Barefoot help please!

[Bruce17]

I bought an ex racer mare in May this year.

She raced as a 2 and 3 year old, then has done nothing since. She is now 5. Hasn't worn shoes since racing last in March 2018 and has been living out.

Since May, we've been lunging, long lining, walking out in hand and doing some work in the school to re-back and bring on. She is fine in the field, fine in the school and fine on tarmac. But she's footy on the stony driveway in and out of the yard and to and from the field. Hacking will be on tarmac and grass bridleways usually.

It seems a shame to put shoes on just for the sake of the stony driveways, and I'd rather keep her barefoot if I can as it will be better for her feet long term.

What can I do to help her? I've never had a barefoot horse before, and I know nothing whatsoever about hoof boots. Will I need them?

She's currently living out but will be stabled at night in winter. She has hay and grass in the field, then feed wise she has:
Emerald green meadow magic
Bailey's lo cal
Brewers yeast
Salt

In winter she'll probably get micronised linseed as well. She's a good doer and is doing well on the above, it's fairly low sugar/starch and feet are growing pretty quickly. It's just that footiness on stones. Can diet alone help with this or am I going to need the boots? Anything else I can do? I've had a look at the barefoot threads on here and on the barefoot horses facebook, but a lot of it is about transitioning to barefoot, whereas this is more staying barefoot once starting work, if that makes sense.

 

[Wheels]

The grass may not be helping as some can get a bit footy at this time of year.


Can you use hoofboots? I agree that it seems a shame to put shoes on but boots might help for the time being

 

[Red-1]

If she is uncomfortable on the driveway, then you can simply boot for the driveway. Or, someone else I know laid some carpet strips down on their driveway.

Some hoof boots are more forgiving on fit, such as cavallos, if you measure then they should be OK, especially for walking on the drive.

You may find you only need fronts.

I wouldn't shoe for just the driveway either. In the end she will probably be fine everywhere.

 

[Mule]

You could get boots but you could just lead her down the driveway and mount at the end of it. It would save you the price of boots.

 

[Polos Mum]

The more work she does the more improved her feet will be - although she's been barefoot in the field she's not had hoof stimulation so that time doesn't really count as much.

I would look at a feed supplement supporting feet. Tonnes of threads on here about that.

I would get a registered / qualified and locally recommended trimmer to have a look - they tend to think / ask holistically about the whole horse so may well have some good advice. If you love your farrier and he's supportive of barefoot - no need to change for ever but a one off trimmer assessment might give you some good ideas.

Boots for the bits of stones will be easy - Cavello's are a great starter boot - a touch clumpy so they do come up second hand often and (as above) forgiving on size. You can look at their website for size guide and probably buy a reasonable condition pair for the fronts for £40-60 which will last years and years if only going to and from field. They take 2 mins to pop on - genuinely no hassle.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would get a pair of easily put on /taken off hoof boots just for the drive until her feet are tougher.

 

[ycbm]

A friend dropped Baileys Lo cal and saw an improvement in her mare. It may have been coincidental, but perhaps worth a try.
.

 

[PapaverFollis]

A friend dropped Baileys Lo cal and saw an improvement in her mare. It may have been coincidental, but perhaps worth a try.
.

I was just going to suggest switching the Bailey's for Equimins, Forage Plus or Progressive Earth. But I'm not sure if I'm just overly obsessed with minerals at the moment!

 

[ester]

I'd get some cheap, possibly oversized cavallos for the driveways - presuming it is you turning her out?
If not I'd trial hoof armour.
I would switch out the local for one of those mentioned above.

 

[Beachbabe]

The grass may not be helping as some can get a bit footy at this time of year.


Can you use hoofboots? I agree that it seems a shame to put shoes on but boots might help for the time being

Hoofboots would be the way to go as she's otherwise coping well. And echo the grass, mine are both the same and not enjoying any of the stony ground

 

[Bruce17]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. It seems like the general consensus is to go with hoof boots for the stony bits, or possibly try something other than Bailey's lo cal.

So a further few questions then....

1) Which cavallos, there seems to be quite a few different types? Does it depend on foot shape or are they different boots for different disciplines? Sorry, total hoof boot rookie!

2) How long would I expect to need boots before she starts to feel better on the driveway? Or is it just a case of wait and see?

3) Equimins advance complete isn't listing a sugar or starch content. I'd need the pellet version as other horse won't eat the powder and I'd rather they had the same. Anyone know equimins sugar/starch content?

 

[Bruce17]

I'd get some cheap, possibly oversized cavallos for the driveways - presuming it is you turning her out?
If not I'd trial hoof armour.
I would switch out the local for one of those mentioned above.

Yes, it's turning out, but also leaving the yard in order to hack out. Once actually out its mostly roads or grass tracks, though some of the passing places are also a bit stony.

Can I ask why you've said possiblly oversized cavallos? Do they come up small or is there another reason?

 

[Equi]

Cant comment on the actual barefoot question but i just wanted to suggest you take some photos o feach hoof on a flat surface side on, in front and behind, also of the underhoof just after a trim, then again just before a trim and again just after etc purely because a lot of TB tend to get flat feet and underrun heels despite good farriery. Then in 6 months people ask why is their horse lame. If you have a log of what the look like and what they are doing you can see the changes and adjust things as needed. Its a habit i have gotten into with my boy even though he is shod (but i got into it because he was bare) because i can point out at any time when/why he has started to go a bit wrong and 9/10 its because his feet have done something weird and the farrier is told this and its adjusted.

 

[Tiddlypom]

1) Which cavallos, there seems to be quite a few different types? Does

Cavallos tend to come up big. I recommend the Treks, they are lightweight and breathable, and easy to fit/remove.

Treks X 4 all day turnout. Vet was impressed yesterday at clinic with how well she moves in hers - horse has issues after previous poor foot balance.

 

[Henry02]

Hoof boots are great. The only downsides I think they have are in winter.

if you want to ride from the field in winter, and the horses hooves and legs are caked in mud, I worry that the wet legs and potential grains of mud remaining will rub

 

[Polos Mum]

Sugar / starch content of equimins is minimal - maybe why not listed. Daily amount is about 50g ish for an average horse - so a tiny handful of pellets. They aren't that nice tasting so can take a while for them to be tempted to eat them.

There's 2 basic sizes of cavallos - round (normal) and slim (foot is longer than it is wide). Take a few photos and maybe people on here will be able to comment or send to one of the shops for sizing.
If you get a trimmer they often carry a selection to try or the size guides.

In terms of style - for a few minutes in and out of field I'd go for whatever is cheapest on e-bay in the right size

 

[ester]

a bit big only because they are easier to get on and off for an amble to the field. I have simples which are big on mine and have been used for walking to field and when foot has needed wrapping, whereas the sports I acquired at the same time would have been better had I been actually riding.

Having said that I use gloves, and when transitioning used to take them off/put them back on at multiple points during a ride depending on the surface!

Fab pic TP!

 

[Bruce17]

Sugar / starch content of equimins is minimal - maybe why not listed. Daily amount is about 50g ish for an average horse - so a tiny handful of pellets. They aren't that nice tasting so can take a while for them to be tempted to eat them.

There's 2 basic sizes of cavallos - round (normal) and slim (foot is longer than it is wide). Take a few photos and maybe people on here will be able to comment or send to one of the shops for sizing.
If you get a trimmer they often carry a selection to try or the size guides.

In terms of style - for a few minutes in and out of field I'd go for whatever is cheapest on e-bay in the right size

Thanks
I don't have many photos to hand, but equi's suggestion above to keep a record seems a good one. Here's what I do have.. Hopefully they attach..


<a href="https://ibb.co/SJfSFjP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/CWPLRcz/20200804-210938.jpg" alt="20200804-210938" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/TYcsSm8"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/6rYkxgP/20200804-210922.jpg" alt="20200804-210922" border="0"></a>

 

[ester]

 

[Polos Mum]

They look like they will be standard round / 'simple' rather than needing slim.

I bought an old pair for £15 when I first started - I am still lending them to people to try 4 years later - it's not a big investment.

 

[Bruce17]

Thanks Ester!

 

[MarvelVillis]

You could always get in touch with the guys at the Hoof Boutique (google them). If you take measurements and send them in, they can advise on the best type of hoof boot and size.

 

[Wheels]

You could always get in touch with the guys at the Hoof Boutique (google them). If you take measurements and send them in, they can advise on the best type of hoof boot and size.

I would do this too as they can get deceiving until measured properly. My horse has slightly rounder than long feet which limits the types I could buy

 

[vhf]

My unshod one is also struggling a bit on the really sharp stony bits at the moment. Her diet is good so I won't get boots if I can avoid it, but when the grounds's been wet for a while her heels and soles get softer and grass certainly doesn't help. I spray regularly with a strong iodine, and use Keratex hoof hardener, just to help with the symptoms. They won't address the overall problem but are a useful support tool.

 

[ester]

If you take measurements take photos with the measure on the hoof that you can send. All of the UK boot sellers are pretty helpful with sizeing.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Fab pic TP!

Haha, yes, airborne!

My long suffering vet wants her in bar shoes to support the heels, but for the life of me I can’t see why sturdy hoof boots won’t do the same. Plus hoof boots come off in the stable at night and allow the foot to breathe. Horse has variously been shod (both well and badly at different times), unshod and also been barefoot. Currently unshod and seen by a farrier. Latest X rays show improvement, and vet concedes that the horse is fairly comfortable. Rehab is ongoing.

IMHO remedial shoeing is a step too far, though, I am not convinced of the long term benefits.

Sorry for thread diversion, OP.

 

[ester]

I did think the trecs looked an improvement, I'm unconvinced by leather (as is frank tbf) and the simples are sooo heavy.

My long suffering vet did have a few occasions when I went but look, look at his lovely hooves. Probably better than the emails which go here are some more photos of a willy what do you think.

 

[DabDab]

Further thread diversion, sorry op! What do you mean by has been unshod and barefoot TP? What's the difference?(probably just me being simple but thought I'd ask)

OP - like wheels I have two horses that grow round or slightly wider than long feet so am also slightly restricted on what boots will suit, so best to measure before looking into options too much. The one who always tends towards being sensitive on stones has cavallos that he wears all the time when riding these days. The other goes through short phases of being sensitive but is mostly fine and she has scoots used for a week or two at a time when she goes a bit sensitive. I don't take them on and off because I'm too lazy and I've ridden in all kinds of mud and at a decent speed with them and have never had one come off, except once when the mare jumped and stood on herself

 

[Tiddlypom]

DabDab, I’m probably not the best person to ask re the difference between barefoot and unshod. I might get lynched...

Barefoot seems to be a sort of cult, to which I did subscribe for over a year, as I believed that it was going to be better for my horses. Barefoot trimmers allegedly know much more than farriers about the horse’s foot, holistic management etc etc. They certainly charge more than farriers for their services. However, the trimmer I used, although qualified and registered, could not balance a TB type foot and worse still, did not recognise that he was allowing the foot balance to get waay off kilter. He had no knowledge of the damage that poor balance could be doing. I had to sack him.

To me, unshod is a correctly balanced foot with a pasture trim, ie not prepped for shoes, and the trim is performed by a farrier.

First pic is of senior mare’s fronts after the trimmer had been working with her for well over a year at 6 weekly intervals. The second pic was taken 5 months later after regular trims by a good farrier. Her feet were also like the second pic before I started using the trimmer...





This mare fits well in Treks, too .

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

I have two pairs of Cavello Simple boots for sale in a size 4 and a size 5 , good used condition but now surplus to requirements .
Have PM'd you with details if you're interested .