Has anyone gone barefoot and it not worked out?

Me.

Dizzy has been barefoot since February this year.

She's not so bad on the backs, but the fronts :(. Very footy :( Even on tarmac with just a smattering of small gravel. She won't eat Brewers Yeast or anything like it.

Farrier is out on Tuesday. Will see what he says, but there is every chance she'll have front shoes on at least.
 
Sorry to hearthat.

My mare is not at all footy but the farrier has said she has worn her hooves down a little beyond the length they should be. That was the first visit after her shoes came off so I don't know whether they might improve or fronts should go back on straight away.
 
If she is not footy I would leave it - she'll tell you when it is not working for her !

I put fronts back on after nearly 5 years - I believe in barefoot but at the time it was not working for us - I couldn't ride her, she is much happier now and so am I althought I would like to keep my youngster barefoot forever
 
Did anyone consider using boots? It takes time for the hoof to respond to extra wear or working on different surfaces and boots can help to get over the interim period. At least then you can keep your horse bare the rest of the day/week/month when you are not riding
 
I went back to shoes on front as he was wearing his toes away (3/4 inch up the front) in the sand school and in the hard field.
Shoes put back on because my farrier said he needed too. His feet are VERY good and strong but just were wearing and squaring off where he was flicking toes. farrier said as we were now increasing work load it would get worse and cause problems.

Typical flicky toes WB
 
I started barefoot with 4 yr old, and thought it was the way to go. Obviously in the school - no problem. Any hacking though, and she was footsore even on the yard concrete. I did do some light hacking on tarmac at first and she was ok, but her stride was very short. I had her shod last week for the very first time, and the difference is amazing. Her attitude is much more relaxed, and her stride has lengthened. I know barefoot is the best way to be, but I think it depends what sort of work you're doing. Lu is much happier with her shoes on, for the moment anyway.
 
moodiestmare said:
Sorry to hearthat.

My mare is not at all footy but the farrier has said she has worn her hooves down a little beyond the length they should be. That was the first visit after her shoes came off so I don't know whether they might improve or fronts should go back on straight away.
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I'm no expert on performance barefoot horses but I've learned to be guided by the horses level of soundness not what humans think is right. If your horse is sound as a pound I wouldn't worry, she/he's the one that really knows how the hooves feel. If they get so short they're causing the horse a problem you will soon know about it.
 
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