Barefoot horse - to shoe or not to shoe?

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allthatjazz

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I have a chunky 14.2 traditional cob who I've kept barefoot since I've owned him (just over 12 months). We hack out approximately 3-4 times a week, he has good hard feet in the sense that his hoof wall is strong and hard however his sole seems to be quite soft at times (especially as we're now entering the wet season and he is turned out for 18-20 hours a day) and when we are hacking out on a road surface (which is 90% of the time) he seems unwilling to go forwards and almost feels as if he is walking on tip toe :( I would love to keep him barefoot as in the longterm I feel it is the better more natural option but I dont want to think I am causing him pain when we are hacking out. Do you think I would be better off having front shoes put on or could there be another reason for him walking like this? Is there anything I should be feeding him to promote better stronger hooves (I know Biotin is good and he will be having a supplement now hes back on hard feed), any high fibre low cal feeds recommended?? any help would be really appreciated as for me making the decision to have shoes put on is a really big one and I'd like to think I've covered all bases before I do so!

Thanks in advance :)
 
Thanks for your response Big Pony.

I had thought about hoof boots and these are still a consideration although I am concerned about the cost (they are very expensive!!) weighed up against how secure they are on the horses feet during faster paced work like cantering/galloping and whether they'd be slippery on damp/wet grass?? Its alot of money to spend if they are going to fly off the horses feet (my friend had this happen!) or cause your horse to slip :( do you have any experience with using hoof boots yourself? Would be interested to hear your thoughts if you have :)
 
Sorry, I haven't used them. Have you got the vet out to see your horse? As you've had him barefoot for ages and he's been fine, maybe he might have an absess or something in his foot? Do his feet look OK?
 
There is no doubt that a lot of unshod horses do walk more carefully on hard or gravelly surfaces. The big question is working out whether they are uncomfortable enough to require additional measures. I don't want to start the "barefoot debate" as there are also horses that cope brilliantly without shoes. There is a lot to take into consideration - diet and environment have an enormous influence on hoof growth, just for starters...

I have three unshod horses myself, two youngsters that have never been shod and never will be as far as I'm concerned but we also have a 10yo Clydie/Welsh D who has massive, flat hooves that grow outwards rather than upwards. He has been shod in the past but not since the beginning of the year and I still wonder whether he would be happier in front shoes. Unfortunately I can't get boots big enough to fit him but I have used them before on a previous TB. If you can boots to fit your traddy, I would definitely recommend giving them a go... this will demonstrate whether he's happier in his feet and then you can decide whether you'll stick with the boots or go on to have him shod again.

The thing to remember is that your horse's comfort is the most important thing and if it turns out that he's more comfortable in front shoes, then that's the best decision to make for him.
 
Sorry... forgot to say that if you can get a copy of Feet First, it will advise on diet and supplements... or you could sign up to the uknhcp forum which will offer a wealth of information and advice :)
 
Thank you Domane. I had not heard of the UKNHCP so thank you for the recommendation. I have been in touch with www.barefootandbitless.com and recently had his hooves trimmed by a barefoot farrier who does the 'wild horse' trim and does not remove the sole (my previous farrier was not a barefoot specialist and had been removing his sole!). He is due to be trimmed again soon which is why I feel that I need to make this decision now.

Hes certainly more tentative when on stoney ground but I also find he trips quite alot (almost as though hes shuffling rather than picking his feet up properly) and I feel like Im always riding him off my leg constantly driving him on and he'll still be shuffling! When we're on grass however there is a difference in how he moves, he seems much happier. Are there any particular boots that you would recommend?? They're such a big investment I dont want to get it wrong! I know the renegades are highly rated but also highly expensive! :eek: My main priority is that my boy is comfortable, happy and pain free.
 
Easyboot gloves appear to be the most popular with endurance riders.

There are lots of tricks to keeping them on. The UKNHCP forum has a few boot experts.

Boots are much cheaper than shoes any day.

You horse's issues however are likely to be dietry. Do you feed magnesium? Lack of it makes horses footsore.

Being on grass 18-20 hours a day will have something to do with it (spring and autumn are worse) and he may well need additional supplementation (especially of Magnesium) to be more comfortable.

Also please keep an eye out for thrush.

I saw this blog post today
http://www.barefoothorseblog.blogspot.com/
 
Thanks for you response Oberon.

Yes he can be quite thrushy (is this more common then in barefoot horses??)especially now the wet weather is here. Is there a particular type/brand of magnesium supplement that you would recommend? I had also been considering feeding him fast fibre/hi fi good doer so that hes getting more fibre in his diet is there anything other than this that you would recommend? And he will also be on a pure flaxseed oil supplement too. Unfortunately at the moment he has to be out for most of the day/night as the other horses are out for this amount of time and he wont stand in on his own, due to his past experiences he completely frets if hes in without company :/ it is an issue really as I dread spring and autumn and the onslaught of lush sugar filled grass as I know this is no good for his feet! Hopefully they will all be coming in soon and he'll be having ad lib hay :) someone else recommended Farriers Formula as a source of Biotin, is this any good?? And Keratex as a hoof hardener??

Its such a biggy for me as I really would like to keep him barefoot, after all if I'm only riding for an hour or two 3-4 times a week it seems unfair to put shoes on which he has to wear 24/7 its not like he can take them off when hes out in the field :rolleyes: lol but whatever keeps him happiest and pain free is the most important thing :)
 
Thrush is much more common than people think in ALL horses unfortunately. Shod horses tend to have it festering in their sulcus when it's retracted and in their frogs where they cannot exfoliate it on the ground.

My beloved Arab had chronic thrush for many years while shod. It was only when I got a UKNHCP trimmer that it was first mentioned to me and treated. I couldn't see or smell it and had no idea it was there all that time:(

Thrush tends to be more prevalent in horses with a high sugar and mineral depleted diet too.

The good news is that horses tend to metabolise and manage better with grass when they have enough minerals on board. It's not a guarantee, but it often helps. And they become more resistant to infection too.

I'd be happy with a diet of Fast Fibre, linseed and Pro Hoof (an alternative to Farrier's Formula but more in fitting with UK grazing).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-HOOF-...r_Equipment&hash=item415ecd69e0#ht_1466wt_952

DO NOT USE KERATEX HOOF HARDENER. It's nasty stuff. Hooves don't need any topical treatments other than for thrush. An appropriate diet and work load will harden the feet.

My horses stand in a boggy field all day but their hooves are solid.

There is no shame in using boots. It's better to use boots and get the work load up than have him gimping without. A trimmer will be able to fit them for you initially and they last much longer than a set of shoes and without any negative side effects.
 
You can get Cavallo boots at a reasonably price; I've had great success with them and easy to put on; Have a look on ebay, you can pick up a pair for under £80. Measure your horses feet after a trim, then have a look on their website for the sizes.
 
AngieandBen said:
You can get Cavallo boots at a reasonably price; I've had great success with them and easy to put on; Have a look on ebay, you can pick up a pair for under £80. Measure your horses feet after a trim, then have a look on their website for the sizes.
Click to expand...

Easyboot have brought a new one, the Easyboot Trail which (I believe) is marketed to rival Cavallos.

Cost is around £50.

http://www.easycareinc.com/
 
I think you should look at getting some hoof boots. The brand you choose will depend on the shape and size of his hooves. The biggest I have found are boas. And they do not come off!

On talking to my barefoot trimmer the other day she said ' I'm impressed with all my clients who stick with this barefoot malarky in the UK as it is really difficult' this is due to the wet winters, when b/f horses tend to lose a lot of their sole and then you have to start the whole process over again in the spring.

Now that it has got a bit wetter, you might find this is the problem.

Diet really does help.

as for the thrush - scrub daily with dilute milton - 1/3 milton to 2/3 water until it clears up and then just once a week after to keep it at bay. Thrush will make him sore.
 
Thanks so much everyone for your advice!

Its certainly much trickier than one would think to keep your horse barefoot and happy but it really does mean alot to me as I feel it is the right thing to do and would in the long term be the best thing for him, once shoes go on its difficult to go back as he'd more than likely be lame or footsore even moreso once the shoes come off :( I've been using Milton as my farrier suggested this, prior to that I had been using hydrogen peroxide, is one any better/worse than the other? I had also been concerned about problems such as navicular occuring as I believe when a horse steps out toe first this can be a consequence and this does worry me! The 'easy' solution I guess would be to put shoes on but something in my gut just tells me this is wrong, each to their own of course but I just dont think its for me or mine :) do you guys have any advice on measuring hooves for boots?? Im so worried about getting it wrong and ending up with boots that dont fit!! I think he'd only need to wear front boots thankfully as he seems fine on his back feet :) I am definately going to adjust his diet and order some Pro Hoof as this does on comparison seem better than Farriers Formula :)
 
AngieandBen said:
Yes but isn't that only for 1 not a pair?
Click to expand...

OOps. I investigated a bit more and yes, they are sold singly
doh.gif


I THOUGHT they were really cheap
doh2.gif
 
Have you asked your trimmer about these issues? Diet enviroment and work load all play a massive part in having a horse with healthy feet.

Also it might be worth noting that (with us) the grass has been growing loads due to the mild wet weather we've been having lately; bound to affect his feet.
 
I have done horses barefoot and shod . To cover all the points I would have too write a tome the length of war and peace so it's difficult to advise.
If the horse lives out in winter I think you struggle with barefoot if he is sore at the moment and if uncomfortable on Tarmac I think you will have to seek an alternative at least for this winter and perhaps try in the spring . if he has thrush get rid of it ! It's mainly a management problem. Add a good foot supplement to his food formula 4 Feer or Farriers formula are what I have had best results with.
but if he is sore when worked( apart from the odd step when they stand on something) I think I unfair to work.
There is no black and White in this it's not all barefoot good shoes bad ( Theres a barefoot horse round here who I see hobbling along it looks really sore rider does not appear to notice) and I see horse whose shoes make me cringe inside.
I had no luck getting boots to work but why don't you post a thread to compile information and advice on that if you could get boots to work then they might get you over the winter then try barefoot in the spring when the land is dryer.
Hope that helps
 
Oberon said:
The good news is that horses tend to metabolise and manage better with grass when they have enough minerals on board. It's not a guarantee, but it often helps. And they become more resistant to infection too.

I'd be happy with a diet of Fast Fibre, linseed and Pro Hoof (an alternative to Farrier's Formula but more in fitting with UK grazing).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-HOOF-...r_Equipment&hash=item415ecd69e0#ht_1466wt_952

DO NOT USE KERATEX HOOF HARDENER. It's nasty stuff. Hooves don't need any topical treatments other than for thrush. An appropriate diet and work load will harden the feet.

My horses stand in a boggy field all day but their hooves are solid.

There is no shame in using boots. It's better to use boots and get the work load up than have him gimping without. A trimmer will be able to fit them for you initially and they last much longer than a set of shoes and without any negative side effects.
Click to expand...

A farrier told me that West of Scotland was too wet for barefoot, so I considered the Keratex waterproofing , but I would have to apply it at night as someone else turns him out.
I have ordered cavallo boots which are on ebay for £80, I can use them for everyday hacking to prevent feet getting tender, but the main thing imho is the wet, even if he is not out all day every day.
I really have tried to manage his feet, and they are good feet, but it just is not working.
I had to send my first pair back as I was right on the cusp of sizes, I went for the bigger size, but that was a mistake, I should have got the smaller size.
 
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I have never had a horse with thrush but have bought many it's no problem to clear up it's management we got a driving horse who had previously been in Germany and stalled its hind feet had appalling thrush I thought this might be when I find out how difficult it is to get rid of this the farrier said I dint think you will shift this ,2 months later no sign .
 
I know nothing about barefoot trimming, what would possibly concern me is a "wild horse trim"??? It's not a wild horse for a start, and did the problems start after having this done for the first time?

I have a tb who doesn't have any shoes on - my normal farrier does an excellent job of trimming her feet properly.
 
Wench , most good open minded tradition Farriers are more than able to look after barefoot horses if your horse is happy and sound that great my normal farrier does my barefoot horses it works fine for me
 
Horses do from time to time pick up thrush particularly during wet conditions, and as Goldenstar says it is fairly easy to treat via good management. The wild horse trim is merely a model that is 'followed' but each trim is adjusted to each particular horse. The long term goal is that the horse will self trim. My horse was footsore before using this method of trimming and has since improved slightly after this method was used however I do think diet and environment are falling short at the moment which are issues I am working on. Most farriers carry out a pasture trim which is not conducive for riding on all terrain and unfortunately my previous farrier was paring away the hardened sole leaving my horse sore :( as you have stated that you do not know anything about barefoot trimming you can if you wish find out more info on websites such as www.bitlessandbarefoot.com and www.uknhcp.org.uk/ which have plenty of info about this and other types of barefoot trims :)

As it stands I intend to perservere with keeping him barefoot, adjust diet accordingly and invest in some hoofboots for extended road work ;) thank you for all of your advice and opinions :)
 
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