Article from the SJ Swedish Team farrier on keeping them barefoot

[shortstuff99]

As people probably saw, 2 of the Swedish Show Jumpers were barefoot. Here their farrier explains how he does it.

https://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2021/...ned-swedish-barefoot.html_0275753620.html?m=1

 

[paddi22]

was delighted to see that. I'm a recent barefoot convert due to vet issues on two. so all mine compete barefoot now. it was interesting because this is the first season I can compare how one horse feels barefoot vs studded the previous years. His grip is great, his balance is better and there's no hassle studding or losing shoes, which is bliss!!
!Saying that, this year I only have them at 90-1m level so might be a different case as they move up.

 

[Rowreach]

That's a very useful article, I bet he would be a fascinating chap to talk to. And he seems very pragmatic about when and how it is possible to have horses unshod, and when it isn't.

One thing that did stand out for me was him saying that top level horses are often shod with too heavy shoes.

It used to be the practice to re-shoe competition horses in aluminium plates, just like racehorses, but that seemingly went out of fashion and most of them compete in standard steel shoes these days. I've still got quite a collection of aluminium shoes that went on sj-various sj-ers in the 60s.

 

[nikkimariet]

Really brilliant to see and such a good read too.

 

[paddi22]

It will be amazing to see the changes an article like that will bring forward. I think barefoot has always been seen as a kind of hippy-dippy thing that only people who ride bitless and on bareback pads do. But if professional are having proven success with it at the highest levels then it will definitely encourage a rethink on all levels of the sport.

 

[TGM]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

 

[McGrools]

was delighted to see that. I'm a recent barefoot convert due to vet issues on two. so all mine compete barefoot now. it was interesting because this is the first season I can compare how one horse feels barefoot vs studded the previous years. His grip is great, his balance is better and there's no hassle studding or losing shoes, which is bliss!!
!Saying that, this year I only have them at 90-1m level so might be a different case as they move up.

My little irish of unknown breeding barefoot jumped round cholmondley 90 in really wet conditions yesterday, not a slip. Chuffed to bits with him. He coped really well.
I am so pleased barefoot is beginning to get some high profile recognition. ?

 

[TheMule]

My horses are unshod unless I need studs in. I am always reluctant to say 'barefoot' because it has become such a negative word so I really hope this drives a change.
I have one trainer who always comments on it and believes that horses need shoes on for 'support'.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

For anyone interested in the barefoot approach in the UK have a look at Mark Johnson Farrier Another Way.

Although he is a fully qualified Farrier of many years standing he no longer shoes in metal and only uses Duplo composite shoes if absolutely necessary. Forward thinking and very knowledgable.

 

[AandK]

Great article, thank you for sharing! I hope the high profile of the Swedish horses helps some sceptics realise that horses can perform to a high level without shoes.

 

[ycbm]

It's an interesting article but for me none of those sole shots show acceptable concavity and I'd personally be questioning those horses' diets for soluble carbs and mineral balancing.
.

 

[TGM]

You do have to be aware that Peder does shoe his horses when jumping on grass and definitely was competing shod at Global Champions Madrid at the end of May. So his horses may not display the kind of hooves seen with horses that are exclusively barefoot.

 

[DressageCob]

I like that he's open to barefoot or shod. So he actually looks at each horse, foot and situation independently, rather than saying every horse has to be 100% barefoot or consistently shod.

 

[Michen]

It's an interesting article but for me none of those sole shots show acceptable concavity and I'd personally be questioning those horses' diets for soluble carbs and mineral balancing.
.

Surely the fact they are sound and performing so well is what counts though. I think Ester is one who had a horse that never had much concavity but was still very capable over all surfaces.

 

[LEC]

Surely the fact they are sound and performing so well is what counts though. I think Ester is one who had a horse that never had much concavity but was still very capable over all surfaces.

Exactly this - not just performing well - exceptional performance over 6 Sjing rounds at the highest level. Honestly comments like that just make me roll my eyes only on HHO would people be questioning the diets of these exceptional horses.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Exactly this - not just performing well - exceptional performance over 6 Sjing rounds at the highest level. Honestly comments like that just make me roll my eyes only on HHO would people be questioning the diets of these exceptional horses.

I agree. These are olympic horses that are well cared for and the riders seem to have an interest in their wellbeing, hence their different shoeing/unshod methods. It's possible that some people are a bit ignorant when it comes to diets, even those at the top of the sport though. Probably isn't the case here.

Sure there is some level of concavity that people feel is the standard, but I've met sound and healthy horses without much concavity.

I think it's fantastic they explored unshod and alternative methods to keep their horses sound and comfortable. The farrier makes some good points about the hoof as a type of shock absorption mechanism (very loosely paraphrasing here), that are often forgotten.

Sort of cracks me up in "real life" because I know some individuals that are so critical of others, meanwhile their own horses...well, let's just say they should spend more time focusing on their own horses

 

[teapot]

I agree. These are olympic horses that are well cared for and the riders seem to have an interest in their wellbeing, hence their different shoeing/unshod methods. It's possible that some people are a bit ignorant when it comes to diets, even those at the top of the sport though. Probably isn't the case here.

Sure there is some level of concavity that people feel is the standard, but I've met sound and healthy horses without much concavity.

I think it's fantastic they explored unshod and alternative methods to keep their horses sound and comfortable. The farrier makes some good points about the hoof as a type of shock absorption mechanism (very loosely paraphrasing here), that are often forgotten.

Sort of cracks me up in "real life" because I know some individuals that are so critical of others, meanwhile their own horses...well, let's just say they should spend more time focusing on their own horses

Oh but it's so easy to ride the moral high horse (unshod, bitless, perfect natural diet, and out 24/7 obvs)

Really interesting article - shoeing to surface needs is such a refreshing dose of common sense.

 

[ycbm]

Surely the fact they are sound and performing so well is what counts though. I think Ester is one who had a horse that never had much concavity but was still very capable over all surfaces.

It's what counts if they stay sound and performing well way long term, yes. I'd still want to see if I could improve the concavity with diet improvements even if a horse was rock crunching, personally, because concave structures are stronger than flat ones and because flatness, ime, is usually an indicator that something could be improved.

Why, for example, do these horses need plastic glued on their feet because they are wearing them too fast? Is that connected with the lack of concavity?
.

 

[ycbm]

I agree. These are olympic horses that are well cared for and the riders seem to have an interest in their wellbeing, hence their different shoeing/unshod methods. It's possible that some people are a bit ignorant when it comes to diets, even those at the top of the sport though. Probably isn't the case here.

Sure there is some level of concavity that people feel is the standard, but I've met sound and healthy horses without much concavity.

I think it's fantastic they explored unshod and alternative methods to keep their horses sound and comfortable. The farrier makes some good points about the hoof as a type of shock absorption mechanism (very loosely paraphrasing here), that are often forgotten.

Sort of cracks me up in "real life" because I know some individuals that are so critical of others, meanwhile their own horses...well, let's just say they should spend more time focusing on their own horses

I'm not being critical of how these horses are kept, the article was written by a true expert, about top class performing horses, where photos have been used showing a level of concavity which is not itself ideal or even normal in horses that do a lot of work barefoot. I commented because I wouldn't want the uninitiated to see those photos and assume that's what they were aiming for if they took their own horses barefoot.

I do, of course, also walk the walk and have 3 rock crunching barefooters (with great concavity) , 2 in work on varied terrain.
.

 

[daffy44]

I think its a great article, it still seems to be pretty common that people think horses performing at high levels cant be barefoot, and articles and results like this will hopefully help in changing that opinion. I dont think barefoot is for every horse, they must all be treated as individuals, but I think results like this can give people confidence to know that barefoot horses are capable of competing at the highest levels.

All In has medalled at two successive Olympics, so obviously he is a fantastically consistent horse at the highest level.

 

[ycbm]

Exactly this - not just performing well - exceptional performance over 6 Sjing rounds at the highest level. Honestly comments like that just make me roll my eyes only on HHO would people be questioning the diets of these exceptional horses.

I think you'll find a lot of "performance horses" are fed "performance mixes" - the clue is in the name - that are stuffed full of sugar for energy and really aren't good for feet.

It's not hard to get horses working barefoot on top class surfaces like these horses work barefoot on. It's harder to get them to do the other work without foot protection, and that hasn't been achieved with these, as the photos of the plastic additions shows.

I think it's naive to assume that because a horse is competing briliantly at top level they have an optimum diet for feet even if they clearly have an optimum diet for winning medals.
.

 

[ycbm]

I think results like this can give people confidence to know that barefoot horses are capable of competing at the highest levels.

I agree, I think it's great to see and I hope to see a lot more in future.
.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I'm not being critical of how these horses are kept, the article was written by a true expert, about top class performing horses, where photos have used photographs showing a level of concavity which is not itself ideal or even normal in horses that do a lot of work barefoot. I commented because I wouldn't want the uninitiated to see those photos and assume that's what they were aiming for if they took their own horses barefoot.

I do, of course, also walk the walk and have 3 rock crunching barefooters (with great concavity) , 2 in work on varied terrain.
.

Yes, I get your point about the uninitiated.

I also said "in real life" which means outside of HHO. I have no idea, for the most part, what your horses are really kept like, or how "rock crunching" they are ?‍ so please don't think that part of my comment was directed specially at you.

 

[Mule]

Here's a very interesting article about Sheikh Mohammed's barefoot racehorses.


https://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2018/06/godolphin-masar-barefoot-epsom-derby-farriers.html?m=1

 

[milliepops]

and then the rider's POV

https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/...-you-need-to-get-involved-and-be-engaged.html

 

[j1ffy]

and then the rider's POV

https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/...-you-need-to-get-involved-and-be-engaged.html

The more I read about him, the more I appreciate his balanced outlook and horse-centred philosophy!

I don't have time to google as heading into a meeting...but doesn't he also have a herd of warmblood youngsters living out in 1000s of acres as a feral herd?

ETA - found it! 100 acres not thousands: https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/...-their-health-is-and-where-it-all-begins.html

 

[AandK]

and then the rider's POV

https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/...-you-need-to-get-involved-and-be-engaged.html

What a refreshing read, great to hear a top rider really considering the horses need to move freely and with company. Also really agree with his comments on the great barefoot vs shod debate, a hybrid approach is something I will most likely go with my ridden horse (if we ever get as far as eventing!)