Welcome to the AHA
The American Hoof Association is an organization of peer-reviewed hoof care professionals offering progressive, preventative and rehabilitative services, education and information.
As a service to horse owners, the American Hoof Association provides a list of peer-reviewed professional trimmers under the section, Trimmer Finder. Each of these trimmers has passed the AHA’s rigorous review process. Applicants are evaluated on their understanding and practice of the AHA’s ‘healthy lifestyle’ paradigm, that is, a healthy hoof results from a healthy horse.
Certified Trimmers possess the qualifications necessary to adequately address preventative and rehabilitative needs of domestic equines. Certified Trimmers are available as clinicians; these experienced trimmers find education to be as important in their practice as is their work at the hoof. Apprentice Trimmers are skilled trimmers who are competent to perform an appropriate trim on a variety of healthy and pathological hooves.
Apprentice trimmers have the potential, but lack the experience needed to qualify as a Certified Trimmer. They are encouraged to continue their education with the goal of becoming Certified Trimmers.
Professional trimmers who desire membership in the American Hoof Association are encouraged to apply. The application process for both Certified Trimmers and Apprentice Trimmers is more completely described under Membership.
Horse of the Month
November - December
Horse: Vali Tj
Owner: Amy Allen
Trimmer: Amy Allen
Location: Shelton, Washington
Info-
Tj is a fifteen year old, 16hh, OTTB, I have worked with him since he was 3, owned him since he was 4, pulled his shoes when he was 5 and our barefoot journey began. At the time we lived in CA., he was on oat hay am, alfalfa hay pm, rice bran, corn oil and oats. (talk about a live wire on an unbalanced high energy diet!) He lived in a box stall, and our daily rides earned me the name ‘Velcro butt’. He would often go into bucking (crow hopping) bolts at the canter. He would sometimes warn me with a squeal, before the bucking started, sometimes. I got really good at one rein stops and the one time I actually got dumped was when he reared one day. I decided letting go was better than a horse tipping over on top of me. He was a horse that was afraid of most everything, unless he was in a 12x12 box stall. He didn’t know how to act like a horse, and at liberty with other horses, he would pester until he got kicked.
His feet were flat, thrushy, thin walled and when I pulled those glue on shoes, having no idea what I was doing or where this was going, he was a very sore horse on gravel. Someone had left a pair of Easyboot Epics behind at the boarding facility, they almost fit, only came flying off at the canter. I searched for information on trimming and found Pete Rameys web site, got his book, some tools and the learning began. Years later I also learned about a diet that supports healthy hooves. Not surprising a balanced diet also supports a more manageable horse. Given he is a thoroughbred, and when we trail ride he can and does go nonstop for hours, but he isnt nearly as spookie and over reactive. When I first moved to Washington I was out trail riding by myself and I thought it would be fun to see how fast my former race horse could go. We flew at a full gallop along the trails. It was one of the most memorable rides of my life.
At fifteen Tj is the alpha of my herd of seven. He has mellowed some and is no longer the pest that constantly moves all the horses around the pasture. He has learned how to function in a herd and act like a horse. I have used him for numerous lessons and trail rides, using feel based horsemanship. He wears Easyboot Gloves on the very rocky trails, otherwise he is comfortable barefoot. He is my favorite and I am forever grateful that I decided to take on the challenge of training this horse years ago. The thing is, I didn’t train him, he trained me.