Any top level barefoot showjumpers?

[ticki]

I was just wondering, with the popularity of going barefoot being on the up, are there any horses showjumping at the top who are shoeless? If so, how do they cope with different surfaces without being able to use studs or are studs not needed when a horse is barefoot due to naturally being non-slip?

 

[Creaturescape]

I read an article about someone who was showjumping at quite a high level - they said they chose to jump mainly on articial surfaces unless ground conditions were right.

There were quite a few related research papers about the stress and strain caused on limbs by putting studs in shoes which was interesting.

The point they were making was that people have to make a choice between the longevity of their horses working life and competition success. Sometimes the conditions aren't right. Easy enough to put into practise if you don't have qualifers and a sponsor breathing down your neck I suppose.

 

[brighteyes]

We jumped to Newcomers on grass and artificial surfaces shoeless. Other horse just shod in front. Wish I dare continue but horse did get a tad footsore (shoeless one) and the other slipped a bit on grass though only jumping Discovery height. Will probs take at least hinds off for winter if not hacking out on the roads.

TBH it was pressure from the SJ'ers we are trained by that made us put shoes back on. I'm really not convinced about shes full stop

 

[diggerbez]

the top show jumpers i know all have shoes on but partly for the stud holes i think rather than the shoes per se...but not sure what would be the impact of regularly jumping 1.30m + without shoes?

 

[PapaFrita]

There's a top eventer going barefoot but I can't remember who it is

 

[Shay]

I don't know any - SJ or Eventing - who are barefoot. I suspect if there were there would be some press coverage over it. But a number do use those stick on imprint shoes though.

 

[Kallibear]

[ QUOTE ]
but not sure what would be the impact of regularly jumping 1.30m + without shoes?

[/ QUOTE ]

Much less impact than with shoes on. The foot and leg can function as nature intended. Shoving a piece of metal on the foot really reduces the foots ability to act as a shock absorber.

I most definittly don't compete at a high level jumping, but all my horses are barefoot and regularly jump on grass. I just have to chose the conditions more carefully. Generally I've found that their grip is better without shoes, compared to with studless shoes, but nothing can beat a set of studs.