Mentorship / Ride-Along Training

Mentor with me as I work in beautiful Sonoma or Marin County, California, just 1 hour north of San Francisco.

Mentorship's are a way for people to work with me in Sonoma, Napa or Marin Counties for one or more days.

A Mentorship is similar to a short term apprenticeship, however I do all the trimming as I answer questions, demonstrate trimming techniques, and tool use to teach you as much as I can that's pertinent to your specific situation. Because we look at a wide range of barefoot horses, its a great way to begin to understand how the same simple principles are applied to different hoof types.

Most of my Mentorship clients are professional hoof care providers (farrier's and trimmers) or owners who trim their own horses. I typically trim 6 to 12 horses a day, and schedule people so that we work with horses that allow me to address that persons specific needs.

If people mentor for 4+ consecutive days, I offer 4+ hours of phone and photo consulting afterwards, or provide a horse or two for supervised trimming on the 4th day. Its a LOT of information, and the days are long, but I'm doing most of the work so its a great way to learn!

COST - Mentorship cost is $150 a day. Supervised trimming on 1 horse (offered conditionally) optional depending on experience level. No additional cost to trim a horse for PHCP members.

Exploring Barefoot Clinics

One or Two Day Clinic, 10 to 20 students, up to 10 horses trimmed per day

This clinic content is dependent on the attendees needs and focus. We can explore what Barefoot can do for your horses, or can work on assessment and trimming skills if the whole group is already trimming. I want to support your local community and encourage local farrier's and trimmers to develop and share techniques.

Boots or casting are typically required for the front feet of riding horses coming out of shoes, and may be necessary for rear feet. I can provide boots, pads and fitting for $130 to $180 per pair depending on the brand. I carry Epics, Old Macs and Renegades. Casting at clinics is done for $50 a foot without a long wearing Super Fast sole, $55 with a Super fast sole.

Northern California, local region - Within 2 hours of Santa Rosa, CA, cost is $100 per day (no auditors). Why no Auditors?

Northern California - Located more than 4 hours from Santa Rosa, CA, cost is $150 per day (no auditors). Why no Auditors?

Clinic minimums

Understanding Barefoot Trimming & What It Can Do For Your Horse

Two Day Clinic, 10 to 20 students, up to 20 horses

My clinics are live-labs that involve attendees! I work as I lecture, and attendees are involved in the trimming if they have experience. I assess and trim attendees horses, explaining anatomy, pathology, regional considerations, leg and hoof function. These are **very** interactive clinics and contain a mixture of experience levels (from farrier's and veterinarians to horse owners exploring barefoot) and we look at a wide variety of horses from sound barefoot horses to pathologically lame horses.

I typically pull shoes off one or more horses, and depending on the needs of the horses in the clinic, demonstrate boot fitting and padding, hoof casting, managing active laminitis, hoof casting, as well as trimming pathological feet (founder, long toe, deep digital decent, under-run heels, wry foot, club foot, navicular etc). I encourage you to bring a camera to capture visual information, and allow the use of audio recorders.

These are two long days! Bring lunch and snacks, and lots to drink because we don't take breaks during the day.

• Review hoof and leg anatomy and function
• Review common hoof pathologies, their origin and rehab strategies
• Understanding "barefoot", the various approaches and terminology
• Finding a qualified trimmer, owner/trimmer challenges, owners partnering with a trimmer
• Trimming tool review for the owner and trimmer
• The historical role of shoeing, how it has helped horses and its long term impact on the hoof and distal limb
• Transitioning from shoes, what to expect, how to prepare
• The impact of medical history, diet, environment, water, soil, weather and exercise on hoof health
• Survey of hoof boots and pads, when they are used, which is best for each horse and why
• Hoof casting and hoof coatings, what works and why
• Learn to assess movement, body and hoof condition
• Review hoof infections, their cause and treatment (white line disease, thrush, canker)

I adjust clinic content to suit the attendees and their horses needs. Students learn to identify unsoundness and how to begin to determine its source. I also cover how to recognize a balanced trim and assess trimmer qualifications.

I explain trimming and will coach people already trimming their horses, but this is not a clinic to teach to beginners how to trim! The focus is on what to trim and why. Most of the trimming is done by myself, experienced attendees or an assistant.

Cost - The clinic cost is $150 per day for 2 days, non-refundable and prepaid 10 days in advance. Sorry, no auditors. Why no Auditors? Riding Boots or casts are advisable for the front feet of riding horses coming out of shoes, and may be needed for rear feet. I can provide boots, pads and fitting for $120 to $180 per pair depending on the brand. I carry Gloves, Glue-on's, and Renegades for riding, and Rx and Old Macs for rehab.

Comprehensive Maintenance Trim Clinics

Three Day Clinic, 5 to 7 students, up to 21 horses

This is an advanced version of my Two Day Clinic specifically for professionals and owners with some trimming exposure. The class size is smaller and each person can bring 3 or more horses, so it is a more intense learning experience. I highly recommend that interested participants watch Pete Ramey's DVD Under The Horse or The Glass Horse Distal Limb http://www.3dglasshorse.com/ before the clinic (it counts as exposure!). This is a hands-on clinic, and the better you understand anatomical basics, the more you will get out of this clinic, but we will cover anatomy thoroughly.

This three day clinic covers the same material that the two day clinics cover at a deeper level, with more emphasis on assessing movement and attaining hoof balance. The objective is to help people grasp different trimming techniques, to understand tool selection and tool use that's appropriate for their horse and situation. I travel with a wide variety of tools for clients to try, including power tools and casting materials. The smaller class size means that individuals get more time to work with me directly with a wide variety of tools and horses.

Content is customized to suit the audience and horses at the clinic. The focus with individual horses is on assessing hoof balance and health, recognizing unsoundness and tenderness and transitioning from shod or pasture trimmed horses to sound barefoot horses.

This clinic will provide most of you with enough experience to perform a maintenance trim on your own horses with occasional guidance from a professional trimmer. It is an introductory clinic, but will cover advanced trim techniques for professionals. This clinic alone is NOT adequate to turn you into a competent professional trimmer - this is only the start of a very long journey if being a pro is your goal! Becoming a professional takes years of work and study.

• Differences between popular barefoot trimming techniques
• Barefoot Trim Basics - the Do's and Don'ts
• Successful transitions - shod horses to barefoot
• The impact of Diet, Environment and Exercise on transitions
• Diet, Diet, Diet and more Diet
• Common trimming problems and how to avoid them
• Understanding hoof balance, distortion and hoof rehabilitation
• Assessing movement and soundness
• Hoof boot selection, modification and use
• Tool selection and use, including grinders and casting materials

COST - The clinic cost is $130 per day for 3 days, prepaid 30 days in advance. Each attendee can bring 3 horses. Sorry, no Auditors. Why no Auditors

Phone & Photo Consulting

For feedback on your trims or personal help with your horse

I email a form to collect horse specific information, and using that info and pictures of your horses body and feet, work on the phone with you to come up with suggestions and resolutions to problems and answer questions.

COST - $75 for approximately 60 to 90 minutes of phone time. I review and assess pictures and information in advance.

Private and Semi-Private Lessons

Offered locally in Sonoma County, or following all remote clinics for clinic attendees.

I offer hands-on lessons for people who are currently trimming their own horses, depending on the individual, and I am willing to take on students who have never trimmed depending on the case and circumstance. Learning to trim takes dedication, study and practice, and is very hard work, but is rewarding if you invest the time and study necessary to do it well.

Semi-private lessons (Sonoma County)- $150 per 5 hour day for 4 or more people who have experience trimming.

Private lesson (Sonoma County)- $75 an hour with a two hour minimum, or 4 hours for $240. This is primarily for people who have experience trimming, but I will try to make it work for beginners who have an urgent need.

Just Getting Started?

I'm starting to work up a clinic offering in Sonoma County for folks who are new to trimming, so let me know if you're interested! Contact me at HealthyHoof@comcast,net