I would like to start off by saying this- I am not here to bash hoof care providers of any profession.. Farrier or Natural Hoof Care Practitioners.  I am only here to educate and give you options!

Choosing your hoof care provider

---

Deciding what is best for your horse.

So you're looking into different prospestive hoof care providers..    Before you go any further, STOP! 

Be very careful about who you trust with your horses hooves.  The hooves make your horse!  You cannot trust them with just anybody.  Make sure that you know what to look for when choosing a farrier or hoof care practitioner.. get educated!!  Know exactly what you are looking for from your trimmer/farrier. 

Also, be aware that there are people out there that will claim to be doing one thing- and actually doing something entirely different.. so PLEASE make sure you know what you're looking for!  Don't trust any farrier or Hoof Care Practitioners word, until you know you can trust their work.  Get down and get dirty! Lift up those hooves and check it out for yourself! Don't just believe what you are told- make sure what you want is getting done! Ask questions!

Is going Barefoot for me?

Tough question, huh?  No!  Not at all- If you are willing to do the care needed to properly maintain your horse barefoot... then it IS right for you!

All you need, is #1 Proper nutrition for your horses! Not a lot of fresh green leafy legumes- That's bad ju-ju right there.  We can get more into nutrition in another section.

#2 The time/money/energy to take care of your horses!! LOVE THEM! TREAT THEM NICE! (Take them for walks on rocky/gravely terrain and THICKEN THOSE SOLES!)

#3 A GOOD trimmer .. who will give you advice, and let you know what to do, or avoid, and can put you on a 4 week schedule! 

A lot of traditional farriers use horseshoes..

Where the majority of people claiming to be doing a ''natural'' trim will not shoe your horses at all.

Some Natural Hoof Care practitioners may recommend using ''hoof boots'' for your gravel sore horse, after pulling shoes, or for work on a rocky terrain that your horse is not used ..

 (Hoof Boots are NOT nailed to your horses hooves.  Some can be purchased without being fitted to your horse... And there are some that are even better yet that you can have personally fitted to your horse by somebody qualified in fitting hoof boots!  I highly recommend them when they are needed, or having them on hand just in case.