Barefoot from scratch - tips?

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

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My new weanling arrives in October/November and I thought it would be a great opportunity to (hopefully) have a barefoot horse. There's a lot of advice about dealing with the transition from shod to barefoot but I haven't seen a lot about preparing the foot from foalhood. I have just ordered Feet First though so apologies if there's info in there :)

Obviously we will see how we go, once he's ridden, but he'll be out and about, either led or long reined long before that, so does anyone have any particular advice on giving his feet the best possible start in life?
 
Nudibranch said:
My new weanling arrives in October/November and I thought it would be a great opportunity to (hopefully) have a barefoot horse. There's a lot of advice about dealing with the transition from shod to barefoot but I haven't seen a lot about preparing the foot from foalhood. I have just ordered Feet First though so apologies if there's info in there :)

Obviously we will see how we go, once he's ridden, but he'll be out and about, either led or long reined long before that, so does anyone have any particular advice on giving his feet the best possible start in life?
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Apart from a good diet (see book) I think if you have a variety of surfaces that he could walk on or hang around on then that would be good (stoney area, concrete, that sort of thing). I too have a yearling who I want to keep bare, but I don't have other surfaces for her to "exercise" the growing hoof structures to make them grow strong, but she does gallop about playing with her yearling friend.
 
Good grass on a solid surface (ive been luckey as I have always been on chalk/clay so its solid under the grass) and thats about it really. Full turnout. I hve never supplemented mine, other than the odd lick.
 
Never having worn shoes in the first place will be the best start you can give him. I have two youngsters who have never worn shoes and they are much more sure-footed than my Clydie X who has been shod in the past (now shoeless but I would say "still transitioning" if I'm honest).

As others have said, lots of different surfaces, low sugar/starch diet. Supplement if you need to when the time comes but I doubt you'll need to. Watch in the spring as too much sweet grass can cause sore feet so you may need to restrict or bring off the grass for a time each day.
 
My best advice would be to get that foaly moving as much as possible on all types of terrain. This will encourage proper development of the caudal (back) of the hoof and will set him up for a fab barefoot future. This and a good diet of course...NO FOAL MIX!!!
 
We have several homebreds that have never had shoes - we've never had a problem, all on grass/hay with soaked oats. Much easier than transitioning, just keep a good trim.
 
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