OklahomaHorses Magazine January 2021

12 OklahomaHorses • January/February 2021 Hoof care professionals share the benefits of going ‘au naturel’ WRITTEN BY: Casie Bazay hen it comes to the world of hoof care, changes are brewing. In recent years, many owners have chosen to remove their horses’ shoes and let them go “au na- turel.” And while this trend has been a little slower to catch on in Oklahoma, that doesn’t mean it isn’t here. In fact, attend a local horse show or any other equine event, and you’ll likely see at least a few horses sans shoes. Keeping a horse barefoot seems simplistic enough; however, barefoot hoof care practi- tioners will tell you that it entails much more than just removing the shoes. Barefoot is a life- style choice, one that requires us to view hooves not as their own separate entity, but rather as an integral part of the whole horse. One interesting difference regarding barefoot hoof care is that women have taken the reins, breaking into a traditionally male-dominat- ed profession. Two such women are Nikki Wommer and Carrie Hazel, both of whom trim professionally in our state. For Wommer, it began 15 years ago when a farrier trimmed her horse so aggressively that she was unable to ride the mare for several months. This led her to do her own research and take over her horses’ hoof care. When Wommer met her now husband in 2015, he encouraged her to begin trimming other animals as well, so she decided to become a certified trimmer through the organization known as Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners (PHCP). But Wommer’s learning hasn’t stopped there. “I continue to do research and continuing ed- ucation and attend as many clinics, conferences and webinars as I can,” said Wommer. Based in Dewey, Wommer currently trims around 100 horses and donkeys on a regular basis. She said one of the best things about be- ing a hoof care practitioner is seeing the almost immediate relief and relaxation an animal feels after its severely overgrown hooves are trimmed, especially when it comes to miniature horses. One of her favorite success stories involves two minis she and her husband rescued from the Stroud kill pen: Mickey and Minnie. Both in their mid-teens, the minis had difficulty getting around due to severely overgrown feet. “It was incredible watching them after their first trim, seeing them able to walk around on somewhat normal feet, and able to lay down and rest and get back up easily,” said Wommer. Though barefoot trimmers are becoming more common, they still experience challeng- es, and, according to Wommer, one of them involves educating horse owners. “A horse’s diet is just as important (if not more important) as a barefoot trim,” said Wom- mer. “At the end of the day, there is really only so much I can do with a trim, and if the horse is not on a diet that will promote strong, healthy hoof growth, I will eventually run into a wall with my trim.” Another challenge is persuading owners to be patient during the transition period after removing the shoes. “It takes time for a horse to grow a good, healthy foot that can perform barefoot, and so I really stress the importance of giving the hoof time to change, get strong and get healthy,” said Wommer. Wommer also relayed that there are several common misconceptions about barefoot hooves. For example, many owners don’t think their horse’s hoof growth can keep up with the amount of wear. “The hoof is incredibly efficient at adapting IN OKLAHOMA Barefoot An example of a healthy and functional barefoot hoof (trimmed by Carrie Hazel)