethora of information, I narrowed my search to a few 'proven' techniques. Upon more research,
I found that the least invasive, and most natural method was the AANHCP (the American Association of Natural Hoofcare
Practitioners) method. So, I contacted a trimmer in my area, and was floored by all of the information that he had given me.
After 3 months, not only was my paso moving more comfortably, but I was riding her! I am convinced that after the heartbar
shoes my vet wanted me to put on my horse, she would have certainly been sentenced to death. My trimmer tried to get me to
enter training with the AANHCP to trim my own horses. So I picked up a copy of 'The Horse Owner's Guide to Natural Hoof
Care' by Jaime Jackson. It made so much sense. Not only does the AANHCP advocate a trim designed by nature, it also focuses
on the horses' lifestyle, and the individual hoof's needs. I have read countless stories of horses given a second chance
at life when all other options have been exhausted.
If wild horses all over the world can survive on sand, rock, and
other harsh terrain, why couldn't our domestic horses be able to? So, I was hooked. I wanted to help other people's horses
reap the benefits of high performance barefootedness. While reading every article on barefoot hoofcare that I could, I enrolled
in the AANCHP Training and Certification Program.
So what makes the natural trim different from what your farrier is already doing when left
barefoot? There are several differences. First, A farrier always trims flat as if to put a shoe on. The hoof wall
makes an abrupt meeting with the ground with every step, creating a sheer force that pulls upward on the hoof wall. A natural
trimmer applies a 'mustang roll' where, from the white line out, is rolled, so the sheer forces are no longer there. This
eliminates most of the flaring and wall cracks that are found so commonly. This also brings breakover back to a more healthy
point. Second, a farrier usually pares the sole at the toe, this would be the equivelent of shaving off a layer or two from
the bottoms of your feet every few months. This keeps the sole from toughening and callousing up. A natural trim never
pares into live sole. Third, a farrier always trims the bottom of the horse's foot flat across, to make applying a shoe easier.
A natural trim follows the horses live sole to determine how short the heels and toe wall should be. This means
that if the horse has naturally passive sole in the quarters, this is how the hoof wall in the quarters will be.
Finally, A natural trim maximizes the hoof mechanism, the contracting and expanding of the hoof, to keep the hooves as healthy,
concave and rock solid as they should be, as nature intended.
Currently, I am in my 7th step out of 9 in the program. I have been through extensive training and coursework.
I have also been on 3 mentorships. I have been granted permission by the AANHCP leadership to start trimming for new
clients. I am now servicing the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities and eastern WI.
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"The foot was designed to be unshod. Anything that you add to the foot, like a horseshoe that is nailed
on, is going to interfere with the foot's natural process. Most horseshoes have six to eight nails, possibly one to three
clips, all of which constrict the foot's ability to expand and contract. Add pads, packing, any number of alternatives to
the shoe, and you create a gait alteration. It all interferes with the natural process of the mechanism. Ideally, for the
foot to work the way it's been designed through evolution to work, you'd rather do less than more to the foot. But that may
or may not be a realistic wish."
—Emil Carre, AFA president, AFA certified journeyman farrier, and a consulting editor
for Hoofcare and Lameness magazine.
"For many horse lovers and professionals, that's reason enough to embrace the wild horse as our teacher
and guide. Those of us at the forefront of the "natural hoof and horse care revolution" have learned that the wild horse
model can help domestic horses. Applied judiciously and humanely, lame horses can be returned to soundness whilst sound horses
can be kept sound."
—Jaime Jackson, AANHCP president; author of Paddock Paradise: A Guide to Natural Horse
Boarding, Founder:Prevention and Cure the Natural Way, The Horse Owner's Guide to Natural Hoofcare
Yes, you can see these results in your horses feet too!
Please get in touch with me to see what your horses can
achieve with barefoot natural hoofcare:
info@rebelfootworks.com
Phone: 651.210.8535
P.O. Box 471 • Lindstrom, MN
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The AANHCP website
For information on feeding your horse: Try safergrass.org
Pete Ramey's website
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