Thoughts

Written by Kim Monday, 13 July 2009 17:26

So thanks to Virgin America and WiFi access on the plane I get to update my website from 35,000 feet, while flying 532mph (according to my "Journey Screen")

My brain is sizzling right now, I spent 3 intense, long days with Monique and John Craig at their Epona Institute in Paso Robles, CA and it was incredible.

I started using the shoes in January (see Finn's story) after Ruth had started using them November of last year.  We both liked what we had read on Monique's websites www.eponashoe.com and www.epona-institute.com and we were impressed with the changes she was getting with the shoes.  She has a number of case studies of horses that have been shod continuously for 8 years.  The feet looked healthy and did not have the same look and feel of long term metal shod/rim fit shoes.

I put them on without any Epona training and despite not doing it correctly in the beginning I was still getting results.  Many people have warned me that the Epona's are not the right shoe for every foot needing help.  I've been told they don't stay on, the glue is bad, it inhibits expansion, they are too clunky, etc etc.

After my 3 days with the Craigs, I'm willing to bet all the nay sayers haven't had any training from the Craigs, if they had, they wouldn't say this.

The hammer heads, don't like them because it goes against tradition.

I don't care what anyone says anymore, I'm using the Epona's when I need to for as long as I need to using the Monique and Johns research.   If it stops working I may rethink it, but I have found the Holy Grail of hoof protection.

Utilizing the packing, the glue and the EponaShoe itself I can do anything.  Adjust breakover, address High/Low syndrome, Navicular, Founder it's all doable.

Monique and John don't just stand in front of you and tell you what works, they back it up with Research, Science, repeatable experiments and 8 years of case studies on numerous horses.  They also confirmed a lot of what I knew but did not know how to explain.

The EponaShoe is not a peripheral loading device.  Nails are not "evil", nor do they cause infection or damage to the hoof wall.

I touched, trimmed and shod horses who have been wearing shoes for 8 years straight and their feet were gorgeous.  Thick soles, healthy coffin bones, even joint spacing, thick walls, all seen with the naked eye and radiographs as we worked.

You know what else I like, they don't dress the wall down like The Boys (Traditional Farriers) like to do.  I don't have to do it, yeah.  They don't obsess about nails being evenly spaced, the glue gives us so much leeway.  John is a kindred soul to me, he is of the "hmmm it doesn't hurt to leave it, so I do"  Yeah!!

I can't wait to reshoe Finn when I get home and I can't wait to shoe a number of different horses this coming week.  

I have not, as some have insinuated "Resorted to Shoeing" that is just idiocy.  I have found the perfect tool to help horses feel good in their feet.   

I highly recommend to any hoofcare professional to get out to the Institute and learn from the Craig's, it is worth the money. 

Kim

Last Updated on Friday, 10 July 2009 18:14 Written by Kim and Ruth Friday, 10 July 2009 13:23

So Ruth and I are here at the Epona Institute for a weekend clinic with Monique and John Craig.  Last night we had dinner with the Craigs in their house and sat around and talked shop.  This morning Ruth and I are going over some thoughts from the dinner last night.

The Craigs, like us believe that barefoot is healthiest for horses, when it's possible and in the horses best interest.

Ruth and I have been bandying about the idea that some of the most comfortable barefoot horses are ponies under 14 hands.  Monique disagrees slightly and feels it is more in size up to 15 hands.  And I believe I have read in Hempfling's book that he feels the soundest, healthiest horses are no larger than 15'2 hands.

So what about all these man made (manufactured) large horses.  Their feet can't handle barefoot. The size and mass of the structure has exceeded the bio materials available for protection and usability.

The sole can't handle the mass above.  Even if you have a healthy sole, the most depth/mass we have seen is between 12 - 18mm.  No where near enough to handle the bone weight distribution that takes place in the larger horses.

Add to that the job that most large horses are asked to do, which, in my world involves jumping and dressage. Then include the rush many people are in to have these horses working before they are even mature.  

Now look at most of the horses under 14'2 hands, all of my "Gravel Crunchers" are that size or smaller.  No matter the living conditions these horses can go anywhere barefoot.  To give you more clues, go look at most ponies, their feet are not flared or flat.  They are more upright, their feet developed to support the mass of the structures above.  I'm not saying that ponies don't get laminitis, because you sure can founder a pony and do it easily.  I'm talking generalizations here.  

If you have a horse that is above this height and sound barefoot (never booted) than good for you.  I'm not saying it is not possible or does not exist, just that it is an anomaly. 

If you want to own barefoot horses and have success staying barefoot, truly barefoot no boots.  Than go out and purchase yourself a horse under 15 hands.  

Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 July 2009 05:27 Written by Kim Tuesday, 07 July 2009 05:00

It's 1am in the morning and my car is coming to take me to the airport at 5am. I am very excited, I'm heading out to California to learn from Monique Craig of www.eponashoe.com. I can't sleep and have been laying here thinking about farriers and the professional trimmers.

I started out as a barefoot only hoofcare provider about seven years ago. I learned from barefoot only hoofcare providers and thought the world of farriery was full of incompetent, clueless folk.

I would never admit it publicly on the internet but I thought shoes were really bad for horses feet and that I wanted nothing to do with the traditional hoofcare world. Wow have things changed in my thinking.

I no longer think shoes are harmful to horses or their feet. I do think many shoeing protocols and trim paradigms can cause big problems but no longer feel that all farriers are clueless. Just like any profession there are good and bad.  But the a shoeing protocol/trim paradigm is a thought for another day.  Anyhoo.

What I wanted to share this early morning is that one of the big issues with the barefoot only crowd  is that they have discarded almost all of the traditional farriery and they are reinventing the wheel.

Traditional Farriers have a lot to offer us. I recently spent three days in Georgia with Jaye Perry, a farrier who I met on the internet (not a dating service!). We have been talking on a regular basis for a long time now. He has been open and willing to share his knowledge about lameness, reading xrays and protocols for founders and other pathological feet. I came home from my visit a much better farrier. Simple rasping skills, shoe pulling, body positioning all things I wish I had learned about 6.5 years ago. But as I've said in other places, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't gone thru the learning process I did.

I don't think any of us need to go to the traditional farrier schools, it will just clutter our brain with things we don't need. But we do need what they've built on. Lets stand on their shoulder and reach even higher.  We don't need to reinvent the wheel, we need to add to it.

You know what else I discovered, the farriers don't make you pay to follow them around.  They will share their knowledge free of charge and most will more than likely let you get some hands on work.  I'm all for us making money doing what we love, I charge for private clinics all the time, but if people want to follow me around, it's free.  I'm just happy to have someone help me get horses, clean up and listen to me talk.   They are too.

Why am I speaking up about this?  Because I'm trying to help all of you out there wanting to trim for others and/or for yourselves. The farriers can teach us a lot. Find one you trust and follow him or her around whenever you can.

 If any of you want to follow someone around and can't find anyone, send me an email and I'll see who I can dig up.

Okay I'm going to try and go to sleep again.  Check back later this week for updates on my Epona Shoe clinic. 

Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 July 2009 05:00 Written by KIm Saturday, 20 June 2009 02:12

I need to clear the air so to speak. I am NOT anti boot.

Just because I start questioning their use, their comfort to the horse and their inability to stay on the darn hoof for all horses in all scenarios does not mean I am anti boot. For me personally, I'll use them maybe for my warmbloods but not for Finn at least in the near future. It's just easier and more comfortable for him to be either bare of shod in the Epona's.

I've been accused of not being able to fit boots properly because of my trim. Whatevah.

I've been accused of being a fanatic and jumping from one "new" sensation to another. Whatevah. One barefoot trimmer actually had the temerity to insinuate it's bad to change your mind and then speak of it publicly, now that is a hoot :)

You can read of my boot adventures in relation to Finn over on his story under Photos.

What makes people think I'm anti boot is my questioning of their flaws and my questioning of certain folks belief that boots are better than shoes.

I don't know what the answer is for those who have no quality farriers in their area. They can and should use the boots, but do so with open eyes.

• Some horses can't handle the clamping mechanism of certain boots.
• Some horses can't handle the tight fit at the heel bulbs
• Some horses can't handle a lot of mass on their feet. There is a track saying, that an ounce at the toe is pounds at the withers. This is not a myth. I have seen a few horses lame from the boots, lame up in their shoulders and in their backs.

I'm asking for people to question whether what they are doing is best for their horse.

I have more thoughts on this but will add it later, I have to go to bed.

Kim - June 19, 2009 10:30pm