This website was last updated on 03-03-10

News for Barefoot Hoofcare!
Photos above, clockwise from top left: 1) FEI Dressage horse Juneau (rider Dawn Jensen) made a show ring comeback, thanks to barefoot. Read about him in THH issue 37. 2) Yvonne Welz riding barefoot 6 yo Warmblood mare Gezebella. 3) Karen Chaton on barefoot Arabian Granite Chief, who has now passed the 9,000 mile mark with AERC! Read their story in THH 37. 4) James Welz training 6 yo Warmblood Belle over fences. 5) Featured hoof: 14 year old Arab mare, barefoot for 7 years, very healthy, always sound. 6 ) Cody's Curiosity, ridden by Betsy MacFarlane, is a 2-time Quarter Horse Congress Champion, Barefoot! (Photo courtesy Jeff Kirkbride Photography) Read their story in THH 34.

Current Issue:The Horse's Hoof Magazine Issue 37, Winter 2009 released on December 21, 2009 (1st day of Winter).

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FREE Gift from The Horse's Hoof: Free PDF copy of THH Issue # 30 3MB PDF File

"I just want to thank you for such an outstanding magazine. If there was ever anything that brings hope into this world, it is The Horse's Hoof! Each issue is a celebration! Thank you!" -- Christine Ertl, subscriber
"Sometimes I feel like I'm on Barefoot Island, and THH is my message in a bottle --LOL!!" -- Gail, subscriber

Click here for Breaking Hoof News!

Coming in 2010: www.HoofHelpOnline.com with James & Yvonne Welz
An Affordable Hoof Education Membership Website for everyone: beginners, owner-trimmers, and professionals! Click here to learn more about Hoof Help Online.

Looking for Hoof Trimming Instruction? FREE! 3 New Trimcasts are now up! That makes a total of 4 FREE Trimcast video/podcasts available to download on iTunes, or click here to watch now. These Trimcasts are brought to you by The Horse's Hoof and Hoof Help Online, and are also available for purchase on one brand new DVD for only $20. To order the DVD, please visit The Horse's Hoof Store. The Horse’s Hoof Trimcast is an informational series intended to assist those already trimming their own horse’s hooves.

NEW! Catherine Chandler and her barefoot warmblood Hermes won the 2009 USDF Region 5 Championships at Training Level Open!
Click here to read their story online, which was published in THH Issue 37.

Welcome to The Horse's Hoof, News for Barefoot Hoofcare
We are here for you!

"The Horse's Hoof" is this informational website, as well as a quarterly printed 24 page magazine, published since 2000 (available in our online store). The Horse’s Hoof, both magazine and website, is a generic barefoot resource for both horseowners and professionals, created in 2000 by barefoot advocates James & Yvonne Welz. The Horse's Hoof is for everyone! We welcome and encourage all methods and theories of barefoot trimming, and support all forms of hoof care that focus on creating healthier hooves over the long-term. We advocate finding compromises to create more natural, healthier living conditions for all horses. We believe that a good system of barefoot horse care is the ultimate prevention against most serious hoof ailments that affect our domestic horses.

While barefoot can be used successfully for the rehabilitation of unhealthy feet, our main focus is on preventing unhealthy feet in the first place - through education and awareness. It is our goal that barefoot becomes a widely accepted choice for performance horses around the world, with hooves raised carefully from birth to be superior in every way. It can be done - we have that information available now, and many people are putting that to action (see the Barefoot Performance page). Using this knowledge, no horse should ever need to suffer catastrophic founder. The younger you begin a barefoot program with your horse, the better (ideally, at birth), but most horse's hooves can be significantly improved, and even become healthy enough to do whatever activity you desire. Barefoot is NOT a fad, or anything new - after all, horses were born with bare hooves. Learning to keep them that way successfully is the job of the barefoot horse owner, and we're here to help. Healthy hooves create happy horses!

The Horse’s Hoof includes a wide variety of information and links throughout this website, and in our magazine. The magazine contents are mostly different from the website, though we do include some articles on here from past issues (Click here for the Contents List). You will find articles and information from and about all the leading experts in the field, including Jaime Jackson, Dr. Robert Bower, Dr. Hiltrud Strasser, Pete Ramey, KC La Pierre, and many others, as well as experiences and stories from various practitioners and owners. We include a wide variety of material, some of it contradictory, as there are many differences of opinion - and we don't personally agree with everything we publish. We encourage and promote this interchange, because we feel this is what will kick barefoot hoofcare up to the next level!

If you would like to read the personal opinions of James & Yvonne Welz, please visit our section (see left bar), in particular, Hoof Corner. Look for our separate, new "membership hoofcare educational website," Hoof Help Online (www.HoofHelpOnline.com) coming in 2010, which will provide detailed how-to trimming instructions and advice through a wide variety of media, and will present our ideas and philosophies on hoofcare that we have personally developed over the past decade.

Barefoot hoofcare is a young, developing art and science. There is so much ahead to discover. After nearly 20 years of hoof study, the leading hoof researcher in the U.S., Dr. Robert Bowker, says, "There is so much that we still don't know about the hoof!"

Breaking Hoof News....

(for archive of all previous news items, please visit our News page)

From the IAAOR: For all of you with animal owner friends and relatives in Illinois, please contact them to check www.iaaor.org regarding the proposed changes in the Illinois Veterinary Medical Act. Their voices need to be heard by the legislators. With the AVMA headquartered in Illinois, we need to win this battle! Donations and membership can be made directly through the website.
Over the years, the veterinary profession in Illinois has tried to form a complete monopoly of its industry, keeping anyone who is not a licensed DVM from providing non-medical services for animals. In 2004 The Illinois Alliance for Animal Owners Rights, Inc was instrumental in the passage of Exemptions 8 that allowed an animal owner or the agent of the owner, without veterinary approval, the right to choose licensed or unlicensed practitioners.
The proposed bills, HB5377 and SB3712, would eliminate nutritionists, massage therapists, chiropractors aromatherapists, homeopaths, behavior specialists, animal communicators, spiritual healers, TTouch practitioners, and physical therapists to name a few, from working without a referral from a veterinarian. They have split exemption 8 into 2 parts, with exemption 8.5 directly aimed at animal trainers restricting what they can do to, and for, animals in their care. This could negatively impact farriers, trainers, equine dentists and animal husbandry and wellness service providers.
Cheryl, Member of the IAAOR Board of Directors
www.iaaor.org

New barefoot ebook published by Penzance Equine Solutions: 10 Secrets to Healthy Hooves by Gwenyth Browning Jones Santagate
Very extensive book covering natural horse care and trimming. Over 200 pages including hoof anatomy and trimming instructions, pathology, lifestyle, nutrition, natural foods & herbs, homeopathics, equipment resources, horse handling and more. www.barefoottrim.com/

April 23-April 26, 2010, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
4 day Introduction to Natural Hoofcare. Equine Sciences Academy UK, Orientation week, open to non ESA Students also.
http://www.abihogghoofcare.co.uk
http://www.equinescienceacademy.com

Launch of Equine Sciences Academy UK
A comprehensive and holistic education in natural hoof and horse care. The Equine Sciences Academy is now offering full Natural Hoof Care Certification with practical training in the UK.
This program in unique in that it offers:
-An education in all key aspects of the care and management of domesticated equines.
-A holistic and natural approach to thinking and caring for equines, and their hooves.
-The belief that knowledge is a dynamic, collective work and does not teach any one viewpoint or source.
-An ‘Open University’ format that includes comprehensive studies on all required coursework, practical instruction, rigorous testing, and practical exams.
-An extraordinary Advisory Panel who contribute to and keep the curriculum current.
-Some of the most trusted, experienced and knowledgeable natural hoof care instructors in the business.
-Flexible learning, self directed, tutor and peer-supported online classes.
-Payments that are spread over the duration of the entire program.
For more information please visit:
http://www.equinescienceacademy.com

The 2009 EasyCare $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest Winners Announced!
The 2009 EasyCare $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest has come to an end and it’s been quite a year! We are pleased to announce this years winners. These riders have done an incredible job not just logging impressive mileage but representing EasyCare and showing just what our hoof boots can do! They’ve done great at every distance. From single day 50’s and 100’s to multi- day rides of 250 miles or more. Proving yet again that it is possible to ride distances in Easyboots!
Each year our contest grows in popularity. This year we had over 50 riders logging an incredible 21,301 miles using Easyboots over bare hooves! That’s over 4,500 miles more than last year! Top ten riders are being awarded a total of $10,000 in cash. Seven riders also qualified for bonus mileage payouts throughout the 2009 season. A total of $5,100 was given out in bonus cash.
1-Carla Richardson 1,560 miles $3000
2-Terri Tinkham 1,525 miles $2000
3-Christoph Schork 1,330 miles $1000
4-Natalie Herman 1,115 miles $850
5-Dian Woodward 845 miles $750
6-Kadee Felton 823 miles $650
7-Kerry Greear 810 miles $550
8-Carol Layton 721 miles $400
9-Joyce Stoffey 660 miles $400
10-Laurie Birch 530 miles $400

Join us on Facebook and Twitter!!
What BETTER way to keep you abreast of barefoot news? I'll try to keep you posted with a steady stream of news and happenings in the barefoot world, as well as special interest stories about the things that matter to those who love natural horse care. And I'll tell you what is going on with James & I. (This current "old fashioned" news section will filter down to just the more important "stand-out" news items.)

Read Dr. Robert Cook's comments about Rollkur and the FEI Roundtable Conference:
http://www.bitlessbridle.com/FEI%20Rollkur%20Ruling.pdf

Ban usage of Rollkur petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell-a-friend/5971341

Request FEI to Ban Hyperflexion in Competition petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/antiHF

More information: http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/

Barefoot and Lengthy Turnout discussed at the Global Dressage Forum
Amidst all the recent uproar over cruel and abusive dressage training practices, something positive just surfaced from the international dressage stage. The 2009 Global Dressage Forum was held in the Netherlands on October 26-27, 2009. One of the speakers, veterinary surgeon Dr. Rachel Murray, made a plea for regular and long turnout of dressage horses. Journalist Astrid Appels writes in her report, "Probably the most important statement made during Murray's session was the undeniable fact that regular and long turnout of horses in the field is protective against lameness. As the horse is able to move around much more it keeps itself flexible. Most dressage riders lock up their horse and only ride it or hand-walk it, but turnout improves the bone, tendon and muscle structure." Read the full article here.

A second highlight happened in the presentation given by Dutch team farrier Rob Renirie. Astrid quoted Rob as saying, ""We keep our horses as prisoners in a stable, which is not good for the blood supply," and she further writes, "The best way for a horse to go is barefoot! If your horses do not have problematic hooves or do not change surface too much, Renirie professes you should keep them barefoot. Rob, who said he became a farrier to solve a hoof problem with one of his own horses, admitted that he keeps his horses barefoot." Read the full article here.

The Strasser Textbook (aka The Big Blue Book) can now be purchased using Paypal!
"The Hoofcare Specialist's Handbook: Hoof Orthopedics and Holistic Lameness Rehabilitation" by Hiltrud Strasser, DVM & Sabine Kells. This textbook, written for the Strasser Hoofcare Professional Certification Course, is an 800-page hardcover with color and b&w images, and is available for purchase from Sabine Kells, Inc. The textbook is currently priced at $825.00 CDN plus shipping, plus additional taxes for Canadian orders. For full purchasing instructions including a Paypal payment option, please download the order form, available in either word or pdf format: Textbook Order Word Doc or Textbook Order PDF

Beautiful Natural Barefoot Hoof Medallion available from a friend & THH customer:

GoldHaven Studios is pleased to present the Natural Hoof Medallion. An original work, designed and created by Kathleen Dutson (copyright) and produced locally in our hometown of Oroville, CA. Most equine jewelry celebrates the horse with the horseshoe. We at Goldhaven Studios celebrate the horse with the bare hoof! Proudly made in the USA. Available in Sterling Silver on an 18" or 24" Sterling Silver chain. NEW Sterling Silver Natural Hoof Earrings and 14k Gold Natural Hoof! Medallion Kathleen is an artist and barefooter. She rescued an Appaloosa with wedge pads and heart bars destined for euthanasia and turned him into a galloping gravel cruncher! Visit us at www.goldhavenstudios.com .

(from Yvonne: I love this hoof design! Notice how extremely healthy the shape is: completely round, with wide heel buttresses, tapered bars, and the lovely rolled edge. Such an extremely healthy hoof is rare outside of horses well-trimmed by good natural hoofcare professionals - or on healthy wild horses. Or on our own horses' feet - they all look just like this! Bravo for such a fabulous design.)