Barefoot Hoof Solutions

06/06/2024

I would personally like to take the time to acknowledge this wonderful young man .
It has been extremely disappointing to see how much flack this young man has coped online for just being him.
Yes, he could protect his noggin and put a helmet on, yes, he could improve some aspects of his riding, And yes, he may seem a bit goofy but at the end of the day, if every horse owner showed as much love to their animal, as this man does, for his horse, the world would be a much better place.
I really hope this young man starts a trend, because too many young men are too afraid to even get off their backsides and away from their video games and v**e pens to even consider, taking a risk to experience true happiness.
His horse’s name says it all to me,’Halil’ meaning Friend, companion and beloved
Happy trails
Fonz

29/05/2024

Hi friends! Did this wool shirt/jumper get left somewhere last winter and got lost in a shed somewhere etc? Fonz is really missing it and stumped where he left it behind. Reward offered if your husband has claimed it 😅 lol

Thanks,
Nat 😊🐎

27/05/2024

It’s always a great opportunity to have a day on the road with the kids to have some one on one time.
Today we caught up with Apples the brumby who is spelling out with a client for a short time and he was very happy to catch up with Charlie again too.
Happy travels 

13/05/2024

A great post below 👇🐎

Nice looking foot, that!! Even warmbloods can have great hooves, if you condition them. This is a horse who can go for miles on stone, but it wasn’t always that way. She’s been gradually exposed to lots of different surfaces, both in hand and ridden. Slowly the time on coarser surfaces has increased, which has stimulated her soles and conditioned them over time.

Wild horses, particularly in drier climates receive this conditioning from birth, but domesticated pastures don’t offer the same benefits. So much as to say… transitioning can take time. Don’t ask too much of your horse too soon, and ask your EP to help you plan a conditioning program.

07/05/2024

9km travelled more on a track 🐎

03/05/2024

😊

18/04/2024

It’s hard not to get attached to all the beautiful horses on our run. Fonz was really saddened to hear of this special gelding’s recent passing...his owner sent me this photo and Fonz said he could really feel the connection with this boy especially when he rested his head on him like this.

RIP Sweet ‘Tank’ 🐎🌈✨you will be greatly missed! Xo

16/04/2024

Stunning day with a stunning horse.

Although nipping and biting isn’t always a common problem I come across through my work, it sometimes pops it’s head up once in a while.

Biting and kicking go hand in hand when it comes to a horse who is trying to process a vulnerable situation that they find themselves in or they maybe simply trying to communicate to us that something is up!

My hoof pick may have accidentally pricked into him from my pocket, an insect may have bitten him or he may have stomach ulcers or be recovering from them.
It may also simply be the case that he is simply and down right scared from a previous experience.

I grew up seeing horse punished for being horses. Emotionally unstable humans who felt that the only way forward when they lacked knowledge or true horsemanship was to inflict pain in The means of whipping, striking yelling and twitching!

Either way, we should always look for alternative options when dealing with any problem then behaving like an immature imbecile.
By being able to lower my energy and relax, the horse will do the same. I can trust him and he can trust me and day by day, we can then become forever Friends👍

13/04/2024

Not hoof related but I saw this and thought it reminded me of someone who would do something like this 🤣🐎

12/04/2024

Future farrier right here 👇I reckon Charlie will be solo in another 10 years ☺️

Already watching over my shoulder last weekend at the hoof clinic at the cadever I was trimming saying ‘mum toes are too long, remove that bit’ 😅

11/04/2024

Copper Grooming Brush from Hairy Pony (stocked at Horseland Albury)

Amazing brush! Get your pony one ☝️🐎

07/04/2024

A big thank you to the wonderful individuals who turned up to the maintenance hoof trimming clinic in Holbrook today!

We had the privilege of Andrew Bowe aka The Barefoot Blacksmith and director of the Australian Equine Podiotherapy College facilitating the clinic.

It was a fantastic learning opportunity and gave the participants the knowledge and confidence to take ownership of their own horses hooves in maintenance trimming. 🐎💪🏻

Great day with great bunch of people, we all really enjoyed it!

31/03/2024

Wishing all our beautiful Barefoot Hoof Solutions clients and followers a wonderful and restful Easter 🐣 break! It’s perfect sunny weather to spend outside with your equine friends 🐎❤️

30/03/2024

What an amazing day we had today at Tooma Easter Gymkhana! And we have this song stuck in our heads for another Easter 😅

20/03/2024

Very true 👇

20/03/2024

The difference between ‘barefoot’ trims. The left side is the trim we see when a dedicated barefoot hoof care provider trims. The left is what we typical see when the trim is done by a traditional farrier. While both trims are ‘barefoot’ the methods used are so different. 🐎

Healthy vs Unhealthy Hoof

Can you name some of the Pathologies you can see on the right hand side?

Then can you notice some of the features of the healthy hoof on the left?

Tell us what you see!

Illustration by ACEHP Trimmer Siobhan Nicholls (Dreamingofdarkhorses)

19/03/2024

Red light at night is the jockeys delight

19/03/2024

15/03/2024

Thank you to Deanne for gifting me my latest accessories for my work boots!
Now I can work in the dark😂

15/03/2024

This is a scene I see on a weekly basis in different locations. Imagine a 10 year old child suffering from diabetes not being able to socialise, left in a small room and only fed morning and night and often given pain killers to cope. Why on earth do we think it’s ok to keep small ponies this way?

There are so many studies showing that horses and ponies left without forage for more than 4 hours are at serious risk of developing ulcers. There is so much information available these days highlighting the dangers of this kind of lifestyle.

I posted a photo yesterday of a pony in a yard I’ve seen many times on my travels. I didn’t name or shame the property. I merely used the photo to highlight a situation I see sadly far too often. The situation being, a small pony is locked in a yard without friends, forage or freedom.

The owner of the pony ended up seeing the photo and contacted us last night. I’m always open to discussing alternative options to this outdated practice. I did offer to chat but instead of a healthy discussion I’ve been told by the pony owner (who is also the Agistment centre owner) that my trimming services are no longer allowed on her property. Given that I implied the pony is mistreated and is protecting her other clients from any further potential ‘judgement’ from me.

I’ll stand by my statement from yesterday. Locking up, isolating and starving a laminitic pony is torture for them.

Feeding morning and night with nothing in between is not good enough. Learn the metabolism of an equine and you’ll understand why.

Maybe the hay nets are put out as soon as I leave? Maybe the owners hand walk the ponies of an evening giving them physical and mental stimulation? Maybe my timing is just wrong and the ponies are getting exactly what they need and I’m just in the wrong place at the wrong time, every time!

Happy trails!

Fonz 🐎

13/03/2024

Chilling out