Equiliberta

30/10/2024

Creative arts have no end; they’re both exhausting and hard to quantify. Yet tonight, I’m going to bed with a big smile and a long list of creative projects ahead. After three months of building our interview space, it’s finally happening! We'll soon be marking our presence on social media, sharing authentic, firsthand insights. Bear with us—beginnings are always a bit challenging.

Despite my busy schedule, I’d like to mention that I’m still accepting new hoof care, and rehabilitation clients.

07/08/2024

Today was one of those days that makes you stop and think the world turned up the color saturation. It's days like this when my work really hits home and takes on a deeper meaning.

I remember my first encounter a decade ago with the struggle of picking out a horse's feet. Little did I know, that experience would turn my professional life on its head.

Today, I’m reminded that my job isn't just about trimming hooves. It’s about connecting with my real clients: the horses. My role is to provide reassurance and help them overcome their fears, breaking cycles of negative behavior one hoof at a time. I regret not having recorded our initial visits to showcase the progress we've made.

A gold star goes to Misty, the ex-racer Thoroughbred, and his owner for making significant strides in addressing behavioral issues. Misty trotted into my life four visits ago, and I'll be honest—I had my doubts about how quickly we’d make progress. We started strong, but there were a few bumps along the way. Misty has had a tough life, but now he's heading toward a brighter future with owners who dedicate plenty of time and love to doing the "homework."

Thoroughbreds often have it rough, with the racing industry leaving many of them scarred. But I've seen firsthand that we can heal those old wounds. Misty used to be quite the character, capable of getting dangerous. He’d lash out and bite if I so much as glanced at his front leg, out of fear of being punished. But we've come a long way in just a few sessions. Today, we celebrated with gentle kisses on the muzzle, some scratches, and treats. I’m confident that Misty will soon blossom into a safe and wonderful ride.

Who knew that picking up a hoof could pick up your spirits too?

16/07/2024

Sunningly beautiful. I couldn't ask for better views when trimming.

09/07/2024

NHC is changing lives, I wish we could change the weather 😭

20/06/2024

A little sentimental reminder: Stallions are also horses. When allowed to socialize, they form friendships and are perfectly capable of living within a herd. Here are two best buddies—two stallions from nine years ago—playing and horsing around, big and small.

15/04/2024

I love this video, it so well explains the cause-effect of biting so well but not only that. In hoof handling we apply the same principles.

Horse biting is a 'NO consent' response stemming from past experiences where their dignity was violated. If not addressed, biting becomes a part of anthropomorphic storytelling that attributes characteristics to the horse. Painfully so blaming the horse for being a horse.

Understanding our own emotions is key. It allows us to take responsibility for how we project our emotions, which is a step towards authentic communication.

To learn is to unlearn, sometimes painfully so.

08/04/2024

The devil always hides in details! Like no other, the Natural Trim is the greatest ally of domestic horses.

Five Overlooked facts about the Natural Trim no one is talking about.

Have you ever wondered why there's so much debate surrounding hoof trimming methods?

Over the last two decades barefoot trimming methods have proliferated worldwide. This emergence was catalyzed by groundbreaking research on wild horse hooves between 1982 and 1986, revolutionizing hoof care practices a decade later. Development of the Natural Trim method presented significant challenges. At the outset there were no tools, or records to guide the systematic mapping of wild horse hooves or document their natural shape.

The U.S. Great Basin wild horse hooves looked nothing like the hooves of domesticated horses. One of Jaime Jackson's initial discoveries was that the bottom of the hoof was not at all flat, challenging conventional notions of hoof balance. This raised questions: How do wild horses skillfully navigate rugged terrain of the U.S. Great Basin without artificial hoof protection? And why is there no lameness present? While conventional thinking suggests that horses absolutely need shoes for protection, Great Basin wild horses prove otherwise, seemingly growing their own natural 'horseshoes.’ How can we harness the principles of soundness observed in the horse's natural habitat? In the following discussion we will point to five key insights about the natural trim and its relevance to domesticated horses going without horseshoes.


1. The Natural Trim method mirrors nature

What does it entail to mirror nature? It means utilizing trimming tools with meticulous care, avoiding any attempt to sculpt or carve the hoof into artificially perfect shapes—a process akin to "cookie cutting." Instead, NHC practitioners employ specialized tools to simulate natural wear, maintaining a balance between wear and growth patterns. Through systematic application of the natural trim, skilled practitioners can prompt the development of natural growth patterns. Over several trimming sessions, this process gradually transforms the hoof capsule. ISNHCP practitioners do not manipulate or shape the hoof; rather, they facilitate the restoration of healthy growth by allowing nature to take its course. Their added responsibility is to know the characteristics of naturally shaped hooves in wild horses and understand how these traits transfer to the hooves of domesticated horses.

2. Consistent trimming guidelines

The Natural Trim method, pioneered by Jaime Jackson, stands out as the sole approach with consistent trimming guidelines. These guidelines serve as the cornerstone of the ISNHCP Natural Trim Training Program, providing students and practitioners with a comprehensive framework known as the Four Guiding Principles of the Natural Trim.


1️⃣ Leave that which should naturally be there:
This principle emphasizes retaining epidermal structures such as the hoof wall, frog plates, bars, and solar plates, each possessing their own form of natural thickness.

2️⃣ Remove only that which is naturally worn away in the wild:
Central to the method is the understanding of what constitutes a naturally shaped hoof, guiding practitioners to exercise restraint and to remove only what is naturally worn away. But knowing what is left over in the wake of natural wear is not possible if the practitioner is not confirmed to Principle #1.

3️⃣ Allow to grow that which should be there naturally but is not due to human meddling:
This principle underscores the importance of allowing the hoof to grow naturally, addressing with patience and forgiveness any infraction caused by misguided human interventions.

4️⃣ Ignore all pathology:
Rather than attempting mechanical fixes for hoof problems stemming from underlying systemic issues, practitioners let pathology resolve naturally over time with patience and appropriate interventions that focus on the causes of pathology than just its symptoms.

Chiselling of the hoof is ordained by nature, but such that meeting the animal’s survival needs equates with optimum health. Adaptive environments reflect the harmony between all facets of life and survival. Indeed, it is safe to assume that we must look beyond the hoof and out into the habitat. Here, we must transform our horses’ Paddocks into Paradise. Yet change comes also with challenging conventional beliefs about trimming while striving for harmony across all facets of equine life.

3. The Natural Trim: A horse's greatest ally against hoof debilitating conditions

The Natural Trim method emerges as the primary solution for addressing debilitating hoof conditions such as dropped soles, thin soles, or P3 penetrating the bottom of the foot, making it a recognized safe and humane trimming method.

Understanding how to address issues like excessive forward hoof growth or hoof wryness distinguishes the practitioner from a trimmer. The latter relies on trim mechanics alone, former is directed by the Four Guiding Principles of the Natural Trim. The Natural Trim can arrest these pathological changes, provided it is supported by the Four Pillars of NHC. Meaning, the application of the Natural Trim must extend beyond hoof care to encompass the broader context of a horse's life. While effective, the method does have limitations, particularly when horses are subjected to unnatural lifestyles or mismanagement. It's crucial to recognize that trimming alone cannot rectify issues stemming from systemic problems that don’t matrix within the hoof.

This revolutionary approach to hoof care still faces resistance from traditional hoof care professionals as well as academic scholars. Nevertheless, the Natural Trim proclaims to be the Number One method for safe and humane hoof care. The ISNHCP is at the forefront, offering comprehensive training rooted in the proven practices and principles of Natural Horse Care developed by Jaime Jackson.

4. Evidence-based trimming method

After four years of extensive study and research of Great Basin wild horses observed in the wild, as well as newly captured mustangs at BLM Corrals, the Natural Trim gradually emerged over time as a product of meticulous observation and analysis. Rooted in the principles of natural science, this method authentically reflects the untouched state of equine health and well-being. Despite the deceptive use of the term 'natural' elsewhere, here it signifies an unadulterated, pristine condition.

The journey towards developing the Natural Trim method was fraught with challenges, often marked by hostility and resistance. There were no learning materials, nor a mentor to pass on the knowledge. The Spirit of the natural horse gifted Jaime Jackson with the ability to look into the natural world of horses, and glean insights directly from the wild horses. Jaime's unwavering dedication, despite facing ridicule, has elevated his legacy, as the Natural Horse Care paradigm continues to reshape the landscape of horse management globally.

The advocacy for evidence-based science finds validation in the pathological changes observed in the hooves of wild mustangs weeks after their removal from their adaptive environment. But we expect this outcome as wild mustangs and their domestic cousins are one and the same species. Releasing horses back into the U.S. Great Basin is restricted beyond the jurisdiction of BLM. Yet, it is precisely here that we must seek evidence, as the research community turns a blind eye to potential solutions for many ailments haunting domesticated horses. As Jaime Jackson aptly asserts, "Science should not say one thing, and the natural world another." Further, the scientific method is predicated on an axiom that we must observe in nature, and not willfully contradict its wisdom. Hence, going into the horse’s natural world with the full force of good science can only open the blind eye to see the light.


5. Results require time, patience and understanding

Learning to trim horses' hooves is not a skill that can be acquired in three days. Just as Rome was not built in a day, the development of the Natural Trim method took considerable time and dedication. The ISNHCP Natural Trim Training Program draws from Jaime Jackson's four decades of experience as a natural hoof care practitioner, complemented by nearly a decade of horseshoeing.

Jaime's profound teaching experience in natural hoof care underscores a painful yet undeniable truth: impatience leads to harm. Rushing the learning process fosters excuses and a craving for instant gratification, a weakness of character exploited by quick-fix, fast track training camps. Promising immediate results without investing the necessary time and effort in mastering the complexities of natural hoof care as a profession is a “con job” by any other name. In the face of changes taking place within the barefoot movement, we advocate for structured training that requires accountability on our part. Confidence without competence lacks authenticity.

The ISNHCP is responsible for training their Practitioners, so they understand how to communicate vital information to and from the Supercorium using the Natural Trim method, acknowledging the biodynamic nature of the hoof and its responsiveness to the environment. Therefore, we approach trimming with diligence, patience, and a deep understanding of the horse's hoof.

IN ESSENCE

Naturally shaped hooves are a by-product of the horse’s lifestyle and habitat, not just the trim. Aided metaphysically by the Spirit of the Natural Horse, the Natural Trim method is a gift of nature to humanity, sustained by the ISNHCP's Vital Mission to advance humane care and management of domesticated horses through the skilled hands of its practitioners. ISNHCP is also a school of thought, where mastering concepts comes with patience in the quest for tangible results.

Our beliefs and principles about the hoof guide our hands and tools. Thus, we give much thought to the process of learning, and letting the hoof work speak for itself.

》》 Jaime Jackson, the founder of the Natural Trim based on the wild horse model, is an expert on natural hoof care. As a former farrier, he has integrated a diverse range of skills garnered from respected professionals to enrich his own portfolio. He is a critical thinker, researcher and an author of many books. His extensive publications incorporate a new terminology that has been popularized in everyday horse care. Jaime has broken ground on the “hoof mechanism” in its applications to barefoot hoof care, invented new tools to track changes in hoof mass across time with pathways leading to improved hoof structure and genuine natural hoof balance without resorting to resections and other forms of invasive trimming. He continues to influence and advocate for the ethical treatment of horses globally and the preservation of the wild, free-roaming horses of the U.S. Great Basin.

Photo credit: Jill Willis

28/02/2024

These words have a ring of truth.

24/12/2023

Check Megan out, she's a rising star. She also puts a lot of emphasis on addressing hoof handling issues.

Hi I'm Megan and this is my Natural Barefoot Trimming business!

I qualified as a practitioner with the Institute for the Study of Natural Horse Care Practices (ISNHCP) in 2023.

This programme specialises in doing our best to provide a species-specific lifestyle, diet and environment (think wild horses of the U.S. Great Basin) as well as mimicking natural wear patterns with the trim, for the whole horse's (as well as their hooves) health and wellbeing.

After all, the hooves are usually very much attached to the horse, so why should we look at separating or overcomplicating their care?

Whether you've had your four-legged family member on a track system for a while or are looking to start your journey towards a more natural way of life for them (and their hooves), I'm here to help.

So if you're in West Sussex or Aberdeenshire (yes, I cover both!) and are looking for a Natural Barefoot Trimmer for your best bud, feel free to WhatsApp me 😊

10/12/2023

The boys have arrived safely in Ireland 🇮🇪 and Meadow Track Livery will be their new home.

I no longer wanted to gamble with their care, it has been a very messy past few months. Now they will be living on a fully surfaced system of multiple tracks, in a mixed herd. I met Maja personally and can't speak well enough about her set up, her dedication and work ethic. The boarding facility for horses is a true ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I also wanted to give special thanks to John from EquiTrans, he went above and beyond with transport arrangements.

Both of my boys are settling in very well in their new home. Looking forward to share the updates and more 🐴 🐴 news.

02/12/2023

COMMON TRAPS

Running a successful natural boarding facility is not an easy nut to crack.

I am observing a rise in traditional livery spaces being offered as well as increasing number of people looking for boarding facilities that offer a more natural lifestyle. Herd life 24/7 throughout the year, and an environment free from metabolic disorders such as Laminitis.

What may happen in the coming years is that more progressive yard owners will diversify their services, open up to an idea of a natural boarding system. Which will increase the quality of service, so they remain competitive.

Natural Horse Care is a paradigm shift in horse management, from human centred horse keeping to horse centred one. It does not mean that we are at a disadvantage. It means that potentially we can enjoy watching our horses thrive, and save in the long run.

But just like with traditional yards there will be a spectrum of natural boarding facilities that offer outstanding services, which will be reflected in their practices and pricing; and those just getting by.

Not all horses do well on track system set up. Not all horses can transition into barefoot. Why is it so? Instead of attacking the owners for giving up we must look at the environment that has been created by the NHC proponents. Is the track surfaced? What is the constitutional value of forage? Is grass present in their diet? What kind of supplements horses receive, and are the stress rings present? How honestly are hooves evaluated? How knowledgeable the yard owner really is? Is it generic knowledge sourced through social media, or through books and practical experience?

Some of these questions must be answered to build the bigger picture when it comes to successful transition.

The reality of running a Paddock Paradise (aka natural boarding facility) is that the further away we are from the adaptive environment the more financial investment is required to make everything work.

In a dry, arid climate with rugged ground there is no need to surface the track. Nor is there any need to worry about the kind of mud temperate climate and soft ground entails. The same goes for flora; availability of quality hay and products that can be safely used.

The challenge is real. Not everyone is geared up to spend countless hours of researching, studying, and hard physical labour. Often interwoven with sweat and tears; or financial investment that leads to sacrificing short-term pleasures.

And yet, the potential of creating truly sustainable living conditions is always there.

I believe that this potential can only be fulfilled when the person follows a vision bigger than themselves. Not just in the name of horses. Not for recognition, status or power. Purely because of the kind of obsession that is required to succeed. Passion, that allows for mistakes and failure. Ability not to judge others, for where they are in their understanding of horses and life.

I used to use slow feeding nets, now I know it's a trap. Same goes for the “hay only” diet. Without all essential amino acids horses cannot build muscle tissues. Without correct surfacing horses will end up in mud and wet. Something they are not designed to endure in the long run. An understanding that ANY amount of grass in a non-adaptive environment is a laminitis trap. That “standing hay” is not hay, it is another Laminitis trap. Poorly set up tracks also contribute to reduced movement. Poor livery management leads to stress and exacerbating underlying health conditions. All of the above strongly depends on individuals’ level of awareness. Their motivation, and their limitations. Be it financial, or intellectual. Humans live in a realm of concepts. Reducing the complexity of nature into digestible chunks. Sometimes to their own detriment.

This is a plea to all land owners. Those with equestrian licence to convert their traditional set up. They have the strategic advantage to create the correct environment. In fact this is what is taking place right now. Small number of land owners leaped into the world of NHC. Beginnings can be harsh. That's why it's crucial to dig deep for Truth. Not to settle for good advice, but strive to analyse everything with diligence. To remain true to the original NHC model if one has captured a glimpse of it.

There is a market for natural horse boarding. But the best seats are reserved only to those geared up to do it right.

Photo featuring an unsurfaced track in former living quarters where my horses were boarded.

19/11/2023

Born to be wild...

08/11/2023

I am so happy this is going viral. Lockie has put in words something I have been feeling for a long time.

I was one of those clients that got trapped by R+, but lacked the scientific research papers to back up my own experiences and observations with R+.

Please don't get me wrong, R+ did a LOT for my horses, but on its own it is an incomplete system for training horses. I get to see people on both spectrums, rewards no rewards. What is missed as Lockie pointed out is the social attachment.

My take on social attachment is our ability to feel and validate an emotion of the animal (or our own). Validating does not mean acting out an emotion. Validating means simply accepting that this is pain, this is anger, sadness, or fear. Feeling and completely accepting emotions is the only path towards the release. A term I use for this subject is emotional intelligence, and I wonder if this is an area of exploration for Lockie and people like himself that found a dead end with R+.

From my own experience, our work in the world always comes down to our own awareness, ability to embody values, to understand our own flow of thought patterns and emotions that are created as a result. Our own thinking mind projects mental constructs on what we see, it obstructs perception. It is that our own belief systems are conditioned towards self-preservation and filter out anything that does not agree with the belief structure. The trait of openness in people is responsible for exploration, ability to move through uncertainty. Learn.

Humans have invented many schools of thought, and R+ is one of them. There are many professions, certification programs, dogmas and professional accreditations. What is missing in all of them is the recognition of one of the most important element. It is the acknowledgement of an ability to feel. Feeling in the moment when training horses increases the level of complexity and makes it almost impossible to teach. Unless the student, or a client opens up to this ability.

Feeling and emotion are two different things. Feeling is in the moment. Emotion is an old feeling - from the past. Feeling allows us to acknowledge emotions i.e. old unprocessed feelings that mounted up to a cluster of emotions. Developing an ability to feel is not such an easy endeavour. It always requires first moving through our own old emotions buried deeply within our psyche. Only then we can learn to work on such level with an animal.

However unpleasant and difficult this may seem, releasing emotions is deeply sought by animals. It is the only genuine pathway for humans to build deep connection with animals. Negative emotions are alien to animals. Their behaviour always honestly explains how alien.

《 JUST TO CLARIFY MY OFFICIAL POSITION ON MY AFFILIATION TO THE PAGE OF LOCKIE PHILIPS. I DO NOT AGREE WITH, AND APPROVE OF ANY CASUAL (DIY), ONLINE, BAREFOOT TRAINING OFFERED BY HIM, OR ANYONE ELSE. TRAINING IN HOOF CARE, LIKE ANY OTHER PROFESSION REQUIRES STRUCTUTED LEARNING AND CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT CONSISTENT TRIMMING GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTION SUCH AS THOSE OFFERED IN ISNHCP TRAINING PROGRAMME. DIY BAREFOOT COURSES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT TEACH JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE HARM.》

03/11/2023

Great NHC work. Filling in the void of misinformation with hands on expert knowledge! 😍

24/10/2023

A waterhole is an important feature of every Paddock Paradise. It is something we can provide to elicit natural behaviours in our domestic horses. Lifestyle drives behavour. Behaviour drives natural locomotion.

15/10/2023

Direct connection between the hoof health and gut health is this special organ: the Supercorium. It is a relationship of dependence.

What Is the Supercorium?

Within every hoof lies a fibrous, innervated (contains nerves), and vascular structure called the Supercorium. It is this living entity that creates, nourishes, and continuously regenerates the entire hoof – the protective epidermal armor we know as the hoof wall, bars, frog, and sole. Vulnerable to laminitis, the Supercorium is also the matrix of natural healing throughout the horse’s foot when it is nourished with a reasonably natural diet. For these reasons, awareness and understanding of the Supercorium is as much a concern of the ISNHCP Practitioner as is mastering the natural trim taught in the ISNHCP Basic Natural Trim Training Program.

Please visit the ISNHCP website for training opportunities at www.ISNHCP.net

Email the ISNHCP for information at [email protected]

Related books by Jaime Jackson

The Natural Trim: Basic Guidelines

Laminitis: An Equine Plague of Unconscionable Proportions

07/10/2023

There's still so much more to learn about those gracious animals. How much more they have to endure living their best lives in freedom. The stallions have to develop stamina and endure so much more. This rugged of lifestyle makes them stronger in every possible way.

In our own human life we must not avoid challenges, but meet them to develop our character, and our body. In life we don't become better by becoming safer, but by becoming more courageous.

Dressage has become a poor substitute for horses' natural locomotion. True dressage is for the horse, not the other way around. Horses know how to move naturally, our job is to provide them with a lifestyle where they will have an opportunity to create their own family bands. Where they will have to move accross different terrain to find forage, travel a distance to meet at the water holes. Climb up the hills. Spar to test their own physical ability, and compete for social bonds.

What is often perceived by the human mind as aversive, is perfectly natural in the wild. Horses deprived of natural lifestyle can become neurotic and cause harm, but this is man-made. Natural lifestyle will elicit natural behaviours. Natural behaviours will elicit natural locomotion. Natural locomotion is paramount to natural collection. In domestication, our job is to jump on the ride without causing harm.

https://youtu.be/HDqwtMCIWH8?si=JsTl2MyQSISV5RIq

This was filmed in spring of 2018 on my first visit to Sand Wash Basin. It is a tribute to Brave who lost his life recently to the harsh 2023 winter. As an a...

04/10/2023

An educated trimmer is the best defense against lameness 🤗

03/10/2023

We walk through life looking for inspiration. We make life changing decisions based on things we find meaningful. We learn from others as we move through the maize of information. Natural Horse Care has its own crevices. Places hard to reach, understand and replicate.

There is a good way to pass on the knowledge, and there is a thuggish way to do it. Role of a teacher is to guide, and support. Not subordinate and control. A good teacher will inspire, and motivate. A bad teacher will externalise the blame. When people reach the point of power of influence, it is often that they use it to control other peoples' behaviour. A good teacher will leave their students with good information, with a sense of value and progress. Bad teachers preach, implicitly make people feel guilty and not good enough.

Whatever the discipline of teaching, the person holds personal responsibility never to humiliate their students and make them feel as if they are bad. I had many personal experiences with bad teachers throughout life, and am sensitive to this subject. Always asking myself, how did I just make this person feel when I said this? Some people hurt people, and there isn't much we can do about this apart from walking away. Sometimes we need to really look inside and ask: Was it really me? What can I learn from it? Sometimes learning involves protecting oneself from criticism and blame.

If you learn to love learning, mistakes are no longer failures. Mistakes are valuable lessons in life. If learning evokes fear, it is not going to lead anywhere of value. Fear and learning are not compatible. Learning is fun, it is life's adventure.

26/09/2023

Something to ponder on.

www.hempfling.com Here we are informing about Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling.

24/09/2023

NHC is advancing humane care for horses in Ireland 🇮🇪 💕

24/09/2023

Just got back from Ireland. Brought some of the leaflets home 😍 Photos of the event yet to come! Great people, and what a project! Meadow Track Livery has almost completed surfacing a great length of one of the tracks. It looks super impressive. Multiple tracks, multiple surfaces and mud free environment 🤩

Big thank you to Maja for an invite, and printing the brochures. You're always very accommodating x