Fed up and Thinking of Going Barefoot

Absolutely no reason yours shouldn't be able to manage that workload barefoot if diet and hoofcare is right. Mine hacks, does TREC, a bit of unaff dressage, bit of sj, silly gymkhana games and has even (very briefly) tried his hoof at polocrosse, goes XC schooling (no reason HE couldn't go around hunter trials and try his hoof at ODE's, I'm just a wuss who is very out of practice at this whole jumping lark!) and hunts when there are meets we fancy within reasonable travel distance. His feet at not a matching set but they seem to keep him sound most of the time and are at their best when he is in most work.

Just out of interest stencilface who is it that you got out to help with straightness work as I'm in same area as you and would love to expand my knowledge in this area and get the pony working a bit more correctly (and me riding more correctly too!)
 
stencilface said:
SEL having had the flare on my horses hoof through quite a lot of physio and vet visits, I would say get some in hand lessons with someone who can help your horse walk straight. Video them in slow motion from every angle, then work the bits they don't want to. My horse is lame on trot of I just get on and kick, atm I have you make sure he's using himself properly before we do anything
I start off in hand then get on.

Now we have an arena (yay!) I'm enjoying how lovely and smoothly polished his toes get from the sand lol
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That is definitely something I'm thinking of - who did you use? Its my PSSM mare so I know she's got some issues, but its seems a real struggle to get her to loosen up behind. Its one of the reasons the local farriers stay well away - when they try and yank her leg and and forward it obviously hurts so she kicks. I now have a lovely trimmer who happily rasps her feet at the same height I'd pick them out and gives her plenty of breaks.
 
Thanks again everyone, gonna take the plunge hopefully this weekend and take their shoes off. Looking forward to the challenges and learning lots too :)
 
Boulty said:
Just out of interest stencilface who is it that you got out to help with straightness work as I'm in same area as you and would love to expand my knowledge in this area and get the pony working a bit more correctly (and me riding more correctly too!)
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Hi, I have lessons with Nancy Walker who's now based in Sheffield but is around leeds regularly. I find her very easy to get on with and approachable, I can be laughed at without feeling like an idiot! We do a mix of in hand work and ridden work now I have a saddle that fits. She's mentioned that learning to piaffe would really help him work his back, we're waaaay off that stage, but a girl can dream! She's classically trained and won't let faults slide which I like, I have rubbish wrists.....

http://www.nancywalkerequestrian.co.uk/

Link for you too SEL of that's what you meant? :)
 
Cheers, just looking at have seen that she'll let people come to her as well which is good for me as we have no arena right now (soon, maybe, possibly...) Will give her a call / drop her an email as sounds like the sort of kick up the bum I need!
 
Well it looks like it should only take me about 45 mins in the box to where the website seems to say she's based so my diesel will prob be less than combined travel and arena hire expenses
 
HeresHoping said:
I took the plunge on 19 March. She wasn't sound when we started but trudging in-hand for miles over tarmac got her going. There were times I wanted to give up, but one day in June she wasn't lame any more. We're still trudging every morning, but out doing everything else in the evenings, including jumping on grass and not slipping. You are already addressing the diet issue, so for my tuppence worth:

In my opinion, miles of roadwork will initiate the self trimming and help the foot adapt more rapidly to being barefoot. Other surfaces will help stimulate the frog. If you need boots at first, don't worry. Movement is key. I just read that an absolute minimum of 12 miles per day of general is needed, with horses walking an average of 5 -7 grazing for 12 hours in a 1.5 - 2 acre paddock so we need to make up the difference.

You need patience in spades. It takes between 6 - 12 months to grow a new hoof capsule. For some, they might be footy for a lot of this time. Don't give up - when that first event line (the one that occurred when you took the shoes off) hits the floor you'll notice an incredible difference. Even if you had noticed one considerably earlier, this is the point you know you've landed.

And find a good trimmer/pro-barefoot farrier. I'm of the opinion that horses will grow the feet they need. If you're doing enough work, they will self trim and self-balance, even if it's the wonkiest looking foot in history for a while.

Everyone one here is both sensible and encouraging. And not in the least evangelical. If you need a vet, we'll say so. If you find it's not working for you, we won't hold it against you.
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I have to say, that is just such a positive story and such good advice. I am still at the trudging stage, but you make me feel very hopeful!!
 
I've upped my trudging as of the weekend. I hate the roads we have to go on but I need to do it, I need to get him out there walking and besides when I'm back in the saddle hacking is what we do and for some reason I feel safer doing the same bit of road in the saddle than I do on foot! Never the less walking out is the way forward so walking out is what we are doing :)
 
Yes gone are the days of evangelicals..

It seems.

To be frank, I can't actually imagine a situation where a horse actually needs shoes (no, not even eventing - I tried that one)... the roads are smooth... there are boots for stony hacking and the arenas are soft grass or even softer 'stuff'. Then, you put them in a field for 20 hours a day (or if you must 20 hrs in a stable) give or take.

You just need some imagination and some results from many years of research by some very good farriers.

Maybe just reduce the sugar! (that may or may not go for you too ;))
 
Oh no, sadly they are still very much there, just diluted by a few more normals and in their own little shoes are evil under all circumstances space ;)

I have a few situations where I would put shoes of some sort in.
SJ on grass and wanting to be competitive in jump offs I'd want studs
And older, metabolically challenged horse that will be very sore without and not be living long enough to make putting it through a transition worth it.
A metabolically challenged horse that cannot be kept comfortable enough
broken pedal bones.
Despite the huge array of boots options are still very restricted for certain types (particularly larges)
 
So an update. Shoes came off last weekend, to shocked gasps from the farrier/barefoot trimmer I used. Shoes that were on were a size too small on both and they had done a fair bit of damage to their heels and frogs as a result. the poor pigeon toe'd fella was walking very unevenly, like an inch difference between one side of his heel and the other. How he didn't feel lame I have no idea.

My gelding is feeling much free-er in his paces and springy-er if that is a word. Popped him over a small cross pole yesterday and he was delighted with himself and no issues. Took him for a very short walk on the road then after and he was a little footy on the gravel (not a whole lot of it) but still moved onwards and didn't seem too bothered.

The mare, wow you'd swear she was barefoot all her life! Took to it like a duck to water. She's bombing round, and her paces are like sitting on a cloud, she's much more forward in her transitions and she feels less on her forehand, and my word does she float.. and float...

Walked her on a short gravel path and no footyness and not even a flinch.

So a big thank you to everyone here that helped me with making the decision to do it.
 
Fab update, sounds great well done :).

I've found with the two I took shoes off they both move better and feel just how you describe :).
 
I couldn't get over the difference in the feel of them both. The mare has amazing paces anyway, but now she is like a little cloud, floating along. So comfortable. The gelding who is well able to jump felt like he was more springy too. He's a big fella too so its great to feel him so light.
 
stencilface said:
Oh, they've got to have amazing paces first then? Looks like I'm stuffed :D
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My mare does, she is a german warmblood cross, I can sit her trot for hours, and hours (I have been known to do it during lessons!)


The gelding is an ISH with a real bouncy trot, I struggle to sit to it sometimes, and he can feel very "heavy" in himself sometimes.

I deffo feel they are both moving 100 times better and I am finding it easier to sit the geldings trot, particularly coming out of canter.
 
ElectricChampagne said:
I couldn't get over the difference in the feel of them both. The mare has amazing paces anyway, but now she is like a little cloud, floating along. So comfortable. The gelding who is well able to jump felt like he was more springy too. He's a big fella too so its great to feel him so light.
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Please don't be too disappointed if they aren't as happy in a week or three. It's very common. If they do go footie, they will come through it and feel great again. Hopefully they will be some of the ones who sail through without noticing.

I agree completely with Ester's list above of horses i would shoe. I would add people who are convinced they need studs, and people who don't have the facilities and/or time to do what their particular horse needs to be barefoot, and where boots are not an option.
 
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So another update. They are still shoeless and loving it.

I had the gelding out doing low level derby fences over a bit of a stony sandy rubber all weather track and was worried he would be footy - but not at all. He took to it like a duck to water. Literally. The water jump was the best fun ever!

He's still footy over pebbly ground but much better than he was when his shoes came off originally.

His flares are starting to really grow out too.

The mare is still going brilliantly. Her feet have spread and both their frogs look much more healthy and they are both really happy.

So I will keep monitoring them and see how they get on. I'm a little shocked at how well both took to it, especially after all the very welcome advice from here!

So again, thanks all for the words of advice and friendly help, its made it an easier transition for us all!
 
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