Pacific Northwest Natural Hoofcare

29/09/2024

Hello friends!
I’ve had more and more interest for lessons in the ridgefield area so my friends at Cornerstone Horsemanship have offered for me to teach out of their beautiful facility. For now I’m going to begin with every other Monday starting October 7th.
Cass and Sara’s place offer an indoor riding arena with wonderful sand footing, a beautiful outdoor arena AND a safe roundpen with good footing! This gives me soo much flexibility for helping horses and humans!
If you’re in the Ridgefield area and are interested in lessons shoot me a message for rates and times available!
**Editing to add time slots**
2 pm-
3 pm-
4 pm- Beth Nye
5 pm- Adrienne
6 pm-

Future dates I will probably start at noon and have more flexibility.

Link to Cornerstones page:
https://www.facebook.com/Doubleoequinescom?mibextid=LQQJ4d

26/09/2024

Jill stylin’ in her boots 🤩

Thanks and for your dedication to donks!

#🫏

07/09/2024

Pretty girl gets a pedicure 💕

#🫏

15/05/2024

Trimming is a subtractive process.

I have sharp tools and can trim away excess material.
I can also choose what to leave alone.

This is the limitation of being a barefoot specialist who doesn't shoe:
When a horse needs something *added* to their hoof that isn't thrush treatment or Hoof Armor, and when boots are not enough/not feasible/not the right option, then it's time for permanent hoof protection.

Horses can successfully live in therapy boots for a long time, so I'm not really talking about laminitis/founder rehab cases. I'm talking about horses who are not comfortable barefoot because they don't have enough soft tissue density, sole depth, heel height, etc.

Here in the PNW, there is lots of gravel brought in to combat the mud.
The weather is wet and the gravel is abrasive and unforgiving.
Not all horses can tolerate this wet environment and that kind of footing without periodic to permanent hoof protection.

That's not a failure, it's just the reality of the area we live in.

So if your horse is not comfortable, has thin soles, or doesn't have access to softer footing for turnout.... it's time to protect their feet.

A really common phrase used is "their feet just need to toughen up."
That's not really how it works.
You need better footing, more sole depth, less inflammation, and the right trimming/shoeing/booting combination.

This is my area specific opinion. Professionals who work in different climates are dealing with different issues than we do here.

*Picture is a hind hoof on a mare I just referred out for shoes, at least for the summer. This is after 5 weeks growth. I didn't trim because what would I trim?*

14/05/2024

So true for mustangs & rescues.
This is only true for these types of horses, don’t fool yourself that your trusting, walk all over you, bottle fed stud c**t is the same.

28/03/2024

Versa Octos for the win!
They’ll keep this cute mare comfy over varried terrain as she heads off to school for a few weeks.

22/02/2024

Some little makeshift goat booties for this cute buck whose hooves needed a little extra TLC. Thanks for trusting me with your critters!

#🐐

19/02/2024

A tale of hoof health as told by its print. Bonus cougar track at the end. A sampling of the local foot traffic at Milo McIver state park where I ride often.

13/02/2024

***EDIT*** Clinic is cancelled, not enough interest. I’m willing to do it at a later date whether it be for OHSET or general public. Shoot me a message if interested.****

OHSET athletes and families!
Do you have a horse that gets herd bound? Gate sour? Rearing? Anxious to go forward, or feels like you have little to no control in different scenarios?
Maybe you just want to learn some exercises for refinement, suppling and better balance?
We are offering a last minute 2 hour clinic to touch on a handful of things you can work on to have safer, more broke horses. We’ ll talk about how your tack functions, why your hand angles matter and what’s happening in your horses mind and body. This clinic is for NE District OHSET athletes only this time but open to auditors. No deposit needed but would love a general head count ahead of time so please reach out to me here or Jenny Tackett if you plan on coming.
* please come with cash for clinic and auditing fee
**Bits with broken mouthpiece /snaffle recommended. If you don’t have this I will have some bridle set ups with me for you to try out.

Please share and get the word out. We decided to push for this before next meet in the hopes of helping athletes have more tools and feel more confident out there.

17/01/2024

A customer asked me how much it cost to do this job....
I answered him: $ 1500
He said: So expensive for this job?
I asked: How much do you think it would cost you?
He answers me: $ 800 maximum... That's a pretty simple job right? !"
- For $ 800 I invite you to do it yourself.
- But.... I don't know how to.
- For $800 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $700, you'll get the knowledge for the next time you want
- It seemed right to him and he agreed.
- But to get started: you need tools: A welder, grinder, chop saw, drill press, welding hood, gloves etc...
- But I don't have all these equipment and I can't buy all of these for one job.
- Well then for another $300 more I'll rent my stuff to you so you can do it.
- Okay, he says.
- Okay! Tuesday I'm waiting for you to start doing this work
- But I can't on Tuesday I only have time today.
- I'm sorry, but I'm only available Tuesday to teach you and lend you my stuff. Other days are busy with other customers.
- Okay! That means I'm going to have to sacrifice my Tuesday, give up my tasks.
- I forgot. To do your job yourself, you also have to pay for the nonproductive factors.
- That is? What is this?"
- Bureaucratic, tax, vat, security, insurance, fuel etc.
- Oh no!... But to accomplish these tasks, I'm going to spend more money and waste a lot of time!
- Do you have them? You can do it to me before?"
- Okay!
- I'll make you all the material you need. Truck loading is done Monday evening or Tuesday morning you'll have to come by 6 loading the truck. Don't forget to be on time to avoid traffic jams and be on time
- At 6??? Nope! Too early for me! I used to getting up later...
- You know, I've been thinking. Y ' all better get the job done. I'd rather pay you the $1500. If I had to, it wouldn't be perfect and it would cost me a lot more.

When you pay for a job, especially handcrafted, you pay not only for the material used, but also:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Study
- Tools
- Services
- Time to go
- punctuality
- Accountability
- Professionalism
- Accuracy
- Guaranteed
- Patents
- Sacrifices
- Safety and security
- Payment of tax obligations

No one can denigrate other people's work by judging prices.
Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a certain work can you estimate the actual cost.

I did not write this dialogue, but am sharing it to support craftsmen and entrepreneurs.

12/01/2024

With chilly temps approaching, what do you do to keep your equines happy and toasty?

I very rarely blanket my horses. However, this fall & winter have been quite warm, and none of my kids grew much of a winter coat.
This weekend is going to get into the teens, so blankets are on for a few days.

Some simple things you can do to help your herd out when it’s colder:

🌱Feed them extra hay/forage

💧Water - it’ll freeze over (duh) so make sure you have a reliable source.

🏠Shelter - something to combat wet and windy conditions

🧥Blankets - IF your horse needs it. If they’re shivering, or don’t have access to a shelter and it’s wet and cold. Older horses, thin horses, or horses who may have thin coats may also appreciate it!

🥾Hoof protection - most of you don’t have to worry about this, but since this is a hoofcare page here we go. If mud in your paddocks freezes, and your thin soled, laminitic, navicular etc. horse walks over frozen tundra, it may be extra ouchy. Consider hoof protection for those that may need it, or provide a clean space in your shelter for them to stay comfy.

P.S.
No, my favorite color isn’t purple, that’s just what they had left at the feed store 😅

11/01/2024

Another donkey transformation 🙌🏽

11/01/2024

PPID diagnosed, laminitic donkey gets a pedicure 🦶

30/12/2023

✨
sending my gratitude to those clients who tipped extra, gifted me things, were there when I needed an ear, and trusted me with their equines. This business has grown so much this year, and I couldn’t have done it without you!
✨

28/12/2023

Although I only offer glue on composite shoes, this rings true!

Agricultural service