Trimming my Horses
by Sandy Jenner, Nova Scotia, Canada
December 2005

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Tyr and Liana

Hi, I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I have 3 horses, the newest being Tyr, a Paint gelding from out west. He is big and so friendly. My kids ride him, and he is so gentle; my husband rides him and he goes for a little run! My husband had just made this new trough and no sooner was it made, but my youngest daughter, Liana declared it was just the right size for her! (see photo above) The horses all came for a drink, but Tyr was the most dazzling, because he is so big (16hh at 4 years old).

I have just this summer started trimming my horses' feet, mostly because my farrier was having behaviour trouble with 2 of my horses, Tyr and Tina, my half-Appaloosa mare. They were good with me, so I started looking on the internet for information. I could hardly believe the huge amount of information, and here was a horse movement that mirrored most of what I already believed in. No shoes, 24/7 turnout, natural remedies, the list goes on. I had been keeping most of my thoughts to myself, because my traditional horse friends are not as open-minded!

Doing my own trimming was the best thing to happen here. My husband became more involved with the horses, and learned as I learned( If you can't beat em', join em'). I have a much more comprehensive understanding of thier feet and how they move, and there was an added bonus: I also have a mare that was diagnosed with Navicular disease years ago -- she had been limping more this spring, and someone told me I should have her put down. I didn't, and she is now moving better than she has for a long time. She still needs some work, but there are not as many people doing the barefoot trim up here (the closest lady is more than a 2 1/2 hr drive from me). In the springtime, I will take her up with me when I participate in a clinic on barefoot trimming, and I am asking for a subsciption to your magazine (The Horse's Hoof Magazine) for Christmas!!