Wishing Welz Equine LLC

12/12/2024

From my experience in managing horses naturally for 20+ years, and caring for horses generally for 35+ years: I honestly think that one of the biggest problems we horseowners face is our tendency to throw "treatments," "remedies," and products at a horse's hoof and/or health issue. Whether they are natural or traditional remedies/ supplements/therapies, it's really all the same - treating the symptoms. I don't mean there is not a place for these products - both natural and traditional medicines. Of course they need to be utilized! But natural horse care is about analyzing the root cause, and that cause is typically too simple for us to wrap our minds around.

For example, a lot of serious thrush is caused by horses' hooves being exposed daily to urine and f***s. Even horses kept out of stalls can still end up standing around in wet manure piles. In the photo example here, this was a Haflinger with lovely hooves, yet he developed bad thrush in his frogs due to poor living conditions. The owner remedied the inadequate environment, and the problem went away. No diet change nor topical chemicals were needed in this case.

Natural horsekeeping for our domestic horses is indeed a challenge! Most people can never do it perfectly, and that's okay. But when we have a health problem, the first thing we should do is analyze how far we have deviated from what is truly the BEST equine management: freedom of movement 24 hours per day in a herd on breed appropriate terrain, low sugar forage free fed as much as possible, regulated exercise as needed to provide enough daily miles, and hooves trimmed and maintained frequently to simulate natural wear and healthy equine hoof shape. Putting these elements firmly into practice can produce transformative results. We ALL come up short of doing it perfectly, but carry on!

Check out Hoof Help Online 🐴 Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

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Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

11/20/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News November 2024 is released!
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What's in this issue? 🦃 Give Thanks for the Wild Horses! 🦃 PHCP 2024 Conference Takeaways, Part 2 🦃 Comprehensive Equine Discomfort Ethogram 🦃 Dr. Sue Dyson on Horse Hoof Health 🦃 An Intelligent Hoof Boot?! 🦃 Hoof Help Online - for Hoof Heretics! 🦃 and more!

10/23/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News October 2024 is released!
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What's in this issue? 🎃 Pumpkin Spice Hooves 🎃 PHCP 2024 Conference Takeaways, Part 1 🎃 Barefoot Trimming for Donkeys 🎃 Scholarships Available for Hard Workers 🎃 Fast and Easy Hoof Trimming with a Grinder 🎃 Halloween Cavallo Boot Giveaway 🎃 A Lifetime of Soundness - for Horse and Human Alike 🎃 and more!

10/12/2024

A Lifetime of Soundness - for Horse and Human Alike?

25 years ago, I learned a different paradigm for healthcare, directly because of natural hoof care. Learning from Naturopathic Veterinarians, I found out that food and toxins were the major contributors to disease, along with living conditions that are extremely unnatural. The modern horse in the modern lifestyle - stabled 20+ hours per day in isolated stalls, fed "meals" 3 times per day, exercised in a 1 hour intense session, with metal nailed to its feet - was set up for hoof and health failure.

The myriad of problems in the HUMAN healthcare system is finally at the forefront of people's minds right now. Humans are equally set up for failure - it's like they ARE the horses locked into stalls, eating unnatural fake processed food, with almost no exercise all day long, surrounded by a stew of environmental toxins. No one can be healthy like that!

How about we all get healthy together - horses and humans? There is nothing better than fresh air, sunshine, clean food, and freedom for horse and for owner. We can get more exercise by walking and playing at liberty with horses, or enjoy long trail rides or other fun activities. Horses need to live outdoors in herds, and we humans need to spend as much time as possible outdoors with them!!!

Check out Hoof Help Online 🐴 Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a FREE monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

09/24/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News September 2024 is released!
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What's in this issue? 🐎 The Power of Frequent Trimming! 🐎 Wild Mustangs and Heel Height 🐎 Barefoot Quote of the Month: Dr. Robert Bowker 🐎 Do you have a Metabolic Horse? 🐎 2024 PHCP Conference Raffle Prizes 🐎 Hoof Boots versus Metal Shoes 🐎 Horse Photos for Research! 🐎 and more!

09/18/2024

This is a USA high desert Mustang hoof. I LOVE looking at feral horse hooves. It is important to realize that cadaver hooves will never appear the same as the living hoof (they shrink and change). Also, Mustangs will never be directly comparable to our domestic horses, due to their drastic lifestyle differences, for good and bad (not all wild horses have perfect lives). Nonetheless, feral equine hooves provide VALUABLE information that any student of the hoof should readily absorb.

Is the hoof form relevant to the trimming of domestic horses? There can be many arguments for and against. Keep in mind, the heels of an equine with a robust digital cushion can appear to be very low, and yet be incredibly strong. Most domestic horses have weak digital cushions and cannot have heels this low without discomfort. What is natural - low heels, mid range heels, or higher heels? That remains a subject of debate. Dr. Robert Bowker argues that all hooved mammals walk on the pads of their feet; why would the horse be any different?

Check out Hoof Help Online 🐴 Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a FREE monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

09/07/2024

Pre-Rehab facility?
There is great power in preventative hoofcare. Barefoot used not as rehab therapy, but as a way to ensure future long term health and soundness. A way to change the future of horsekeeping.

There is still a need for rehab facilities—but what about a PRE-rehab facility?! Can you imagine if there were well-respected equine centers across the country (or world) where horses were raised from birth in natural, ideal conditions and their hooves kept carefully shaped for perfect soundness? Centers could each cater to different disciplines, such as dressage, or western performance, or endurance, etc. Enlightened performance riders could visit these facilities to purchase horses with unbeatable hooves.

These centers could also focus on education, bringing in a steady stream of visitors and students to teach natural horse and hoof care, and the correct shape of a healthy hoof. These locations would be ideal for trimming certification courses, internships, and mentorships, while professionals could visit these centers for advanced studies. Such centers would be ideal locations for the study of horse behavior, as well as providing large numbers of easily accessible barefoot equines for new and better hoof studies. Right now, this is just a dream, but who knows what the future will bring?

Check out Hoof Help Online 🐴 A unique platform for learning: You receive exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a FREE monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

08/28/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News August 2024 is released!
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway
What's in this issue? 🐴 Equine Welfare & Natural Horse Care 🐴 Taking Barefoot into Top Level Competition! 🐴 2024 PHCP Conference 🐴 Barefoot Quote of the Month: Sarah Albanozzo 🐴 Dr. Robert Bowker Video Series 🐴 End of Summer Hoof Woes? 🐴 August Cavallo Boot Giveaway! 🐴 Congratulations to Mustang Mission! 🐴 Hay Feeder Height and our Horses 🐴 Beyond the Barn Podcast

07/02/2024

Here are a few good questions:
1) Did "nature" prepare the equine hoof for the conditions of domesticated life?
2) Did "nature" provide for a horse with sick, damaged hooves to be "rehabilitated" or undergo a long, slow process of healing?
3) Is "nature" always positive and always working in a constructive way towards healing?
4) Do mankind's sometimes dramatic attempts to interfere with natural processes help, or hinder? (consider: drugs, surgeries, emergency medical care).

These are important questions to consider as we keep evolving barefoot hoof care procedures.
Pryor Mountains Mustangs photo courtesy of Erin Phillips, Mustang Mission: www.mustangmission.blogspot.com

Check out Hoof Help Online, for wonderful discussion between people who are open-minded - and a great place for "Feral Trimmers"! 😁 A unique platform for learning: You receive exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a FREE monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

06/24/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News June 2024 is released!
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway
What's in this issue? ☀️ There is NO Single "Correct Way" to Barefoot Trim ☀️ Barefoot Hoof Study Conference Presentation ☀️ Barefoot Quote of the Month: Jaime Jackson ☀️ Controversial Barefoot-oriented Podcast ☀️ We Are Herd - Equus Interdependence Day ☀️ Feeding Forage Free-Choice ☀️ Liberty Festival Clinicians ☀️ June Cavallo Boot Giveaway ☀️ and more!

06/20/2024

Controversy in the Barefoot World?
Been there, done that. Nothing is really new? What goes around, comes around. Cycles repeat. Photo: Jaime Jackson and Dr. Hiltrud Strasser at her "Hufklinik" in Germany, November 1999. The explosive spark that created the birth of the barefoot hoofcare movement.

Does it really matter who is "right" and who is "wrong"? Me, personally, I hate controversy, but that's because I am a peacemaker. By nature, I'm an agreeable person. That's simply who I am. So it's a tough "online" world right now.

Confusing barefoot world? The smart thing to do is learn from history. Keep asking questions. Put the horses first. Put other PEOPLE first. Bite your tongue as frequently as you can. You don't have to "win" arguments. Most of the time, there is no need to argue at all. Study the wild horses. Study all the ideas put forth by those brave, few barefoot researchers. Analyze and ponder the trimming decisions of those who have been trimming for a long time, with a body of work. Study different terrains and environments and situations than your own. Have compassions for others, and their challenges.

Check out Hoof Help Online, for wonderful discussion between people who are open-minded! 😁 A unique platform for learning: You receive exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a FREE monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

06/18/2024

Yes, you might win FREE Cavallo Trek Hoof Boots 🥳 just for signing up for Barefoot News!
SIGN UP HERE! https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/thh50b

On June 30, 2024, we will draw a random winner from The Horse’s Hoof email list and give away yet another pair of super cool hoof boots! (valid for USA & Canada mailing addresses only) All you have to do is sign up for The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News. For free! Besides lots of great prize offerings, you stay informed about the latest barefoot hoof care news from all over the world. Be sure to continue your subscription, as we will have frequent contests for great prizes!

05/22/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News May 2024 is released!
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway
What's in this issue? 🌸 Barefoot Horses Sweep the FEI Jumping World Cup!!! 🌸 Barefoot and doing Grand Prix! 🌸 Barefoot Jumping with Susannah Jones 🌸 Barefoot Quote of the Month: Julien Epaillard 🌸 Must-Listen Podcast: Lockie Phillips interviews Becks Nairn 🌸 2023 National Equine Economic Impact Study Results 🌸 Barefoot in Chile! 🌸 Liberty Festival 🌸 and more!

04/18/2024

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News April 2024 is released!
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What's in this issue? 🌼 Happy 1 Year Anniversary! 🌼 Thank you, Joe Camp ❤️ 🌼 New Barefoot Hoof Study Published 🌼 Barefoot Quote of the Month: Nick Hill 🌼 Hay Net Study for Dental Health and Bodyweight 🌼 The Study of the Equine Hoof 🌼 Cavallo Hoof Boots at Equine Affaire & April Boot Giveaway! 🌼 and more!

02/02/2024