ahh Barefoot / Unshod again !!

[mrdarcy]

What I dont quite understand is why all you barefoot peeps feel the need to change their horses diet have their horse trimmed specifically and only by a barefoot trimmer, give them loads of supplements and change their horses regime.

My horse is unshod and has been for two years, I havent changed his exercise regime or changed his diet or given him any extra supplements or changed from a farrier to a barefoot trimmer and he's as happy and sound as a pound. He does lots of roadwork, competes in all disciplines???????

With some horses you can change nothing other than removing the shoes and do brilliantly - I love horses like that! Some people already feed and manage their horses in a way that works for barefoot (or rather overall optimum horse health). But I go out to many new clients and see hooves that are clearly suffering from bad diet - so of course I advise them to change things. Diet plays a huge part - no doubt about it.

As for supplements I don't feed any apart from an all round vit/min supplement and free access to mineral licks in the field. If a horse needs anything extra - most usually magnesium oxide if they are particularly sugar sensitive - then I will add that in, but not as a matter of course.

I also don't have a problem with farriers continuing to trim but some, not all, don't do the most optimum job. For example I was looking at a set of hooves at a competition on Sunday. The horse had been barefoot for a year, trimmed by one of the best farriers in the owner's area, or rather rarely touched by that farrier as the owner told me he would usually just look at the hooves and say nothing needed doing. But IMO the hooves were too long and lots of flare at the quarters. The horse was functioning just fine barefoot so you could say it didn't matter but I personally I wouldn't have been happy leaving feet looking like that - thinking long term. This is not an uncommon observation - perhaps one of the farriers could shed some light. Do you leave the hoof wall a bit longer because you worry about the hoof wall wearing away too much with work?

 

[giveitago]

Just to add,

most people dont go barefoot because it's fashionable, most do it because it is the best thing for the horse.

In terms of diet. Most horsy diets are full of .... and when you start to change your opinions of tack/feed/shoeing, you tend to start to look at the other ares of the horses life. So, naturally, if you decide to go barefoot and you see that the horse is happier, physically better in it's gait/back etc, you start to think about the other things that may improve the horses well being.

However, this does not mean you have to turn into a bareback, bitless and barefoot preacher, as some do.

Another point for those that disagree with the footiness of freshly barefoot horses...Humans are designed to go barefoot but if I was to throw away my shoes today, surely I would be a bit 'footy' until my feet toughened up again. 'footy' doesnt mean it's wrong. But, there is always a case for some horses being shod, it depends entirely on the animal, it's phsiology, the terrain and work that you intend to do.

I have a cob that is barefoot and a TB that is shod. they eat the same things, live the same way but my TB has such poor hoof quality from his breeding that he will have to remain shod for riding. It's not long before he retires and then he will be barefoot but will never have to step on stones with my lardy arse on top!

Lastly, yes, find a good farrier that doesnt just trim everything away every 6 weeks, the whole part of being barefoot is to let nature keep the hooves in check. Also bare in mind that you dont need to religiously pick out barefoot horses feet for the hell of it, a bit of mud will naturally support the foot and aid comfort ( same for shods). Flares however need to be dealt with but you must look at the whole horse as this may be symptoms of other areas that need attention.

 

[Doncella]

I don't know why removing the shoes is seen as a fad, it was simply routine management years ago. Hunters had their shoes off in the summer, polo ponies in the winter. They were the only leisure animals, most others were working. Many farm horses did not have shoes. Ponies probably weren't routinely shod, except the ones pulling carts every day. I expect working carriage horses didn't have a break from shoes, but they didn't last all that long anyway, so when they went lame they were replaced.

It might be an interesting reserach topic.

You speak my language.
There are no longer any seasons for competition horses or hunters so the shoes remain on regardless.
My horse has been without shoes for 10 weeks after being treated for a tooth spur which caused a back problem. He is 7/8 TB and his feet are now OK to ride up the track in the wood. I rode him over trotting poles for the first time in the arena today and shoeless and pain free he felt fantastic.

 

[giveitago]

Six months on and after a change ofnpasture i have taken the tb's shoes off too.

He's footy in front and wears boots for riding but is very happy.

He was trimmed,in the loosest possible term, today. Just needed smidge of heel off and a quick rasp to roll the hoof wall. In contrast, my cob also had his trim today, a good 4mm of hoof wall to remove...same pasture, same riding, same everything.

I am hoping that after he has had time to get the feel of his feet...he has been shod for 19 years, it will make a diference to his overall gait and physical health. He needs some time to regrow the hoof wall which has the old nail damage.

I have remained with my usual farrier, it was the opportunity of softer, better pasture that has enabled me to giveitago.

Best of luck

 

[Lainey123]

My boy was lame for 2 years in shoes with a collateral ligament injury, took shoes of (thanks to Rockley Farm) and bingo sound after 4 months and that is now 5 months ago and is still sound, just finished the hunting season, hacks for 2 hours daily, goes x-country and does all that a shod horse does, and to top it off it costs me a £5 every 6 weeks when my farrier comes to trim...........works for me and most importantly for him.........x