10-day Barefoot Trimming Course
Rosemary Farms South Kortright NY October 16th to the 27th 2019
10-DAY BAREFOOT TRIMMING COURSE FROM OCTOBER 16TH TO THE 27TH
10 Day barefoot Trimming course
at Rosemary Farms South Kortright NY
This course is a comprehensive course for anyone looking for a new career with horses. This is an in-depth, intensive course in anatomy, mechanics, and techniques of barefoot trim. We will start by trimming and then dissecting cadaver hoofs to unravel the intricacies of the horse’s hoof and how it functions. We will discuss Laminitis, Navicular, and other common hoof-related problems. After 2 days of working on cadaver hooves, we will then start working on live horses. We will have space for only 12 students. There will be a certificate of completion after the course is finished. If owners would like to sit in on the first day to get educated on barefoot practices the cost would be $100 for the day.
Course Cost: $1400 October 16th to the 27th Includes gear for trimming
Location Rosemary Farms, South Kortright, NY
Local lodging is available to call for more information.
Bare Hoof School 10-day Syllabus
Day 1- Introductions and 10-day agenda. Philosophy of barefoot and history. Barefoot V shod and why the controversy. The horse’s hoof and proprioception. Transition v never shod. Lifestyle and region how climate, diet, and nutrition effects feet. Amount and style of riding and owner expectations. Terrain, number of miles, disciplines, and age and past use of the horse. Pathological changes in the horse and in their feet.
Videos: Dr. Bowker anatomy and hoof function KC La Pierre dissection video
Day 2- Look at wild horse hooves, anatomy, and review function. Tools and their uses. Introduction to a setup trim and the guidelines for trimming. Customer checklist of questions prior to trimming. Watching the horse move on a level surface walk and trot, looking for compensation, and checking musculature bilaterally. Giving the owner realistic expectations for barefoot, booted, or glued-on. Demonstration Trim by the instructor, Review, and Questions Lateral Balance/Wall Flares/Mustang Roll • Checking lateral balance. Maintaining a lateral balance of the hoof minimizes stress on connective tissues in the foot and on the joints of the foot and leg. • Safely addressing irregularities in wall thickness. Hooves that have been allowed to grow too long or that are not laterally balanced will develop protrusions or irregularities in wall thickness. Students will learn how to safely remove these without over-thinning the hoof wall. • Mustang Roll. A signature characteristic of the natural trim. Students will learn how to begin the roll from the bottom and finish it from the top. Students will trim one foot on live horses. We will be working on moving around, getting in trimming positions, and use of the hoof stand and tools.
Customer Checklist:
Age of horse
Disciplines
How often is the horse ridden and for how long
Type of terrain ridden on
Diet and supplements
Pasture size or stalled.
Footing in pasture
Past history of any lameness or body issues, diagnosis of conditions
Horse happiness on a scale of 1-10
Previous variations in the gaits
Maintaining records for each customer
Day 3: Student trims and dissections.
Day 4: Going from shod to barefoot and the transition. Things to ask the owner are how long have they been shod, what have they been used for, do they go barefoot in the winter, and what are the owner’s expectation’s for barefoot? Taking off shoes and the first set up trim. Making sure the owner knows they should either transition into the glue on the first go around or have to have boots with pads. The transition with glue on is a little less painful than just boots. Students will be trimming hooves today.
Day 5: Horsemanship and getting under a horse and using the stand with live horses. Backs v fronts left side v right side. Young horses and training them to stand and give feet. Students will be trimming hooves today.
Day 6: Horsemanship and naughty horse. Intro to tying up legs and draft horses. Students will be trimming hooves today.
Day 7: Students will come in to trim a live horse and I will be the new customer. How break over affects horses. There will be 2 horses to set up and trim today.
Day 8. Saddle fit and how it can affect a horse’s gait, attitude, and well-being. A more in-depth look at anatomy and gaits. Gaited horses and break over. Students will be trimming live horses today.
Day: 9 Marketing, bookkeeping, customer relations. How to do a business and marketing plan. Checking the number of trimmers in an area. Students will be trimming live horses today after the lecture.
Marketing options:
Local ads at feed stores and business cards
Craigslist ads do a few different ones with good quality pictures and a cleanly written bio and services. Why and how are you different?
Adds in local little nickel and papers.
Press release to send to horse journal
Add in the local horse journal’s Horse source, North West horse
Look for internet recourses to list your name on for barefoot services.
Have your own website and blog and do pictures of it.
Facebook and Instagram
Do talks with your local 4-H and pony clubs to promote barefoot practices and educate people
Students will trim horses today.
Day 10: Intro to boot styles and glue on, uses, and fitting. Students will be doing trims.
