Barefoot peeps your help please

[brown tack]

I've just taken on a youngster a 3yr old appyx. Now if possible want to keep him barefoot, having struggled for years with my old horses feet I aim to try a new approach.

So how do start to keep him barefoot? His feet ATM really need doing, the growth seems ok and of good quality. He seems ok when walking on stones, hard ground etc ATM

Is there anything I need to be feeding ATM out 24/7 on grass but will be stabled when the winter hits and out during the day.

Who would you recommend to use? I'm in the west midlands.

How long in between trims do horses go? And how much are they?

Do you use a trimmer or a farrier?

Would I need to rasp the foot in between trims to stop the foot breaking?

A homemade cottage pie for all that answer!

 

[CBFan]

I think the fact that your horse seems comfortable on all surfaces at the moment is a very good start. If everything looks fine,don't change a thing though as a general rule you should be feeding a low sugar diet and be careful with regards to rich grass.

The farrier / trimmer debate continues. It really depends on what you have available to you in your area. I have found that my boy's feet have greatly improved in just two trims since taking on a trimmer rather than farrier.

As for the need to rsp between visits. It really depends on the inividual. I take a little off my boy's toes every 2 weeks to stop them getting too long as he puts on a fair amount o growth.

good luck!

 

[classicalfan]

If your boy doesn't have shoes on then don't start - IMHO it leads to all sorts of problems (not just feet). The feed is probably less important than you think - after all the body is able to function properly thanks to not having shoes on. And don't worry if the feet look a little untidy at times or there are superficial cracks - it's normal wear and tear (depending on the going). Some of our youngsters hardly need much doing as they are well-balanced and wearing naturally. Some need a little help and have a trim every 4-6 weeks, depending on the problem.

Whether it's a farrier or a trimmer doesn't really matter as long as they know what they are doing. There are still a number of methods out there (all unproven at the moment) because farriers come from a tradition and not a science and so do trimmers. Research has only recently started in earnest as to the real understanding of how the foot functions and what really is the best method or methods for caring for horses' feet. However, we have been advocates of barefoot horses for nearly 20 years and even the horses that come to us with remedial shoes have their shoes removed and, after only a short period of time, are healthy and sound with no shoes at all - including those with navicular, laminitis, tendon problems, ring bone, arthritis, etc - the list goes on.

 

[brown tack]

Thank you both my thoughts are that he doesn't 'need' shoes and hopefully never will. But having been brought up in the environment that all horses that are worked needed shoes so it's a really new ball game for me and by keeping him barefoot I hope that I won't have any foot related issues to sort out in later life.

And more more advise?