Pete Ramey Clinic 10-12-19

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Pete Ramey is one of the leaders in the hoof care industry - and I was lucky enough to attend one of his clinics this weekend in beautiful Shelbyville, TN!

We talked anatomy, nutrition, trimming, boot fitting, and glue on shoe applications over the course of two days.

I LEARNED SO MUCH 🤯 and I’m still trying to process all of the information - so be on the lookout for more hoof-related articles in the future.

Here are a few of my key takeaways for now:

  1. “Anything that fails at least one horse is a tool, not a rule.”

    Pete is big on the idea that there is no “Pete Ramey method.” He says, “if there is a Pete Ramey method, I don’t follow it.” I think this is such a great mindset and is exactly why he is such an amazing hoof care practitioner! It means he is constantly learning and adapting his techniques for the better. He is flexible enough to realize that there is no one-size-fits-all trim or hoof protection solution, humble enough to recognize when someone else did it better, and smart enough to use those better ideas! That is something I hope to emulate in my own practice and is exactly why I am always seeking out continuing education opportunities.


  2. “Horses don’t hurt themselves standing still on the wash rack. Horses’s don’t heal themselves standing still on the wash rack.”

    This one rings so true to me as a physical therapist! Correct movement is everything! It doesn’t matter if you trim the hoof perfectly for the horse’s needs while he is standing on a firm, flat surface if his turn out and riding environments are not a firm, flat surface. A trim that looks beautiful is not a beautiful trim if it means the horse walks off with poor mechanics. Lots and lots of correct heel-first landings are THE MOST important factor in growing out most hoof problems.


  3. The hoof is designed to be flexible in the back of the foot and rigid in the front. The flexible back of the foot (frog, collateral cartilages, and digital cushion) allows for dissipation of concussive forces on impact and allows the hoof to twist and rotate as it impacts uneven terrain. The rigid front of the foot (coffin bone) allows for strong force production with push off to propel the horse forward. Think about the impact rigid metal shoes have on the functionality of the back of the foot!


If you’d like to learn more about Pete and his hoof care philosophy, click the link below to check out his website and Facebook group. He has a wealth of knowledge available as FREE online resources. I think every horse owner is better off knowing even just a small portion of the information he has available. The more we know, the better we can advocate for our horses’ health and wellbeing!