Barefoot people- pros and cons!

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Sundae

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Hi just looking for some general thoughts. I have turned my three year old away after lightly backing him this year. I plan to run him barefoot and would like to hear the pros and cons of people who have had horses barefoot for a while. He found stony tracks pretty hard work (understandably).

In terms of getting 'fit' next year, is there any change for a barefoot horse I need to take particular note of? I will be doing a mixture of hacking on roads, sand and some stony areas, up & down hills and light schooling. He lives out and is on topspec. His hooves are pretty good shape, although has a vertical split on one fore which is growing out at the moment. TIA :)
 
No I can't think of one. :)

If he still finds stones hard you could consider boots for stony hacks, if adjusting the diet doesn't help. Also don't forget to build up his workload slowly and to start with easier surfaces.
 
Mine is a year in now after being shod for 11 years. We've done ok really, he's not great on stonier tracks, but it has been much cheaper to keep him, even when you take into account the supplements (probalance, linseed, yea sacc, and spearmint to taste) and they're good for him anyway so are worth it IMHO.

And barring some footiness, an abscess (due to not keeping up the supplements and our grass going nuts) he's been sound all year from proper lameness, for the first time since 2011 :)

I do have some boots which I use if he's not been out for a while, or I know I'm going where it's stony
 
One year in, I have yet to find any cons, only pros, just needed some patience at the beginning and did lots of reading. My boy's feet have never looked better and have a work routine which ensures he self trims 😃. Just make sure you are giving an appropriate diet and build up the work.
 
My cob had his shoes removed 15 months ago and it has been a slow process but he is getting there and although he has always been sound on soft ground and flat roads he really struggled on stony ground. I did try boots but found he slipped in them and it stopped him from going forward. He is now much better on stony ground and only struggles if there are loose stones on top of tarmac. His feet look fantastic and my farrier always says how good his feet are and how well he copes with being barefoot. Very glad I decidded to go down the barefoot route.
 
All of ours are barefoot, we use hoof boots on Stoney ground, we even have a 13yr old WB who's been shod up until a few months ago and he's doing much better barefoot than he ever did shod.
 
Ok great- I have no intention of shoeing. I was told by a good friend you just have to build them up a bit slower to make sure their feet have hardened more than you would if shod- however I will be building up slowly as won't be fit anyway. She just said the faster work can be hard as you have to be very careful where you are doing the fast work (and it might take you longer to get to a certain suitable canter track whereas on a shod horse you wouldn't need to worry so much.....)?
 
Try looking at Pete Rameys website for some really down to earth advice. I go to it for inspiration if I hit a problem (I do my horses feet myself). Good luck
 
Im all barefoot in my herd. Firstly my minis don't need shoes (but can you imagine the little tiddly size they would take aawwww) and secondly i think it is much better for the horse.
 
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