Hunting bf

[lurcherlu]

I know nic at rockley hunts bf .... How does everyone else find hunt bf? Do you get weird looks and questions? Do they have good grip ? And do you still manage to do everything you did shod? We are enjoying our bf journey, she never needs boots, stone crunches , gravel bashes and trots all Day on Tarmac if I let her , she's only 3 and I'd like to do a few days this season with her. We have to hack but a few days are within 4 miles,one meets outside our house and there's a few where I can grab a lift either the entire way of half way . We are building up and happily do 15 miles hacking at walk and trot on Tarmac, has a nice tight white line, no thrush and a good diet of fast fibre and speedi beet . What other tips would you give to get her bf hunting fit

 

[Kallibear]

Yes, my cob hunted barefoot. Grips far better and no worries about loosing shoes in boggy muddy bits. They do need to be rock crunching as you'll be cantering over rought stoney ground at pointshuntedan't walk or pick their way like they might on a hack.

As for a 3yr old doing so much work already, hopefully it won't ruin her. 3yrs old is far to young to be doing that kind of hard work. Just because gypsys hammer their youngsters and horses are hunted so young in places like ireland, it doesn't make it good for the horse.

 

[Happy Hunter]

I got half way through your post and finally figured out you mean Barefoot!?
I thought from the title you had found yourself a nice romance whilst out hunting!

I know a few 'bf' hunters - they struggle with the growth rate of their feet compared with the amount of fitness work they have to do - Wouldnt it all be lovely if we didnt have to ride on the road!
You seem to be doing well. - I would say get out cubbing asap as the fitness levels are lower. You will need to be building up the speed and or hill work for November hunting.

(edited to say) Considering age of horse - I would probably stop at the cubbing - a few light enjoyable days, - leave the hunting till next year...

I do know, boots are an absolute no no.

 

[lurcherlu]

I got half way through your post and finally figured out you mean Barefoot!?
I thought from the title you had found yourself a nice romance whilst out hunting!

I know a few 'bf' hunters - they struggle with the growth rate of their feet compared with the amount of fitness work they have to do - Wouldnt it all be lovely if we didnt have to ride on the road!
You seem to be doing well. - I would say get out cubbing asap as the fitness levels are lower. You will need to be building up the speed and or hill work for November hunting.

(edited to say) Considering age of horse - I would probably stop at the cubbing - a few light enjoyable days, - leave the hunting till next year...

I do know, boots are an absolute no no.

Thanks I was thinking a few light days cubbing to get her to get a feel or it, shes well grown and enjoying her work. I'm gonna turn her away around Xmas just wanted her to have a bit of fun and education first

 

[Jas123]

I have hunted barefoot for many years!
No. I never get strange looks, more people admiring his feet!
My horse can do more than a shod horse, is never footy, never slips (you need your trimmer to work on concavity though!). He can go all day on varied terrain as can my 4 year old. I'm not sure why you'd stop at cubbing??
The main tip are a decent trimmer, lots of exercise and low sugar/starch diet.

 

[Jas123]

I'm not sure why any healthy horse would struggle with hoof growth? Mine can trot on roads endlessly.
Boots are a no no for hunting due to mud and safety aspects. I don't see why any healthy horse would need them for hunting anyhow.

 

[ester]

people are suggesting you stop at cubbing because the horse is only 3.

What do you mean with regards to trimmer working on concavity? trimming sole?

 

[Jas123]

Sorry, misread the bit that she was only 3!!
A trimmer will balance the feet properly so the horse is able to create its own concavity resulting in incredible grip. The feet on a healthy horse can grow faster than you could ever wear them. I sometimes think people see so many unhealthy long shod feet that they think they are the norm.
My 4 year old will hunt this season. She has done lots of long fun rides this summer and she's perfectly ready. So yes, when she was 3, we just did very light work so you are going down the right track to get her hunting fit for next year!!

 

[Clava]

Sorry, misread the bit that she was only 3!!
A trimmer will balance the feet properly so the horse is able to create its own concavity resulting in incredible grip. The feet on a healthy horse can grow faster than you could ever wear them. I sometimes think people see so many unhealthy long shod feet that they think they are the norm.
My 4 year old will hunt this season. She has done lots of long fun rides this summer and she's perfectly ready. So yes, when she was 3, we just did very light work so you are going down the right track to get her hunting fit for next year!!

Trimmers have nothing to do with concavity, that is developed by different surfaces and the correct diet (unless a trimmer "carves" concavity out which is a terrible thing to do).

 

[Clava]

I'm not sure why any healthy horse would struggle with hoof growth? Mine can trot on roads endlessly.
Boots are a no no for hunting due to mud and safety aspects. I don't see why any healthy horse would need them for hunting anyhow.

I have hunted in hoofboots and never had a problem with them- the reason for using them is the razor sharp flints which cover a lot of our stubble fields.

 

[ester]

I'm also not sure that trimming into balance develops concavity, more diet and surfaces IME.

 

[Clava]

I'm also not sure that trimming into balance develops concavity, more diet and surfaces IME.

Exactly.

 

[Jas123]

Agreed but an imbalanced foot cannot create concavity.
I also disagree with any 'carving'.
A trimmer will monitor the feet and help the owner with appropriate diet and exercise!
Mine have incredible concavity although my boy was 8 years old when I got him and always had been barefoot, he had no concavity due to poorly balanced trimming by a farrier.

 

[Jas123]

I have hunted in hoofboots and never had a problem with them- the reason for using them is the razor sharp flints which cover a lot of our stubble fields.

Interesting! I'd personally be terrified of hunting in boots! The mud, grit, wet and risk of getting caught in something would really scare me. I also have hunted over sharp flinty ground but I don't see the issue?

 

[Clava]

Agreed but an imbalanced foot cannot create concavity.
I also disagree with any 'carving'.
A trimmer will monitor the feet and help the owner with appropriate diet and exercise!
Mine have incredible concavity although my boy was 8 years old when I got him and always had been barefoot, he had no concavity due to poorly balanced trimming by a farrier.

I honestly doubt balance has much to do with concavity if the horse was out working his hooves, diet is much more likely the reason. I have seen the concavity come and go in my TB with the seasons, it is clear and startling.

 

[Clava]

Interesting! I'd personally be terrified of hunting in boots! The mud, grit, wet and risk of getting caught in something would really scare me. I also have hunted over sharp flinty ground but I don't see the issue?

I've had pieces sliced off my hoofboots, I'd rather not have pieces sliced off the hoof. Mud, grit and wet seem to make no difference to Gloves, never had an issue.

 

[Goldenstar]

One of mine hunted BF part of last season he was fine it was lovely to hunt a BF horse.
But when he started doing two days a week and very long days his growth could not keep up so I shod him till the end of the season and removed the shoes at the end.

 

[spacefaer]

Ask cptrayes on here -she draghunts barefoot and is very knowledgeable on the subject

Not something I have any experience of, so can't offer an opinion

 

[lurcherlu]

Thanks all, I just want to do a couple mornings autumn hunting to see if she's keen for next year, turn her away at Xmas time to give her chance to rest and process this summer and then compete her lightly over next summer, let her see some Xc jumps too and then get her hunting fit , autumn hunt her again and put in a few days over the season if all goes to plan. If not we will continue hacking until we are ready .... No rush we have th Ernest of her life

 

[Goldenstar]

She should do autumn hunting with no issues BF mine was really working hard when I had to shoe him .
Just keep the days really really short.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I have two barefoot horses, both have been barefoot for well over a year. One is a rock cruncher, I do so much roadwork with her and they still grow too long, do not chip over the rockiest surfaces. The other chips his feet after every hack and cracks travel up the hoof as a result. The both have pretty much the same management. They are both going hunting and one will be fully shod, the other will be barefoot