Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services

Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services Natural Horsemanship Clinician and Horse Trainer—Certified Barefoot Trimmer and Certified Farrier with the Equine Lameness Prevention Organization (ELPO)

I have spent the last decade studying the principles of horsemanship and have worked hard to share what I have learned with others. I have been influenced by dozens of brilliant horsemen and horsewomen and I've had the privilege to have ridden with some of the best in the world including: Peter Campbell, Pat Parelli and Dennis Reis. My goal in both my horse training program and my clinics is to le

ave the horse more at peace around people, around his environment and within himself and to leave you with a better understanding of how to communicate, how to build confidence and how to have purpose. I don't teach a specific "discipline", but rather encourage students to develop problem-solving skills, consider the horse's point of view and take his expression and feelings into consideration. To me"Horsemanship" is the habits that humans and horses need to become partners. We define a habit as the crossroads between knowledge (the what and the why), skill (the how to do) and desire (the want for a change). It is based on principles of effectiveness. When you value the principles of good horsemanship you will develop the ability to know where the horse is at and the skill to do what needs to be done. Good horsemanship is not about breaking or training horses, it's about working on yourself and playing with horses nature. You have to allow the horse the time it takes to learn something and when that happens you'll never have to redo it - because you didn't take the horse hostage.

Here are two common hoof presentations you’ll see.Left photo:This foot is shod with the internal structures in mind. Bre...
11/14/2025

Here are two common hoof presentations you’ll see.

Left photo:
This foot is shod with the internal structures in mind. Breakover is set about ¼” in front of the tip of the coffin bone (using hoof mapping), and the heels are fit back to the “dimple line” at the back of the central sulcus. This creates a balanced, supportive ground-bearing surface around the foot’s center of rotation.

Right photo:
This foot is shod in a way that promotes forward distortion of the hoof capsule, causes heels to run forward and crush, increases leverage on the deep flexor tendon, and often causes toe first landings. This style of shoeing is a major contributor to many “navicular” type cases.

Some people think leaving the toe long like this gives the horse more support (more ground bearing surface = more supoort) but that only applies when the horse is standing still—the least likely time when a horse will injure themselves. In motion that extra length becomes a lever arm the horse has to fight. That’s why virtually all shoes naturally wear a roll in the toe in a relatively short amount of time.

Here’s a fun case of like to show some progress on. Arabian gelding with high/low conformation and recovering from lamin...
11/10/2025

Here’s a fun case of like to show some progress on. Arabian gelding with high/low conformation and recovering from laminitis. Here is his initial photos pre-trim and the latest photos after the 4th shoeing.

In this case the laminitis is no longer active but the distortion and laminar wedge that was formed is still growing out. Each trim I simply identify the sole that wants to release and exfoliate to allow the foot to naturally derotate. The distortion will grow out completely over time. The shoe/pad is placed to protect the foot and allow the breakover point to be placed just ahead of the tip of P3.

Letting everyone know, I’ll be taking a little break from full time horse training next year.Before that, I have two ope...
11/02/2025

Letting everyone know, I’ll be taking a little break from full time horse training next year.

Before that, I have two open training slots available for the next two months.

Normally $1,500/month, now offered at $1,100/month for these final opening.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting your horse started or tuned up, this is your chance!

Send me a message if you’d like to get your horse in.

OPENINGS FOR WINTER TRAINING!Principles, Purpose, and Time are the Tools of TeachingWhen we work with horses, it’s easy ...
10/16/2025

OPENINGS FOR WINTER TRAINING!

Principles, Purpose, and Time are the Tools of Teaching

When we work with horses, it’s easy to think our tools are the rope, the flag, or the saddle. But the real tools of teaching are principles, purpose, and time.

Principles are the foundation — the “why” behind everything we do. A horse learns best from consistency, fairness, and clarity. When we hold to solid principles, our actions make sense to the horse, and they start to trust the process.

Purpose gives direction to what we’re doing. Without it, we just go through motions. The sooner the horse understands the purpose the sooner he’ll understand the meaning of what we’re doing.

And then there’s time — maybe the hardest tool of all. You can’t rush understanding. Horses learn at the speed of trust, and that takes time. But if you give them that time, it becomes your greatest ally.

So when things aren’t working, don’t reach for a bigger stick or a new gadget. Go back to your principles, clarify your purpose, and give it time. Those are the true tools of good horsemanship.

I’ve got a couple openings for training this fall. When I’m training a horse, I’m focused on building a solid and safe f...
09/30/2025

I’ve got a couple openings for training this fall.

When I’m training a horse, I’m focused on building a solid and safe foundation that sets the tone for everything we do together. That means teaching the horse to clearly understand how to yield to pressure in a soft, willing way, while also developing confidence so they remain calm and unflappable in new or challenging situations. I’m looking for a horse that is both respectful and relaxed—responsive without fear, and steady without resistance—so that we can create a partnership based on trust, clarity, and safety for both horse and rider.

Happy Sunday!Here I used a composite shoe (Easy Care Versa Grip) for this navicular case. Toe is tapered back to the wid...
09/28/2025

Happy Sunday!

Here I used a composite shoe (Easy Care Versa Grip) for this navicular case. Toe is tapered back to the widest point of the foot to easy breakover—heels are softened to allow the foot to roll into the ground smoothly—composite material allows for increased shock absorption and caudal support shares the load across the back of the foot.

Too often in the horse world, people feel pressured to get on a young or green horse before that horse is truly ready. T...
09/25/2025

Too often in the horse world, people feel pressured to get on a young or green horse before that horse is truly ready. The truth is, some of the most important lessons a horse will ever learn can (and should) be taught from the ground.

Groundwork is the safest and most effective way to build a horse’s education. When done correctly, it’s not just “teaching manners” or leading quietly—it’s riding from the ground. Every concept the horse will need under saddle—balance, softness, responsiveness, confidence, and understanding of pressure and release—can be developed far more clearly and consistently from a place where both horse and human are safe.

A skittish, green, or unsure horse doesn’t need someone rushing to climb on their back. What they need is time, patience, and communication that makes sense to them. Groundwork provides that foundation. It allows us to establish trust, clarity, and respect without putting either horse or rider in unnecessary danger.

If we take the time to put in this work on the ground, riding becomes the natural next step—not a gamble. In fact, the horses that come up through solid groundwork programs often transition to the saddle quietly and willingly, because the work has already been done.

Good groundwork isn’t “less than” riding—it’s the heart of horsemanship.

A correct barefoot trim is always the foundation. It restores balance relative to the internal anatomy, reduces damaging...
09/25/2025

A correct barefoot trim is always the foundation. It restores balance relative to the internal anatomy, reduces damaging leverage, and promotes circulation and soft tissue development in the back of the foot. When the trim is done right, many horses can stay barefoot comfortably and perform at a high level — with stronger digital cushions, thicker soles, and healthier overall hoof function. That’s why I advocate for barefoot trimming whenever possible: it maximizes natural movement, proprioception, and long-term soundness.

That said, not every horse, environment, or workload allows barefoot success immediately. Horses with thin soles, weak caudal structures, or heavy performance demands may benefit from shoes — steel, aluminum, or composites — as a protective tool. The key is that shoeing should be an extension of the trim, never a substitute for it. When applied with balance in mind, shoes can reduce leverage, protect the sole, and buy time for the internal structures to rehab.

So, while I advocate barefoot first, I also recognize that horseshoeing has its place. At the end of the day, it’s not about being “pro-barefoot” or “pro-shoe” — it’s about being pro-horse.

Live sole hoof mapping allows us to identify internal structures by using external reference points. Thereby giving us i...
09/23/2025

Live sole hoof mapping allows us to identify internal structures by using external reference points. Thereby giving us insight when we trim and/or when shaping a placing a shoe.

Edit: I’ve seen a lot of comments about the toe looking “too short.” I want to clear this up.

What you’re seeing is not me “cutting the toe off” — it’s me setting the shoe in an anatomically correct position following the hoof mapping protocols. This method uses the horse’s internal anatomy as the reference (which are backed up by radiographic studies) not just the outside of the hoof wall. By placing breakover just ahead of the tip of the coffin bone, we reduce leverage on the laminae and deep flexor tendon, improve comfort, and allow the hoof to function the way it’s designed.

This does not compromise the integrity of the toe. The live sole and corium remain protected, and the horse still has plenty of structure for strength and support. What it does is take away the excess leverage at the very front of the hoof — leverage that contributes to distortion, flares, white line stretching, and long-term lameness issues.

In short: the shoe is set back for function, not because the toe was “cut off.” Done correctly, this approach restores balance, improves circulation, and in many cases allows the hoof to rebuild healthier than before.

I’ve also added another photo of a similar horse showing what a finished foot looks like.

Currently booking shoeing/barefoot trimming clients on Island, Snohomish and Skagit counties. 🥾🦶Why do farriers sometime...
09/21/2025

Currently booking shoeing/barefoot trimming clients on Island, Snohomish and Skagit counties. 🥾🦶

Why do farriers sometimes set shoes back behind the toe?

It’s a common question—and one that even some hoof care providers misunderstand. The main reason is to address toe distortion.

When we trim a hoof, we aren’t just working from the bottom. The hoof capsule also spreads and changes shape over time due to plastic deformation of the horn. This is especially common in wet climates, where the hoof wall becomes softer and more pliable. In fact, any flaring you see is a form of distortion.

To accurately place a shoe, we use live sole hoof mapping to locate the true position of the coffin bone’s tip. This internal landmark doesn’t change, even when the outer hoof capsule distorts, which makes it a reliable guide. The same principle applies to barefoot trimming—sometimes minor distortion can be beveled away, while more severe cases may require trimming back.

Done correctly, this doesn’t weaken the hoof capsule, despite a common misconception. As long as the hoof wall isn’t excessively thinned, the integrity of the foot is preserved.

My main focus in my horsemanship program is helping horses to understand a job—starting from the ground up. You often h...
09/19/2025

My main focus in my horsemanship program is helping horses to understand a job—starting from the ground up. You often hear the phrase, “that horse needs a job to do.” But too often, that just translates into moving their feet or chasing them around.

What I’m really looking for is a horse that takes ownership of the job I’ve asked them to do. For example, if I send a horse out on a circle, am I sending them? Or are they truly taking responsibility for maintaining the pattern? How do you do this? By not thinking of it as a job but rather as a game. Horses learn to understand things through games. This is where they ultimately learn to make the choice and learn to want to do the things we want them to do.

Whether you’re a recreational rider or a serious competitor, the more responsibility your horse can learn to carry on their own through this process the stronger and more rewarding your partnership will become.

We wrapped up our very first barefoot trimming clinic this weekend, and it was a great success! Both the students and th...
09/15/2025

We wrapped up our very first barefoot trimming clinic this weekend, and it was a great success! Both the students and the horses did really well, and it was inspiring to see everyone dive in with such focus and enthusiasm.

Learning how to trim your own horse can be a truly valuable and empowering experience. It gives you a sense of ownership over an important part of your horse’s care and helps deepen the bond you share with them. That said, it’s also a gradual learning process—developing the knowledge, skill, and confidence takes time and practice.

We’re proud of everyone who took part in this first clinic and excited to see how their skills continue to grow.

We will post as soon as our next barefoot clinics are scheduled. Be sure to follow Evan Bonner Horsemanship & Farrier Services to look for the next one!

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1013 N Mallard Lane
Camano Island, WA
98282

Telephone

+13605513736

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