We will never know in one lifetime all there is to know about the equine body, mind and spirit. But that is not to say we should ever stop trying. There are so many facets to our relationship with our equine friends: their health care, the equipment we use, the "inter species" dialogue that occurs between us and them, and how our own bodies affect theirs. The sites listed below have a lot of solid information about many of these issues, and I personally have found them helpful in my journey. That is not to say that I whole-heartedly endorse everything each site says; I glean what I can and apply as appropriate. Hopefully they will be of use to others too!

Natural Hoof Care

Iron Free Hoof

Paige Poss & Ruth Green This site has very helpful photos and great trimming instructions.

Tribe Equus

Cindy "Hawk" Sullivan Information on the wild horse hoof and great links for barefoot resources.

Hoof Rehab

Pete Ramey Pete has written some excellent articles on the treatment of common hoof pathologies.

Barefoot for Soundness

Marjorie Smith Excellent instructions on how to barefoot trim, and an extensive resources section.

Paul Chapman

Another nice site with good descriptions of a solid barefoot trim.

American Hoof Association

Looking for a trimmer? The AHA is currently compiling a list of qualified professionals.

Wild Horses

Wild Horses in British Columbia

The southwest United States is not the only place in North American with wild horses; we have some here in BC. There′s about 400 roaming the Chilcotin area, with no laws to protect them. The Friends of the Nemiah Valley are trying to establish a preserve for these horses and pass protection laws. This could be a great opportunity for the study of wild horse hooves and lifestyle in an ecosystem that more closely resembles what the average northwest domestic horse lives on. There is much to learn from these wild ones.

Wild Horses of Alberta Society

...and Alberta has some too, equally unprotected with no place they can truly call their home.

Bureau of Land Management

The BLM manages the wild horses in the United States. These two sites provide information on the BLM, wild horses, and wild horse adoption.

Education

Equine Sciences Academy

The most comprehensive school of natural hoof care in North America.

American Association of Natural Hoof Care Practitioners

This program teaches Jaime Jackson′s trimming method.

Equine Podiatry

K.C. LaPierre′s theories and methods are presented here.

Hoof Boots

Renegade Hoof Boots

Manufacturer and distributor of Renegade high performance barefoot horse hoof boots.

Easy Care

Manufacturer and distributor of Easyboots, Easyboot Epics, Easyboot Bares, Old Macs, Old Mac G2s, Boa Boots... and much more!

Horse Mocs

These are my preferred boots for pathological hooves. Custom-made for each horse.

Marquis Boots

Another option in hoof protection. Virtually all boot components are replaceable.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Bach Flower Remedies

This is where the Bach Flower Essences got their start. This site gives excellent descriptions of the 38 flower remedies.

Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association

Looking for a holistic vet? You might find one here!

Herbalism

Herbs

One of the best websites I′ve found for holistic health care information. Geared towards humans, but if you want to use herbs on your horse, this is a great site for quality information.

American Botanical Council

Professional, scientific site with educational material about herbs, herb regulation and the herbal industry.

The Hermit′s Grove

If you want bulk herbs for your equine friend but are having trouble finding the quality you want, I highly recommend the Hermit′s Grove. They consistently carry the best quality herbs around.

Bridle Alternatives

Bitless Bridle

While you′re rethinking iron on horses′ hooves, you may rethink iron in a horse′s mouth. You might be amazed at how well many horses ride in just a halter!

Nurtural Bitless Bridle

I know many happy clients, horse and human, who use this bridle.

Saddles and Saddle Fit

Balance Saddles

Proper saddle fit is extremely important to your horse′s health and happiness. This site describes the common pitfalls in saddle fit and how it affects the horse.

About The Horse

Dave Genadek′s saddle fitting DVD should be in every horse owner′s video library.

Sensation Ride Treeless Saddles

A truly treeless saddle. Their slogan "Love at first sit!" says it all!

Freeform Saddles

Another truly treeless saddle that I like.

Riding

Centered Riding

You owe it to your horse to become the best rider you can be.

Connected Riding

Another great resource for improved riding.

Trainers

(This list is by no means exhaustive; the trainers listed here I have personally worked with, and have been thrilled with what I learned.)

Mark Rashid

Josh Nichol

Bo Bishop

Veli Levaaho

Recommended Reading

I′ve always loved a good book, and if it′s a good book about horses, all the better. These are a few of the books I have found very helpful. Perhaps brew a cup of tea or make hot chocolate and enjoy a good read! And if you have any other recommendations, please email them to me. I welcome any excuse to buy more books, especially on horses!

Horse Owner′s Guide to Natural Hoof Care, Jaime Jackson.

The Natural Horse: Foundations for Natural Horsemanship, Jaime Jackson.

Founder: Prevention and Cure - the Natural Way, Jaime Jackson.

Making Natural Hoof Care Work for You, Pete Ramey.

The Sound Hoof, Lisa Simons Lancaster.

The Lame Horse, James R Rooney, DVM.

Principles of Conformation Analysis, Vol I, II, & III, Deb Bennett, PhD.

Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses, Jack Meagher.

Herbs for Pets, Mary Wulff-Tilford.

The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable, Juliette de Bairacli Levy.

Essential Oils for Horses, Carole Faith.

For the Good of the Rider, Mary Wanless.

The Natural Rider, Mary Wanless.

Centered Riding, Sally Swift.

True Horsemanship Through Feel, Bill Dorrance and Leslie Desmond.

True Unity, Tom Dorrance.

Considering the Horse, Mark Rashid.

Horses Never Lie, Mark Rashid.

A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color, Mark Rashid.

Horsemanship Through Life, Mark Rashid.

The Tao of Equus, Linda Kohanov.


There are many more.