Barefoot help needed - very long!

IMO don't be too hasty in buying boots, my lad went barefoot, was footsore for about a week, I nearly had him re shod watching him hobble accross the yard, yet he was fine on grass, I walked him out and let him choose his route, he walked on the grass but the gravel bridlepath was hard for me as well, large chunks of gravel. Riding out , if he felt uncomfortable I got off and walked, now the difference is amazing, I can't remember the last time he tripped up and in all the icy conditions lately, he was like a mountain goat, never slipped once, unlike his shod friend who was like Bambi on ice.
My biggest problem has been finding a farrier that does barefoot trimming, now solved, a year later, he is happy, I am happy, good result
 
I had my mare's shoes taken off about 3 weeks ago to stop the snow balling in her feet. She is only 5 and has only had shoes on since last May anyway.

She isn't footsore at all when out riding no matter what stones I walk her over but my problem is that she slips a lot more on mud now than she did when she had shoes on. This has become an issue as she is quite reluctant to go through mud now as she knows she's going to slip. Also, its limiting the rides I can go on as I have to come down a very steep hill in one direction and she slides all over the place but didn't when shod.

Does any other barefooter have this problem?
 
Thanks!

its been 3 and a bit weeks now - shes still finds the little stones a problem - they get wedged in the white line where the nails went so if I can avoid them I do. She hasnt found roadwork a problem at all - she quite happy striding along with a nice forward movement which makes a change!

Still considering boots though, esp for the longer hacks, already found myself reducing the amount of hacking I do and I dont want this being an issue in the summer. I'm still going to wait till first trim then see what farrier thinks.
 
Hi there, just a thought about the swelling legs. Could indicate a sluggish liver and a kidney problem. May just need a liver tonic. Mine got swollen legs and I did a detox, no more swelling.
 
Mitchyden said:
I had my mare's shoes taken off about 3 weeks ago to stop the snow balling in her feet. She is only 5 and has only had shoes on since last May anyway.

She isn't footsore at all when out riding no matter what stones I walk her over but my problem is that she slips a lot more on mud now than she did when she had shoes on. This has become an issue as she is quite reluctant to go through mud now as she knows she's going to slip. Also, its limiting the rides I can go on as I have to come down a very steep hill in one direction and she slides all over the place but didn't when shod.

Does any other barefooter have this problem?
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Generally no - but I do find sometimes that taking the shoes off can highlight other things.

Also as the horse changes foot shape/balance it will change how they use the rest of themselves and their overall balance etc. It may take some time for a) the foot to settle into its new shape and balance and b) for the horse to adjust to this.

Not all horses have much change in their feet, but a high proportion do. Just something to consider.

It might be useful to implement a work programme which will enable the horse to successfully/comfortably manage this element of transition.

Transistion is not just about how the feet change, it is also about everything else that this impacts on too. Many of the horses I see have a fairly dramatic change in body shape and way of going too.
 
Mitchyden said:
I had my mare's shoes taken off about 3 weeks ago to stop the snow balling in her feet. She is only 5 and has only had shoes on since last May anyway.

She isn't footsore at all when out riding no matter what stones I walk her over but my problem is that she slips a lot more on mud now than she did when she had shoes on. This has become an issue as she is quite reluctant to go through mud now as she knows she's going to slip. Also, its limiting the rides I can go on as I have to come down a very steep hill in one direction and she slides all over the place but didn't when shod.

Does any other barefooter have this problem?
Click to expand...

Slipping can be a problem for some and in fact unshod feet do slip, feral ponies for example slip all over the place in their natural environment. The thing is that horses learn to deal with slipping. I can ride behind OH on his very experienced unshod horse and watch it slip several times on a ride. I ask if his horse slips and he assures me it doesn't. It does slip but he doesn't notice as the horse has learnt to deal with slipping. One of mine was terrible for slipping and took a long time to learn but it is something they learn. On the worst ones you can teach them. Teach her gradually. To start with lead if necessary on flat mud, move onto riding on flat mud and leading on a slight downhill muddy slope, move onto riding on the slight downhill slope and lead her down really steep stuff. Move onto trotting on the flat etc etc. She will quickly or slowly get the idea. Don't worry if she slips, (you will be leading so you won't get hurt) and she will be able to make mistakes slipping and learn to correct them. Encourage her to move on, don't let her crawl at a snail's pace or she will never learn. Just make it safe for her to practice on. They do learn, some on their first ride out of shoes and some take longer.
 
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