Barefoot questions - boots? And workload?

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ecrozier

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Roo is now barefoot all round - hinds came off last autumn, and fronts followed about 4 weeks ago.
Never had any footiness behind, and so far am pretty impressed with how he is coping in front too. Our standard hack ATM (as most other routes are accessed via a plugged field that is so wet, they sink fetlock deep!) involves about 500m of un-made-up road, then maybe 250m gravel followed by short walk through woods down to road, then a good 10-15 mins along road before heading back up a hill on track through woods, and then another 15 mins of roadwork before joining back up to the unmade road.
On the proper roads he feels great, strides out absolutely fine. Downhill through the woods I can tell when he stands on a stone in front as he does feel like he winces a bit maybe 1 stride in 20, but uphill through woods is fine. My only real concern is that on one short section of road where there is Tarmac with loose stones on top he does probably throw on average 5 strides that feel uncomfortable, along a 100m stretch.
Would you more experienced barefooters boot for that? I'm reluctant to buy him any yet as his feet are bound to change size aren't they?! But will if I need too - in the spring we will start varying routes a bit more but I was hoping that we could build up to going bootless even on longer hacks by doing this shorter route now....
Thoughts?
Also, how much work should I be aiming for?!
 
I might get off at the stretch he finds difficult and see how much that helps.

As for how much he can do, that depends on whether he is the kind of horse who needs an even workload. If so, then if you want to hack for 4 hours at weekends then you'll have to do a lot of work during the week as well. I have one like this, his feet don't grow fast enough for a lot of abrasive work unless he does it all the time. There's no limit to what he can do (he hunts for 4 hours and many miles at high speed :) ) but he can't suddenly be asked to do it without it wearing his feet flat.

You should be aiming to build up to as much work as you want to do. If he doesn't cope with variations in workload then you can boot part time.
 
Thanks CPTrayes. I'm not sure getting off is a great idea, I'm having to hack alone a lot ATM and he's not the best in the world at standing still for me to get back on!! The key to solo hacking in one piece for us is keep moving forwards at all times ;) Plus he is a shade under 17hh and I am 5'5! Need to work on my flexibility I think!
I am unlikely to ever want to hack for 4 hours, I guess my ideal would be to have him totally sound again (move barefoot is an attempt to correct a gait inconsistency on a circle) and then I would probably in an ideal world be working him on the flat twice a week on surface, hack twice a week with an absolute maximum of 2 hours (more likely 1 x 45 mins, 1 x 1hr) and then either jump or compete once a week....
Bearing all that in mind, I'm currently trying for 4 hacks a week of around 40 mins, need to see if they have cleared a fallen tree on the 'extension' to that hack which would mean I could up one or two of those to around 1hr 15 easily and could even do the longest route of 1hr30+. Then I am debating going in the school once a week as well even just for walking and occasional trotting round the outside track...
 
Is there a verge that you could move on to and avoid the loose stones?

Buddy has had the same issues and we've just allowed him to move onto the verge when it's uncomfortable. His issue is v flat feet and that will change with the full growth of the new hoof capsule (3/4 more months) and keeping the correct diet. I'm not sure how he's walking on it now (i can update at the weekend) but still found it uncomfortable at week 8.
 
Not on that particular stretch :( road is between two very high banks. He's not got particularly flat feet, I think they grow good quality hoof too.
Funnily enough when he's being a bit fresh/forward, it's not as bad, maybe one step in 20, if being quiet/lazy it's maybe one in 10. He had a VERY scary hack this morning including a wood chipper at the yard he had to go past, then a road sweeper lorry that he had to follow which then reversed towards him (he reversed pretty fast away from that!) THEN a huge Volvo 18 wheeler lorry came past us, and final straw was a dog leaping out from the undergrowth ad running around under his feet, so he was quite 'alert' the whole way round this morning, and barely seemed to notice that more stony patch!
 
ecrozier said:
Thanks CPTrayes. I'm not sure getting off is a great idea, I'm having to hack alone a lot ATM and he's not the best in the world at standing still for me to get back on!! The key to solo hacking in one piece for us is keep moving forwards at all times ;) Plus he is a shade under 17hh and I am 5'5! Need to work on my flexibility I think!
Click to expand...

I see your problem :D

I guess my ideal would be to have him totally sound again (move barefoot is an attempt to correct a gait inconsistency on a circle) and then I would probably in an ideal world be working him on the flat twice a week on surface, hack twice a week with an absolute maximum of 2 hours (more likely 1 x 45 mins, 1 x 1hr) and then either jump or compete once a week....
Click to expand...

I doubt you'll have any problem achieving that pretty soon.

Have you read up about structural deviations in barefoot feet? Your horse is likely to grow some while he is recovering from his gait inconsistencies and may, like many , need them permanently. The ideal will be to work him so that the wear on his feet equals the rate of growth, and then watch what shape he makes his own feet into and don't interfere even if it looks strange.

There's an interesting debate here you might like to read, and Rockleyfarm.blogspot.com has case studies and lots of pictures of what I mean.

http://phoenixhorse.myfastforum.org/about3293.html

Good luck!
 
Thanks CPTrayes. The idea of deviations etc is exactly what I am hoping happens really! Sounds weird to say that maybe, but this mystery lameness is on the leg that he has a slightly boxy foot. He's not the straightest in front generally and X-rays have shown some non articular ringbone and a few splints, not awful but not perfect either, so I am hoping that allowing his body to figure out what it needs is going to release any tension that has maybe built up somewhere and is causing the shortness of stride on RF.
Thanks for the link, will have a look!
 
Well I'm a big advocate of barefoot since Buddy's journey started so I really hope Roo has as much success :) What's been going on with him? I thought all was well...
 
He's ok - just when i put him on left rein, his right fore doesn't seem to come through properly. It's such a pain though as impossible to diagnose anything as he won't let anyone nerve block! Bone scan came back clear, minor spavin was the only thing they found, and then various X-rays and scans found a bit of non-articular ring bone but RVC didn't think they were a major problem. So he's just mainly hacked all winter and i am now trying barefoot route and going to hopefully get him an Arc Equine unit as well!
 
:( Annoying that he's so anti needles!! Be interested to hear your experience with the AE unit.. I'm contemplating getting one too.
 
Ecrozier that is the route I've gone down with my mare, I took some pics of her feet the other day and I can't believe the change in shape and the angle of the new hoof! I love my AE and had a jump lesson last night and the instructor could believe how well she was moving and jumping (apart from the complete strop about the micklem!)

She wears boots on the road but at 3 months with no shoes I'm finding that she is much better at coping with the stones but still isn't a fan, I tend to put them on for the stonely work them get off take them off and attach them to my breast plate! But my mare lets me climb on from anywhere to get back on! She hasn't needed anything removing off her hooves yet!

I'm so glad I've gone barefoot with her.
 
Lol that's a good idea H_a_C - glad you have been impressed with the AE unit, I'm hoping I can afford one at the end of this month. Maybe I need to invest in boots just in case - how easy are they to put on/take off?!
 
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