Barefoot with boots... discussion

It is what it is , "a barefoot booted horse" and not shod, the lack of a constant shoe and what a shoe does for a hoof being the main point probably. For the majority of the time it is bare and gaining all the healthy benefits from being so (hopefully also the correct diet to support it) and for some things may need boots which may only be a short term measure and it is enroute to being full time barefoot.
 
Surely a horse that is wearing boots for work (not those in the "transitional" stage...) would be a sign that the horse is better off being shod...
 
only_me said:
Surely a horse that is wearing boots for work (not those in the "transitional" stage...) would be a sign that the horse is better off being shod...
Click to expand...

and therefore a horse in the field better off being unshod? where does he spend most of his time? Why shoe 24/7 when you are riding 1-2 hours per day (if that)
 
I am tempted to go barefoot but only if I could do everything I do with my boy now without boots. I don't like the idea of hoof boots for work, I imagine they would slip, twist, rub and get sand and grit inside them and cause the horse discomfort. Why can't anyone make something like a tight fitting rubber sock for horses, a bit like the pull-on over-reach boots but with a sole??
 
Clava said:
It is what it is , "a barefoot booted horse" and not shod, the lack of a constant shoe and what a shoe does for a hoof being the main point probably. For the majority of the time it is bare and gaining all the healthy benefits from being so (hopefully also the correct diet to support it) and for some things may need boots which may only be a short term measure and it is enroute to being full time barefoot.
Click to expand...

Ditto Clava. The horse gets all of the benefits of being barefoot when not being exercised - but at the time of being in work, I deem it to be "booted" rather than "barefoot".

And if there were, hypothetically, some competition or award for "best barefoot" horse - I personally would like to see this split into "completely barefoot" and "barefoot but booted" depending on what was/wasn't on the foot at the time of judging. Otherwise it's an unlevel playing field.
 
marmalade76 said:
I am tempted to go barefoot but only if I could do everything I do with my boy now without boots. I don't like the idea of hoof boots for work, I imagine they would slip, twist, rub and get sand and grit inside them and cause the horse discomfort. Why can't anyone make something like a tight fitting rubber sock for horses, a bit like the pull-on over-reach boots but with a sole??
Click to expand...

I thought that they already did ie easyboot gloves. A tight fitting rubber sock would never be strong enough to keep the boot sole in place. I also doubt it would stand up to the wear and tear of riding.
I ride one horse booted and do everything on him that I would do in shoes with no problems. I ride others barefoot and do everythihg that I would do in shoes.
 
A bare hoof in a hoof boot is gaining all the advantages of working unshod (flex and expansion/contraction of the hoof wall and contact of the frog with the 'ground')
and yet being protected in extreme conditions.

My two wear Old Mac G2s. They do not rub, slip, chafe. They have been used on terrain most people in the UK would not even consider riding over on shod horses and through water, sand and mud. They only wear fronts..they had them for transitioning and we still use them out of prudence if we know we are doing some serious 'off roading' going out for a really long hack.

Oh and I jumped one of mine in his boots when we were transitioning :)
 
I'm barefoot when I'm not wearing shoes... so why would it be different for a horse? Should I say I've unshoe'd when I take my kitten heels off in the hall?

I think (now that I've seen the light) that even horses have a right to take their boots/shoes off after work and let his feet breathe just like I do.

After the gym though, some would say keep 'em on you smelly so and so! :)

Why don't we put shoes on dogs feet? Surely they have very soft pads that would sore when out walking........ ?????

Unshod/barefoot.... meh... whatever floats your boat. I'm soooo bored of that argument. And don't say "don't post then" because I want to post on the very fact I'm bored of it.
 
Last edited:
My mare does not have shoes and wears boots when the ground is hard. I never think of her as barefoot! This seems to a new term! She is retired and if the ground is hard to a long time she becomes sore.
 
marmalade76 said:
I am tempted to go barefoot but only if I could do everything I do with my boy now without boots. I don't like the idea of hoof boots for work, I imagine they would slip, twist, rub and get sand and grit inside them and cause the horse discomfort. Why can't anyone make something like a tight fitting rubber sock for horses, a bit like the pull-on over-reach boots but with a sole??
Click to expand...

there is prety much! the easy boot glove! its great! but they dont suit sll horses feet! im lucky they feet my tb perfect! i wont ever shoe him again! hes got a new lease of life! my mare is shod infront! but when i can afford to get the new easyboot wide fit then she will have them. It saves me over £80 every 6 weeks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top