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Hoof Help Online Hoof Help Online, a dynamic community of barefoot horse owners with hosts James & Yvonne Welz!

HoofHelp Online provides an organized series of presentations, photos, streaming videos and articles to guide the subscriber through an online hoofcare educational experience. While our emphasis is on barefoot horses, our information is universal--and, quite simply, applicable to every horse that has hooves! Our goal is to provide our members with education, inspiration, and the confidence to apply what they learn.

09/17/2026

Learn about Regenerative Grazing

What is "Regenerative Grazing"? This livestock management approach intentionally uses animals to restore and improve soil health, plant growth, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function—rather than simply sustaining production or maximizing short-term forage use. Regenerative grazing treats livestock not just as a product, but as partners in healing and building healthier landscapes.

Regenerative grazing for horses applies the same core principles used with cattle or other livestock—mimicking natural herd movement through short-duration, higher-density grazing followed by long recovery periods—but with important adjustments for how horses graze and behave.

Horses are selective, close grazers (they bite plants very short with their upper and lower teeth) and tend to create “lawns” (heavily preferred, overgrazed patches) and “roughs” (ignored areas). They also move and forage differently from ruminants, and individual horse health is usually prioritized over production goals. When managed regeneratively, horses can still improve soil structure, plant diversity, nutrient cycling, water infiltration, and overall pasture resilience rather than degrading it.

Benefits of Regenerative Grazing include healthier, more productive pastures, improved soil health, reduced parasites, better nutrition and fewer metabolic issues for horses!

Here's a great article from Equine Wellness Magazine:
Regenerative Grazing for Horse Owners
https://equinewellnessmagazine.com/regenerative-grazing-for-horse-owners/

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News - Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

09/15/2026

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News August 2026 is released!
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway
What's in this issue? 🏖️ Desert Horse Hooves Move to Tennessee by Joe Camp 🏖️ Learn about Regenerative Grazing 🏖️ A Natural, Barefoot Cutting Horse 🏖️ Consteed Smart Hoof Boot in Action at Equine Affaire 🏖️ And more!

09/11/2026
09/10/2026

A Natural, Barefoot Cutting Horse
Here's a heartwarming barefoot story from our friend, Lynn Swearingen of Rockwall, Texas. "KW Dualin at the Bar", aka Rocket, was a shut down, harshly trained young cutting horse that was brought back to championship form through both natural horsemanship training and barefoot hoof care. After an abusive training experience, Rocket entered into the care of Aaron England, "Aaron found Rocket to be a seriously mentally damaged horse. He would charge anyone who approached his stall. He would strike and bite. He hated people. The first time Aaron saddled Rocket, he walked the entire length of the arena on his hind legs. To call him bracey would be a gross understatement. He attempted to bite the foot in the stirrup many times. Aaron worked on building trust and freeing up this horse’s play drive, which had been beaten out of him...

"Aaron says that after feeling a barefoot horse work, he could never put shoes on a horse again. He says he can tell that the horse feels its feet and has more sure footedness and lightness. Rocket really uses his whole body, and his hooves have never been better. He improved his scores after his shoes were pulled."

Rocket then went on to become a true champion, even demonstrating bridleless riding at expos and clinics! Rocket and Lynn's daughter Timman (riding him in the photo here) qualified for the AQHA World show in Sr. Youth cutting in 2010, and Rocket was a finalist in 2007 at the NCHA Cutting Horse Finals.

Read the entire article:
Cutting Horses, the Natural, Barefoot Way by Lynn Swearingen
https://www.thehorseshoof.com/cutting-horses-the-natural-barefoot-way/

09/04/2026

Things I've learned living in Texas for 1 summer 😆
It's only been 4 months since we arrived in Marlin Texas!
⭐️Chiggers are real! Yes, the infamous chigger bugs are real. They are gnat larvae that live in tall grasses and jump on you when you pass, and we humans are allergic to their bite (itchy!!!!). To prevent, cut your grass! Always wear long pants and tall boots! And you can dust your socks/clothes with diatomaceous earth, it works.
⭐️Summers are still hot. I will not lie! It was dang hot for about 6 weeks: from mid-July through end of August. Since our perspective is Phoenix, Arizona, and we lived through the 122's and weeks of teen temps in AZ, so here in Texas is really just fine. It's hot, but everyone freaks out when it hits 100 degrees! Yes, it is more humid even in the bone dry season of August, but not that different from AZ monsoon season which was also humid. We found it much more livable here in TX, and the horses clearly told me they were more comfortable here. Someone from the north might freak out about TX summers, but to us, no big deal. And so much shorter!
⭐️Feeding horses in Texas is unlike anywhere else. The hay is not that great, and unimproved pasture grass, like our rough grass, is not very nutritious. I have had to feed more than twice as much hard feed here than I did in Arizona, just to prevent weight loss. I tried many things, but what is working is Triple Crown Lite (their old feed) mixed with Triple Crown Diamond Senior (heavy for the thinner ones), Mad Barn Omneity, rice bran pellets, and alfalfa pellets (to replace the alfalfa hay I can't even get here). Simply MORE CALORIES needed, and lots of feed.
⭐️The weather is even less predictable. We were used to that in AZ, but this takes it to a whole 'nother level. The weather changes hour to hour. No one knows if it will rain or not! Drastic changes quickly. Luckily, we enjoy change!
⭐️Every road is a highway. Literally. I imagined country living on a sleepy lane... nope. Big semis pass in front of the "farm to market road" that we live on, and the speed limit is 60 mph. Which is slow, because further out, it is 70 🤣 Life in the fast lane!

08/19/2026

Just a Guy Running Free with his Horse!

Carl Layer, on Instagram , is a German obstetrician (assistant doctor) based in Munich, known on Instagram for his posts about horsemanship, ultrarunning, and his work in obstetrics.

Carl frequently shares content about training and bonding with his horse Pegasus (including long runs together, even through urban spots like a McDonald's drive-thru), trail running, and lifestyle posts. His approach to horsemanship emphasizes minimal use of reins/bit (working with no bit, bridle or even halter) and building a strong connection. Pegasus, a 21-year-old warmblood who lives in an open stable, wears Cavallo Hoof Boots!

Enjoy Carl's amazing viral video:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DavkL6tMmXB/

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Marlin, TX

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