Here we go again... barefoot take two

[Emilieu]

A wee bit of background: after lameness problems three years ago i tried taking my TB barefoot but had to put shoes on again in the end as he just wasn't up to working without them and ended up with a sore back, shoulders etc. He worked fine for a few years and two years ago I stopped shoeing him behind. That went fine and back feet now look excellent. In sept he went lame, blocked to foot. Farrier said we had two choices heartbars (which equal box rest to keep them on) or shoes off for the winter. I choose shoes off. There are previous threads on most of this. Anyway: to now. After a winter off work with no shoes he is now working comfortably across gravel and HE HAS A HEEL! The vet commented yesterday how amazing he looks- evenly muscled and toned - and couldn't believe that he hadn't worked for months. Farrier came yesterday too. We had intended to put shoes back on the front in spring but after seeing the progress he has made the farrier asked to me try barefoot again. I really want it to work this time so any advice gratefully received.
Currently as I say he is off work, but he never has a heavy workload anyway - maybe three or four slow hacks on concrete a week. Ideally what sort of workload would be off most benefit to his feet? I intend to boot him with pads in front. Am I best starting with in hand walks and building up to short hacks?
He is fed speedibeet, high fibre nuts, formula for feet and ad lib haylege. He cannot tolerate linseed and is very very feed sensitive so I would like to avoid changes as far as possible. Is anything he is being fed likely to be a problem?
I don't use much in the way of treatments on his feet - I used hoof hardener during transition but he hasn't needed this for months, and spray on hoof disinfectant maybe once a week. I also have Kevin Bacon which I was intending to use over the next month as I prepare him for coming back into work.
Wish us luck! We have a few more things on our side this time round so I am really hopeful we can do it.

 

[wild at hoof]

This happens a lot

The key is making sure you grow healthy food by keeping the diet right, exposing him to the surfaces you want him to be sound on and then making sure he is being trimmed to both correct any pathologies or to maintain a healthy hoof.

There is no reason why he can't be barefoot, if he struggles to start with on the harder terrains hoof boots may be helpful, but he really does need to condition his feet. You couldn't expect to work him on sand and then he be fine on gravel.

Also in the spring/summer make sure you watch his grass intake as inflammation shows up earlier in horses that can feel their soles