HOOF CLINICS
Function dictates form; form dictates function
this page is still evolving and under construction...
"I can't teach you how to trim every hoof, but by teaching you how the hoof works, you learn to understand every hoof."
Our clinics are built on Dr. Robert Bowker’s research and our years of rehab experience of hoof lameness.
Whether you want to trim under guidance, deepen your hoof knowledge, or simply learn to spot red flags, there’s a clinic for you. Unlike traditional "how-to" clinics, our clinics are focused on understanding the functional anatomy of the hoof.
With so many different breeds, conformations, hoof types, and hoof deformities, it's absolutely impossible to teach a person how to trim every single hoof they ever come across using a step-by-step method, and we feel that does the horse as an individual a huge injustice. Instead, we focus on teaching Dr. Robert Bowker's principles (i.e. how the hoof works, what structures look like when they're working, what it needs to work, how we can facilitate it to work)to help you recognize where a hoof is and what it needs.
We couple this with useful trim principles, so once you understand what you're looking at, you have the tools to make the changes you need.
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clinic types we offer
At Primarily Hooves, we believe the foundation of advocacy begins at accessible education, so we offer several clinic types to suite your needs
PUBLIC CLINICS
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Format: Two days, ~8 hours each.
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Day 1: Classroom session (approx. 6 hours) covering anatomy, structure, and function → Hands-on trimming practice (up to 8 participants).
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Day 2: Continued supervised trimming and Q&A.
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Who it’s for: Groups of owners, trimmers, or barns looking to bring education to their area.
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Participants: ~8 participants (generally bring your own horse, but some venues horses can be provided) + ~10 auditors (auditors observe, ask questions, no trimming).
PRIVATE CLINICS
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Same structure as public clinics but limited to just 1–2 participants.
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Perfect for:
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Owners tackling a rehab case.
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Owners working alongside their farrier.
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More intensive, one-on-one support.
CLINICS AT OUR FARM
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Come to us in Tennessee.
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We host both public-style and private-style clinics here.
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Ideal if you’d like to see our facility in action and learn where many of our rehab cases happen.
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HOOF HEALTH FOR OWNERS
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Designed for owners not interested in trimming, but wanting to spot problems early.
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Format:
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Classroom: Learn the basics of hoof anatomy and how to recognize red flags.
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Barn session: Examine horses together, practice observing healthy vs. unhealthy signs.
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Length: 1–2 days (depends on group size).
Our goal is for owners leave with the confidence to recognize changes before they become serious so they can be better advocates for their horse's hoof health.
ONLINE LECTURES
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Designed for owners and trimmers unable to attend an on-site hoof clinic and would prefer to learn from the comfort of their own home
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Format:
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1 - 2 hour Zoom lectures on a specific topic with Q&A
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Pricing
We provide custom pricing based on:
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Location & travel requirements.
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Number of participants/auditors.
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Clinic format (public, private, on-site).
***Pricing available upon request.
Why Attend a Clinic?
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Build confidence in recognizing healthy vs. unhealthy hoof function.
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Learn directly from real horses in real situations.
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Gain tools you can use immediately — whether to guide your farrier, manage your own trim work, or simply advocate better for your horse.
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Join a supportive community of horse owners and learners.
