Best way to keep barefoot horse barefoot...

TommyTwoShoes

TommyTwoShoes

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My 4 year NF is barefoot and I'd like to keep him that way ideally.

He's got brilliant feet at the moment, he's probably only had them trimmed about 3 times in his entire life because they're so good.

At the moment he's just doing baby things in the field so there's no real wear and tear on his feet but the area is quite gravelly so I'm worried they'll wear down quickly once we're out and about in the spring.

So if there are any barefoot experts out there, can you please tell me everything there is to know about keeping your horse happy and shoe free!

Thanks :)
 
The best thing you can do is build up his workload over various surfaces (particularly stoney / gravel) gradually...

If you can, start now by taking him out in hand just once or twice a week for 15 minutes up the road and back and build up from there... their feet will grow according to the workload but they need time to adjust to any increases as the growth isn't instant so be patient :)
 
CB Fan is right, that's exactly what I did with each of my youngsters (who I've had since foals and are now 12, 12 and 10 respectively and never had shoes). Way back when they were of an age to start work, I didn't know much about barefoot, but I couldn't see the point of simply slapping shoes on them because that was the done thing. I always said that I'd have shoes put on as and when they were needed.

It never happened.

Over the years I've learned a whole load more about barefoot horses, especially regarding diet (something you really should research quite seriously Tommy) and as Shysmum says, there's plenty of information out there.

But yes, I would (and did) start off doing what CBfan advises. It worked for me and mine (and here in the Chilterns mine work over flint!).
 
Thanks for the replies.

He's got such lovely little strong feet at the moment, it seems daft to put shoes on him just because he'll be starting work properly soon.

I try and get him out as much as I can, hard when you only see your horse in daylight at the weekends! And I'll definitely look in to his diet.
 
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