Advice from barefoot owners please!

m3gan

m3gan

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Further to my post last night regarding corns on horseys's feet..... I would be interested to know from people who have barefoot neds if it is better to try going barefoot in the so called summer rather than winter. If I decide to try barefoot, I am still unsure if it would be a good idea or not.

(Ned is an Arab 12 yr. old and I have had him for 20mnths. and he had corns 12 weeks ago and now the farrier has dug one out again on the other foot.)
 
the winter makes thier feet soft so feel more stones and pick up more
if they atre used to wearing shoes it usually take 12mnths to beome hard,
at first theymay feel like theyb are crippled on hard / stoney ground but it does become better
it is better to do late spring when thier feet are begining to harden frm the dryr weather
 
Yes, I think it is easier in the summer as the feet are drier, of course, and the horse can be out in the field 24/7 and movement is very good for the feet. You can make a "paddock paradise" if you are worried about weight.
Which is fencing off a strip around the outside of the field, so the horse has to keep walking round and round to eat and keeps on the move.

Do lots of research first re barefoot. Plenty of good sites.

You need to consider a) diet (no sugars), b) foot health (get rid of all fungal problems like thrush and white line disease as soon as the shoes come off, c) consider using hoof boots initially which gives protection and also means that you can do a lot more miles riding, with pads if necessary which is good for the feet, and again, the more exercise the better. d) if you are really determined you will do better with a barefoot trimmer (or whatever they are going to be called now) as if you have a farrier they tend to want to put the shoes back on at the slightest setback.

By the way, a normal horse that is sound in shoes should continue to be sound, out in the field at least. Your horse should not be uncomfortable and then you have to gradually increase the amount of work. Lots of horses are perfectly happy on a tarmac road, as it is smooth, and it is good to do work in an arena,preferably sandy.
 
It is easier weather-wise (dry, movement) in the summer but you might be confused by sensitivity caused by eating daytime summer grass, so you have a "truer" picture in the winter. Also starting in the winter you are less likely to be worried about losing your riding for a while if your horse is not sound on difficult surfaces. I did my first two in winter and it was fine, but they live in a barn at night, not in stables, so they got plenty of movement.

Good luck. UKNHCP.myfastforum.org people will help if you need it.
 
Thank you westparc, orangehorse and cptrayes for your replies.

cptrayes,
My boy lives out 24/7 with a field shelter so he would be moving around all the time. I will look at the website you suggested. Thanks!
 
There's no reason why you shouldn't go barefoot over the winter. The winter months were traditionally a time for horses to have a break from shoes in any case. There's a polo yard my former farrier attends and when he shoes them in the spring after their winter break they have masses of healthy growth to work with.

Spring may be the optimum time but summer isn't so great as newly barefoot horses can really feel the hard ground.
 
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