Going barefoot behind for the first time

[ALFF]

Hi everyone

Happy to update that after over a year of searching I've got myself a lovely ISH gelding. He's been with me for two weeks.

Now his feet. He's always been shod on all fours to my knowledge. I am considering to move him to a yard where he can live out 24/7 and they only take horses that are barefoot behind at least for the herds safety. So I've had the farrier come out to assess his suitability for this.

Farrier said hoof wall wasn't the strongest but not terrible either, a little better behind than at front. This farrier is not against barefoot and feel this is a good choice for many horses. On the balance we discussed it was worth a try going barefoot behind. She did alert me that he'll likely be a bit sore initially and to let that happen as he adjusts. She said it was OK to ride straight away so I rode him on the day the farrier came (Friday) and then lunged him yesterday Saturday. He does look a bit ouchie.

Now would you share your ideas for starting a horse barefoot and making him as comfy as possible. Farrier said do most things as normal, and maybe a water based foot dressing to keep hooves supple as they grow.

What red flags do I look out for re him not adjusting? Would you guys ride and lunge as normal? How would you deal with any foot sore etc? And what's the sort of time frame for his feet adjusting do you think?

Diet wise he's a good doer on plenty of hay, Mollichaff calmer + biotin + one cup supplement so hopefully on the right track.

 

[Red-1]

I have taken 5 horses barefoot, so not an expert but have some experience.

I would not ride straight on the road. Initially, they often look fine but after a few weeks the feet seem to wake up and can be sore. I usually give them 4-6 weeks off to relax the feet, then start road walking starting at 100yds and building up from there. If you need to do more/sooner, I would get some boots. Some are very soft and forgiving, especially with pads.

To ride on the school, if it is soft, I will sometimes just cut back some and keep working. That is only if they stay comfortable.

I don't trim much at all at first, just remove the shoes and take off sharp edges. I would get an old rasp and keep the edges down.

Most important is diet and cleanliness. Low sugar, good supplementation, and get rid of any thrush.

 

[Barton Bounty]

We went barefoot in August. Hoof wall is good and strong but he has no feet, they are very flat and low heels. I usually wear scoots on the back and he is still a little footsy over rougher ground.
He was shod on Wednesday and the farrier said he has hardly any toe. It had been bothering me as I felt he was walking differently anyway. Like not picking up properly, guarding himself. I am more than prepared to put shoes back on. I certainly dont want him uncomfortable. So this next shoeing in may will be the decider. I feel disappointed after a year of encouraging his feet to grow they are just not good for barefoot

 

[paddy555]

In the old days when there were no boots we just had to get on with it. Now there are good riding boots I would boot straightaway and just carry on riding and that includes the roads.
I see a lot of advantages in that. Exercise and weight control can continue. Little worry about sore feet. Little worry sore feet will move onto sore back etc.
I don't put anything on barefeet as a matter of course (ie regular dressing) I find they are far better with nothing except the hosepipe in hot dry weather.

Sore feet now may be due to thrush. With shoes often the frog is higher off the ground so protected. Without shoes it is nearer the ground (where it should be) and therefore the "unfit" and usually "thrushy" and the frog becomes sore.
I would binge the frogs even if they look O.K. Often people mistake frogs and think they are OK when in fact there is infection. A couple of weeks intensive frog care, a lot of cleaning them, getting right down into the central sulchus and the grooves.

I don't lunge so no help there.

If you post pics. (making sure the underside ie the grooves and frog is very clean) then people will have more idea.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Be wary of your farrier doing a full balancing trim straight out of shoes. Give the hoof time to adjust, and simply run a rasp round the sharp edges. Treat for thrush as a routine, frogs will be sensitive and prone to splits and cracks, so a little tlc will go a long way to prevent some of the nasties from getting a hold.

 

[ALFF]

Thank you all, tomorrow I'll take some pics of the hind hooves so you can better share your views.

@Highmileagecob I think the farrier shaped the hooves mildly as so to correct his movement slightly (he slightly drags one of his hinds, nothing unsound as he just passed a five stage, just conformation). Would you say this is not a good idea then?

 

[tallyho!]

We went barefoot in August. Hoof wall is good and strong but he has no feet, they are very flat and low heels. I usually wear scoots on the back and he is still a little footsy over rougher ground.
He was shod on Wednesday and the farrier said he has hardly any toe. It had been bothering me as I felt he was walking differently anyway. Like not picking up properly, guarding himself. I am more than prepared to put shoes back on. I certainly dont want him uncomfortable. So this next shoeing in may will be the decider. I feel disappointed after a year of encouraging his feet to grow they are just not good for barefoot

Just be aware that a farriers’ opinion of no toe is not the same as a barefoot trimmer/podiatrist.

Farriers are not barefoot specialists. Unless they have done the LANTRA course.

Different skill altogether - both are needed to do different jobs. The analogy I can think of here is like going to a Loakes store for your Nike trainers. Best I can do . Or jump in a dressage saddle… I’m trying.

If you’re gonna go barefoot, and be successful with it with as little pain as possible, call an EP.

I’m not trying to do farriers a disservice, neither am I trying to promote barefoot trimmers but the approved course was awarded for a good reason. It is excellent and regulated.

Try it, I did, so have my friends. Don’t try this alone unless you know what you are doing. None of us have lived to regret it in the 15 years since my transition.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I dont think a barefoot trimmer will come to a yard just to trim two feet though

 

[tallyho!]

I dont think a barefoot trimmer will come to a yard just to trim two feet though

Of course they will they are passionate about this and are there to help you and the horse not just trim some hoof off. I promise.

 

[splashgirl45]

Farriers have only studied for 4 years , many of them are very capable of trimming correctly for no shoes, we had horses being ridden like that many years ago before the invention of specialist trimmers, and never had problems…

 

[Barton Bounty]

Of course they will they are passionate about this and are there to help you and the horse not just trim some hoof off. I promise.

Ok I will get my friends EP and ask him thank you

 

[tallyho!]

Farriers have only studied for 4 years , many of them are very capable of trimming correctly for no shoes, we had horses being ridden like that many years ago before the invention of specialist trimmers, and never had problems…

I’m not here to pick any fights, but many trimmers are riders, and the LANTRA course is almost as long and longer of you add the CPD. It is a qualification just like farriery.

Barefoot was borne as a solution for the problems of bad farriery, so therefore there was a problem. Maybe not for you, others experiences will be different. It’s not a competition. It’s what’s best for the horse.

If your farrier has a list of performing barefoot horses at every level, the you hold on to them. If not, consider changing to one that does or to a qualified trimmer.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I kind of dont want to be paying a farrier and an EP and two different appointments as well, especially as I have really probably no intention of doing barefoot on the front as I really dont want to cripple my horse, its very stony here

 

[Gloi]

We went barefoot in August. Hoof wall is good and strong but he has no feet, they are very flat and low heels. I usually wear scoots on the back and he is still a little footsy over rougher ground.
He was shod on Wednesday and the farrier said he has hardly any toe. It had been bothering me as I felt he was walking differently anyway. Like not picking up properly, guarding himself. I am more than prepared to put shoes back on. I certainly dont want him uncomfortable. So this next shoeing in may will be the decider. I feel disappointed after a year of encouraging his feet to grow they are just not good for barefoot

Are you feeding pro hoof or a similar supplement? I like hoof armour if they are wearing too quickly or sensitive without it being diet related.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I took my horses shoes off in december - fronts and hinds. About two weeks in she was very sore on her hinds, found terrible thrush, it crept up on us very fast in the wet muddy weather and her frogs now being closer to the ground. Once thrush was treated her hinds have been pretty rock solid. I have a full set of boots for hacking as the tracks are extremely stoney near me.
Mine was out of work for a soft tissue injury all winter so i didnt ride so cant help you on that question.
I dont use any hoof oils or anything.
I’ve found progressive earth pro hoof platinum works really well for hoof quality. No cracks and hard soles.

I like the sound of new yard with 24hr turn out , i think its a good idea to have them unshod behind for being in a herd.

 

[tallyho!]

Sorry I was not suggesting both, I couldn’t afford that either.

The way I did it was a plain either or.

The other thing I did, (not for most people), was to research the hell out of it. Though I might be an exception as I already do PhD research for a living.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Are you feeding pro hoof or a similar supplement? I like hoof armour if they are wearing too quickly or sensitive without it being diet related.

Yeah he has great feet just not much of them lol. I think i might give hoof armour a go x

 

[Mrs G]

Congratulations on your new boy! Many horses manage fine barefoot behind even if they’d never cope barefoot all round. If your farrier is supportive you’re halfway there - add good feeding and good hoof hygiene and you’ve got it nailed (!)

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sorry I was not suggesting both, I couldn’t afford that either.

The way I did it was a plain either or.

The other thing I did, (not for most people), was to research the hell out of it. Though I might be an exception as I already do PhD research for a living.

No, i know , i wasnt meaning it the way you possibly read it, id rather one or other

 

[Gloi]

Yeah he has great feet just not much of them lol. I think i might give hoof armour a go x

I've used it for the past year and am very impressed

 

[ALFF]

You guys, I'm learning lots from your replies, thank you.

In terms of the possibility of thrush, is this not something the farrier would have spotted in her visit on Friday? I'm presently not catering for any infection as I assumed she would give me the heads up x

Thanks
Alff

 

[Gloi]

You guys, I'm learning lots from your replies, thank you.

In terms of the possibility of thrush, is this not something the farrier would have spotted in her visit on Friday? I'm presently not catering for any infection as I assumed she would give me the heads up x

Thanks
Alff

I wouldn't trust the farrier to spot or mention thrush in a narrow sulcus unless it was really obvious

 

[paddy555]

You guys, I'm learning lots from your replies, thank you.

In terms of the possibility of thrush, is this not something the farrier would have spotted in her visit on Friday? I'm presently not catering for any infection as I assumed she would give me the heads up x

Thanks
Alff

I think it's probably a reasonable assumption that a large number of horses coming out of shoes may well have the possibility of thrush. I would work on the basis you have and treat as a matter of course. Sole pics will show if you can get some.

 

[paddy555]

We went barefoot in August. Hoof wall is good and strong but he has no feet, they are very flat and low heels. I usually wear scoots on the back and he is still a little footsy over rougher ground.
He was shod on Wednesday and the farrier said he has hardly any toe. It had been bothering me as I felt he was walking differently anyway. Like not picking up properly, guarding himself. I am more than prepared to put shoes back on. I certainly dont want him uncomfortable. So this next shoeing in may will be the decider. I feel disappointed after a year of encouraging his feet to grow they are just not good for barefoot

scoots don't provide as much protection as some boots.They are not as thick so some horses can feel stones through them. If you compare the thickness and rigidity of say a renegade or glove sole with the scoot you will see a lot of difference. He may need a thicker soled boot to be comfy.

 

[Barton Bounty]

scoots don't provide as much protection as some boots.They are not as thick so some horses can feel stones through them. If you compare the thickness and rigidity of say a renegade or glove sole with the scoot you will see a lot of difference. He may need a thicker soled boot to be comfy.

Yeah , we have tried various and all others rub

 

[ALFF]

I think it's probably a reasonable assumption that a large number of horses coming out of shoes may well have the possibility of thrush. I would work on the basis you have and treat as a matter of course. Sole pics will show if you can get some.

Thank you - I was planning to spray them hooves with iodine 3% to keep any little initial tears in check anyway so this reassures me. The farrier also said I could (optional) use some water based hoof product to keep the hooves supple as they're a bit dry, eg. cornucrescine. Do you reckon this will ok on top of iodine on the sole? Or do I keep the cornucrescine to the wall and the iodine to the sole?? I have so many questions lol

 

[tallyho!]

Yeah , we have tried various and all others rub

Equine fusion haven’t rubbed any of ours. I think there is a shop that lets you try out or else Facebook groups that swap boots.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Farriers are not good at pointing out thrush, in my experience, but that could be because they are not allowed to diagnose? Or they expect you to know? Lots of good advice on here,
Take a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab site, Dr Robert Bowker, Jaime Jackson, Rockley Farm, Hoofgeek and a host of others to get a good grounding on the basics of barefoot.

 

[Red-1]

Yeah , we have tried various and all others rub

I have tried many and have found that Flex boots are amazing!

Farriers are not good at pointing out thrush, in my experience, but that could be because they are not allowed to diagnose? Or they expect you to know? Lots of good advice on here,
Take a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab site, Dr Robert Bowker, Jaime Jackson, Rockley Farm, Hoofgeek and a host of others to get a good grounding on the basics of barefoot.

I think that many farriers are conditioned to see weak, cracked frogs so have become habitualised to think it is normal. Same with dark bacteria marks around the nails and below. That is Ok as long as the hooves grow faster than the bacterial infection!

 

[Widgeon]

I have tried many and have found that Flex boots are amazing!

Following a thread a while back about boots, I was meaning to ask you about these....how hard wearing have you found them? And do you use them for fast work and mud? I've got a Scoots fit kit on the way (for recently barefoot hind feet, as the OP) but if they don't fit properly then Flex is another option suggested by Urban Horse. My main reservations are that people seem to say they are prone to coming off with fast work, and that they wear through quickly at the toe. Would love to know what you think!