Barefoot/unshod people..help please!

Bertolie

Bertolie

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I am posting this on behalf of a friend. He has a 7/8 year old TB which has awful feet. He is normally shod all round but throws shoes on a regular basis and has badly cracked hooves. He has recently taken the decision to remove the shoes for winter (after advice from farrier) to let the hooves 'grow out' and the plan at present is to re-shoe in 6 months or so. He will only be schooling or groundwork in the indoor school (sand) and wont be hacking out until reshod.

However, after talking to him at the weekend, he wondered if it would be possibe to get the horse to the stage where he can keep him unshdo and be able to hack out on all terrains. I did say that with some changes to the horses management that it could be possible but I've never had a barefoot horse and he is a novice (and freely admits that he doesn't have a clue!)

What changes would he need to make to the horses management to help promote healthy hooves? Horse is currently only fed a small amount of Dengie Original and has started having a biotin supplement. He also uses Keratex hoof hardener.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
He should buy a copy of the book feet first by Nic Barker it gives a good overview on how to manage BF while the principles are simple it's not an effort free choice by the owner .
Reading the threads on here also give a good insight in the problems that people come across and how people solve them.
 
Ditto to both the above - I followed the threads on here and info from the book to take my TB mare barefoot. We are just 5weeks into the rehab and already she is showing improvements, I'm really thrilled at being able to hack her out with just front hoof boots on. They are well worth the investment for the transition. Enlist the help of a reputable trimmer who can also guide your friend through the process, provide much needed support and help in measuring for hoof boots if needed
 
Limit, as far as possible, all sugar and starch in the diet (including grass!), feed a balanced mineral supplement or a bespoke mineral plan based on a forage analysis, and finally, build up work on various terrains gradually, according to the comfort of the horse. Once the horse is comfortable, excercise it as much as possible.
 
and wont be hacking out until reshod
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That's a shame as roadwork is really good for unshod hooves.

As soon as the horse is sound on smooth tarmac (hopefully he will be straight away) - take him out in-hand or ridden and walk. Start with a short walk, then slowly build up the distance over a few weeks.
 
Bertolie - you lose ten points for mentioning the words 'TB' and 'Keratex'
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I dare you to speak the words 'Top Spec' and 'genetics' next
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Ah, be fair, though :D


Bertolie said:
I am posting this on behalf of a friend. He has a 7/8 year old TB which has awful feet. He is normally shod all round but throws shoes on a regular basis and has badly cracked hooves. He has recently taken the decision to remove the shoes for winter + 10 points(after advice from farrier) + 10 pointsto let the hooves 'grow out' and the plan at present is to re-shoe in 6 months or so. He will only be schooling or groundwork in the indoor school (sand) and wont be hacking out until reshod.

However, after talking to him at the weekend, he wondered if it would be possibe to get the horse to the stage where he can keep him unshdo + 10 pointsand be able to hack out on all terrains + 10 points. I did say that with some changes to the horses management that it could be possible+ 20 pointsbut I've never had a barefoot horse and he is a novice (and freely admits that he doesn't have a clue!)

What changes would he need to make to the horses management to help promote healthy hooves? Horse is currently only fed a small amount of Dengie Original - 10 points for molasses and alfalfa and has started having a biotin supplement + 5 points. He also uses - 10 points Keratex hoof hardener.

Any advice would be appreciated.
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I make that + 55 :D
 
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Excuse the Taliban Bertolie, they are having a mad moment :D

A lot of horses can't tolerate Alfalfa.

A lot of horses anecdotally have issues with Top Spec.

Keratex is formaldehyde, it may make the hoof very brittle and can encourage cracking and in any case is a desperately strong chemical to put anywhere near a live animal.

There is every chance the horse will work barefoot for all time. If your friend's horse is OK through the winter but goes footie in spring when he "increases the workload", tell him to check first whether the horse is not one of the many, many horses that go footie when they get to eat too much (for them, it varies how much that is) spring/summer/autumn grass, before rushing to shoe.
 
i dont know about TBs but my cob is barefoot after tackling some horrid hoof problems she is now wonderfully sound and happy.

I use a barefoot specialist called Sally Bell who may be able to help? www.hoof-help.co.uk

i would recommend her to anyone, she is also great with problem horses that hate their feet being touched!
 
Bertolie said:
Hey please be gentle with me - I know nothing about this subject (my horse is happily shod :D)
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Please don't think I'm being snarky to you ;)

I'm poking fun at us hoof nerds on here.

Mention words like Keratex and TBs and it's not long before we get to alfalfa, Top Spec and genetics....then our eyes start twitching and we start foaming at the mouth :D
 
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