Barefoot again and again, sorry! Inspired by thatmygirl :)

dressagelove said:
Well I tell you what, I am well and truly fascinated by all this, its very interesting. Correct me if Im wrong, but would the best way to do things is have a grass and hay analysis done, see where our forage is lacking, and then feed what it is lacking in? Rather than just giving them a bit of everything?

Im beginning to suspect people trust their farriers too much! Cos they are qualified and experienced etc, we just take their word for it (Im talking about the anti barefoot ones)
But it looks like with a little education and finding things out, we can be more responsible horse owner?! Obviously a farrier would want to promote shoeing as well to make more money out of you...?
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The forage analysis thing is becoming the gold standard in feeding for us hoof geeks;)

If you have the cash for the initial outlay and the inclination, I would recommend it. It becomes cost effective once you've established it all.
But it's not essential to do it.
No one is going to say a horse can't go barefoot without a forage analysis.

They just can't go barefoot on a crappy diet;) (not that I'm suggesting you are feeding a crappy diet
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I don't think it's fair to say farriers say to shoe for the cash (although I'm sure there are some out there who do).
I'm as convinced that I am right as the farrier will be convinced that he is right.
We can't both be right and he is the one with the years of study under his belt....
If you were him, would you change your mind and entire working practices because some nutters on the internet said so?

I AM right though;)
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dressagelove said:
Thanks so much everyone, you are all terribly helpful :)

Thanks Oberon, that was a brill post. Yes, defo feeling its time for new approach, this crack has really opened my eyes to bad his feet are!
I have also contacted Julie Bailey, her website is quite impressive and hopefully she could fit me in. Defo going to consult barefoot professional, sorry I may end up offending my farrier! Ah well!

No one has commented on how I should keep him once the shoes do come off, sources online recommend them staying out 24/7 which is fine as we have plenty of grazing, as long as the weather holds.. Should I do this, as long as the mud fever doesnt come back too bad?

Thanks again everyone, I am feeling more positive about it all, if still a little scared! ;)
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I have just started using Julie Bailey when my horse's shoes were taken off three weeks ago. She is coming back next week. She is lovely with the horses, gave me some great advice and there's no ramming information down your throat!
I've also heard of Abi Hogg - she is actually a friend of my farrier - the only reason I couldn't get her is because she doesn't come up as far as me.
If you use Julie you'll be in safe hands. Good luck!
 
My TBx is barefoot, i actually had my farrier out today for his trim and had a really interesting conversation with him with regards to barefoot vs shoes, he was saying that he always prefers to try barefoot before remedial shoeing and that he far prefers keeping a horse barefoot than shoeing it.

My vet had initially recommended front shoes - to correct a hind end stilfe/ hock lameness, but with the help and support of my farrier and my own research weve kept him barefoot and hes come sound (although im almost certain this was unrelated) .

I also find it all really fascinating, and the more i read into it the more i want to know but realise how much i dont know!

OP im in the same-ish area as you, and my farrier covers your area, if youre after a second opinion i'm more than happen to pass along his details for you.
 
So glad other people get excited by good looking feet! I was on a yard the other week with a back man and wanted to give one girl an award for her horses feet they were amazing! Also was having my leg kicked to stop me suggesting another girl shot her farrier :eek:

OP Fast fibre over speedibeat everytime for barefoot :)
 
TigerTail said:
So glad other people get excited by good looking feet! I was on a yard the other week with a back man and wanted to give one girl an award for her horses feet they were amazing! Also was having my leg kicked to stop me suggesting another girl shot her farrier :eek:

OP Fast fibre over speedibeat everytime for barefoot :)
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Thanks Tiger Tail, if feeding fast fibre would you need to feed hi fi chaff? Or is it the same thing?
 
I add chaff to Fast Fibre, but only because my awkward sod won't eat it on its own. Most will I think :rolleyes: I don't think you have to add anything to it though :)

J&C
 
TigerTail said:
So glad other people get excited by good looking feet! I was on a yard the other week with a back man and wanted to give one girl an award for her horses feet they were amazing! Also was having my leg kicked to stop me suggesting another girl shot her farrier :eek:

OP Fast fibre over speedibeat everytime for barefoot :)
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Except not always - last time I checked Fast Fibre contains straw and I've owned a few and look after several horses that can't eat straw at all; makes them ill and not just in their feet.
 
dressagelove said:
Thanks Tiger Tail, if feeding fast fibre would you need to feed hi fi chaff? Or is it the same thing?
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Fast Fibre is basically chopped straw

"(min 40 percent) cereal straw (treated), (10-25 percent) unmolassed beet, (less than 10 percent) oat fibre, expelled linseed, grass meal, Di-calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, expelled soya oil, sodium chloride, natural vitamins, vitamins and minerals, mint, herbs garlic".

Most horses don't seem to mind it, it's sloppy for the oldies, soaks quickly and blends with minerals easily.

I ignore the 'vitamins and minerals and linseed' and just use it as a 'neutral' base for my supplements.
 
Re the fast fibre v speedibeet etc. I think it depends on the individual horse. I have learned that rinsing beet prior to soaking (to wash off iron residue) may be helpful for some horses as well. My lot are all fine on speedibeet it's my grass some of them have a problem with. :rolleyes:

Also speedibeet is a single ingredient so it's clearer what may be causing a problem if there is one.
 
Oberon it's on Allen and page web site it's only 3.75% starch, I can't post links etc on my phone but will take ingredients off the bag later when I'm up the yard
 
thatsmygirl said:
Oberon it's on Allen and page web site it's only 3.75% starch, I can't post links etc on my phone but will take ingredients off the bag later when I'm up the yard
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Thanks hun.

I love Allen and Page but they are naughty for not posting their ingredients on the webiste. How can I satisfy my curiosity:(

If your horse is doing well on it - then keep on it.
 
2nd picture down- very poorly shod foot....
even my OH who is a total novice when it comes to horses said it looks like the horse has half a shoe on- nothing for the heels (what there is of them!)
the hoof should grow down- if you look at this picture you can see there is nothing under the horse ... the hoof doesnt touch the floor until 1/3 forward from the bulbs of the heel...

i would get him done every 4-5 weeks by a remedial farrier with shoes with longer heels to help support him, cut all the sugar excess out of the diet (eg over rich grazing, anything with molassess in, soaking your hay)

hopefully this will improve the hooves enough over 3-4 months for the hoof to be able to cope without shoes and start to get a better balance
at the moment i think he would be lame if they came off..............

the cracks on the hoof wall as like stress fractures- the hoof is not balanced so the forces of movement cause these splits to appear.
 
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