cptrayes
Well-Known Member
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we stop arguing about the meaning of a bloody word and talk about something that matters and will benefit the horse if we discuss it properly!
genuine question re barefoot
- Thread starter whisp&willow
- Start date
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we stop arguing about the meaning of a bloody word and talk about something that matters and will benefit the horse if we discuss it properly!
saffytessa
Well-Known Member
When I bought my mare she had horrid feet. Imagine a star and join the points. They were typical draft type feet that had been neglected. I asked my farrier to trim her and reduce the flares and imbalances.
Fast forward 12 months and the feet only looked marginally better than they did when I bought her and by this time I was having issues with her being unsound due to the imbalances affecting her shoulders and withers.
I looked for and alternative and decided I had nothing to loose in trying a barefoot trimmer. I could watch like a hawk and if they did anything I didn't like I could stop them there and then.
Well I didn't need to stop her because for the first time in over a year my horse had properly balanced tidy feet. This was 3 years ago now and my horse no longer needs to see the physio every three months and has not been unsound due to the state of her feet since she was trimmed by my trimmer.
I started out with a farrier, who trimmed others on the yard who worked fine without shoes, but he didn't work for my horse so I tried a trimmer and I honestly wouldn't go back. If that makes me part of the barefoot taliban (I like the name
) so be it.
Fast forward 12 months and the feet only looked marginally better than they did when I bought her and by this time I was having issues with her being unsound due to the imbalances affecting her shoulders and withers.
I looked for and alternative and decided I had nothing to loose in trying a barefoot trimmer. I could watch like a hawk and if they did anything I didn't like I could stop them there and then.
Well I didn't need to stop her because for the first time in over a year my horse had properly balanced tidy feet. This was 3 years ago now and my horse no longer needs to see the physio every three months and has not been unsound due to the state of her feet since she was trimmed by my trimmer.
I started out with a farrier, who trimmed others on the yard who worked fine without shoes, but he didn't work for my horse so I tried a trimmer and I honestly wouldn't go back. If that makes me part of the barefoot taliban (I like the name
) so be it.Tinypony
Well-Known Member
I've recently started doing a bit of "trimming" on my own horses. Does this mean I'll get a big house?
For the life of me I can't see why some people get so het up when they see a thread about barefoot horses. It feels a bit like evangelical shod brigage to me.
Is simple, some people have found that they want their horses to live without shoes nailed on their hooves, and have decided that they are prepared to put in the time and appropriate care to allow that to happen. Others are conviced that either their horses could never cope without shoes nailed on their hooves, or that for whatever reason they don't want to take the shoes off. Fine, each to their own.
It has always been the case here that people are welcome to share their experiences of things that have benefitted their horses, particularly if they think it can help another poster. So it seems fair and reasonable that people whose horses don't wear shoes should be allowed to do the share their experiences along with everyone else.
For the life of me I can't see why some people get so het up when they see a thread about barefoot horses. It feels a bit like evangelical shod brigage to me.
Is simple, some people have found that they want their horses to live without shoes nailed on their hooves, and have decided that they are prepared to put in the time and appropriate care to allow that to happen. Others are conviced that either their horses could never cope without shoes nailed on their hooves, or that for whatever reason they don't want to take the shoes off. Fine, each to their own.
It has always been the case here that people are welcome to share their experiences of things that have benefitted their horses, particularly if they think it can help another poster. So it seems fair and reasonable that people whose horses don't wear shoes should be allowed to do the share their experiences along with everyone else.
saffytessa
Well-Known Member
Forgot to mention I also trim my own horses now and have for the past 18 months with the full support of my trimmer. I understand that most people will see this as being 'on the dark side' but I can't be doing too badly because my girls are both sound and happy and I know what is normal for them and what isn't at a glance.
Whether shod, unshod or barefoot every owner should take responsibility for their own horses feet not just book the farrier/trimmer every 6 or 8 weeks and not bother with them inbetween.
ETA I find lots of useful information and opinions on forums like this and it has made me go learn so much more and for that reason I like the fact that people with barefoot horses risk a cat fight every time they post about their horses feet
Whether shod, unshod or barefoot every owner should take responsibility for their own horses feet not just book the farrier/trimmer every 6 or 8 weeks and not bother with them inbetween.
ETA I find lots of useful information and opinions on forums like this and it has made me go learn so much more and for that reason I like the fact that people with barefoot horses risk a cat fight every time they post about their horses feet
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tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
So, just wondering, are the shod-mafia saying that the lack of glittering eventers competing barefoot equals barefoot is a cartoon?
All the research done by vets & farriers I should just burn?
I should have just shot my navicular syndrome horse because remedial farriery & interventional veterinary care failed?
All the research done by vets & farriers I should just burn?
I should have just shot my navicular syndrome horse because remedial farriery & interventional veterinary care failed?
Allover
Well-Known Member
Yes, its all rubbish and you Barefoot lot are a bunch of lousy liars who need to get to see some real professionals at work, after all they are the ones who understand their horses need more than the common folk!
Changes
Well-Known Member
This ^^^
soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
Haven't read this whole thread because it's massive and appears to have gone down the usual bunfight route..... so someone might already have said this....
I think many of the top endurance horses are barefoot now. I seem to remember that a team for one of the top competitions (WEG?) were all barefoot but were asked to shoe by the organisers - can't remember the details, just thought it was ridiculous!
I think many of the top endurance horses are barefoot now. I seem to remember that a team for one of the top competitions (WEG?) were all barefoot but were asked to shoe by the organisers - can't remember the details, just thought it was ridiculous!
whisp&willow
Well-Known Member
ive not caught up on the last few pages of posts yet... but from what i see on this last page it seems that this thread has gone way off topic!
this wasn't started as a barefoot vs shod grudge match! purely out of my own random thought that i had never noticed any unshod competition horses and wondered if there were any that i just hadn't noticed.... or if there are none and why people thought that would be AND if anyone thought that would change over time???
this wasn't started as a barefoot vs shod grudge match! purely out of my own random thought that i had never noticed any unshod competition horses and wondered if there were any that i just hadn't noticed.... or if there are none and why people thought that would be AND if anyone thought that would change over time???
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Are you saying I did not feed my horse properly, its feet fell apart and THEN I decided to go barefoot.
That made good sensible reading
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Why is everyone SURPRISED it turned into a bunfight??
Has no-one learnt yet after dozens of bunfights on bf/shod that this is the only it would go
and that in all honestly, everyone ENJOYS a good bunfight in an argument no-one will win.
Has no-one learnt yet after dozens of bunfights on bf/shod that this is the only it would go
and that in all honestly, everyone ENJOYS a good bunfight in an argument no-one will win.
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TigerTail
Well-Known Member
My last point for this thread is that one breed of horse does NOT have significantly worse feet than another.
TBs became fashinable over here mostly after they've raced from a v young age, been fed high sugar diets for energy, and kept in boxes 80/ of the time. No wonder they've got bad feet!
A horse grows it's own individual hooves from day1, dependent on the stimulus applied and the fuel it ingests. It's us who get them
Part way along that journey and deem they have bad feet because of what has happened before then.
Everyone please remember that a horse was born to roam several hundred miles a day, not stand in a urine/poo covered 8x12 for most of its life.
TBs became fashinable over here mostly after they've raced from a v young age, been fed high sugar diets for energy, and kept in boxes 80/ of the time. No wonder they've got bad feet!
A horse grows it's own individual hooves from day1, dependent on the stimulus applied and the fuel it ingests. It's us who get them
Part way along that journey and deem they have bad feet because of what has happened before then.
Everyone please remember that a horse was born to roam several hundred miles a day, not stand in a urine/poo covered 8x12 for most of its life.
Changes
Well-Known Member
Really? Not the manufactured breeds that people ride and compete.
Also, those feral horses that didn't have good feet would have died in the wild, so natural selection will have ensured that those with good feet survived.
The analogy of the wild horse is ridiculous. The current sports/riding horse is miles apart from that model.
Who are you saying has their horse stand in a urine/poo covered 8x12 for most of its life
How on earth is that relevant?
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz................................
Changes
Well-Known Member
Original post deleted - now where's that fly swat ..........
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rhino
Well-Known Member
And your evidence for this is what and where exactly? .....
I also think it's really interesting when everyone assumed I was referring to tbs when I made my initial comment. For your information, I wasn't
And yet more people who don't actually read what is written but twist the words to suit their own purpose. Like many topics, this splits opinion but in fact I have had some of the experienced 'barefoot brigade' agree that perhaps shoeing is the best thing for my horse at this time. I have also received some interesting advice and support from others... No 'hard sell' whatsoever
And finally, could everyone (but especially a couple) please stop patronising the posters/readers of HHO. Assuming we are all novice/inexperienced and incapable of carrying out our own research and making our own opinions just makes you look a little bit thick
PS If anyone does find any decent experimental results please let me know, I happen to have a background in diagnostics at postgraduate level and quite enjoy tearing other people's research apart