sunshine19
Well-Known Member
My three have never had shoes on. Two owned from birth and one bought as a 10yo. All have great feet and have never shown the need for shoes.
Shod or barefoot?
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abitodd
Well-Known Member
I ride my KWPN on roads and stoney tracks 6 days a week in summer,2 or 3 in winter(Yes I am a wuss!) He has never had shoes,so 4 years of work unshod. I also have a 18 month old AppyxKnab,she will never have shoes.
I am also very lucky in having a farrier who specialises in barefoot horses.
I am also very lucky in having a farrier who specialises in barefoot horses.
milesjess
Well-Known Member
Unshod prob all winter. He's currently out of work. When he's comes back into work I'll see how he goes... Might return to 2 fronts but he has good feet so I'll see how he copes without any.
Met my first critic the other day too who questioned why he was unshod... Hmm because he's MY horse!
Met my first critic the other day too who questioned why he was unshod... Hmm because he's MY horse!
xRobyn
Well-Known Member
Phil is unshod, has been since the day he was born - if he needed shoes I wouldn't hesitate to have them put on him though.
Trot_On_Dressage
Well-Known Member
Shod and all year round
fidleyspromise
Well-Known Member
I didn't vote as I have one with full set of shoes and also one barefoot.
Oberon
Well-Known Member
Two horses happily barefoot. One was shod for 13 years previously and the other has always been barefoot.
If either of them needed shoes, I wouldn't hesitate to find what was wrong with my management of them and correct it.
If either of them needed shoes, I wouldn't hesitate to find what was wrong with my management of them and correct it.
stacy181
New User
SHOD all year round! i don't belive in all this barefoot is best rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
LauraWheeler
Well-Known Member
SHOD all year round! i don't belive in all this barefoot is best rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
Thats abit harsh
I also don't believe in this barefoot is best. I believe in what is best for the indervidule horse or pony.Herbie is unshod. (I'm lothed to use the term barefoot anymore due to the extreame reaction it gets) I hack him out, school him, compeat him and hunt him and he copes just fine
He's a forest bred forester and we live in the new forest so it's all natural to him. We wouldn't be able to get shoes on him anyway. He was shod infront when I bought him. The shoes were put in very badly and when my farrier went to shoe him we found out why. I was hanging off one side of him, one farrier was hanging off the other side and the other farrier was hanging off his foot He was dangourous and we had to give up. (My farriers bred persharons (SP ) and delt with foals bigger than Herbs but even they said it wasn't worth the fight ) I now have a girl farrier who Herbie loves but as he is coping fine barefoot so we have desided not to rock the boat and put shoes on. Merryn is shod in front. He has been unshod all his life but just before he was given to me he got Laminitas. He was lame the first 4 months I had him due to getting 3 foot abcesses in a row
After he got the third we desided the only way to stop them was to put shoes on him and he has been sound ever since. 
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
I too loathe the discrimination in here about the term "barefoot". There is no need, each to their own. As long individual horses are happy whatever goes on beneath the feet, why the downright snobbish behaviour by some members? Doesn't anyone else find it embarrassing?
If someone believes they have a barefoot horse, who is anyone to say that is wrong? It's up to that individual.
If you think it is correct to call a Masai warrior shoeless then great, fine. But he calls himself barefoot. You can't go and tell him he is wrong can you?
If someone believes they have a barefoot horse, who is anyone to say that is wrong? It's up to that individual.
If you think it is correct to call a Masai warrior shoeless then great, fine. But he calls himself barefoot. You can't go and tell him he is wrong can you?
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
hard for me to vote
my donkey is barefoot
as is my pony
my gelding is also ( might eventually have fronts )
my mare is normally shod all round but now in heart bar shoes in front( only )
in fact only 3 liveries are shod all round , they are either shod in front only or barefoot here is our ratio
3 shod all round
6 are barefoot
1 shod in front only ( normal )
1 front only heart ( bar shoes)
my donkey is barefoot
as is my pony
my gelding is also ( might eventually have fronts )
my mare is normally shod all round but now in heart bar shoes in front( only )
in fact only 3 liveries are shod all round , they are either shod in front only or barefoot here is our ratio
3 shod all round
6 are barefoot
1 shod in front only ( normal )
1 front only heart ( bar shoes)
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
SHOD all year round! i don't belive in all this barefoot is best rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
must be a child with spelling like that
absolute and utter TOSH!
my mare was NEVER shod till 6 as her feet hard and healthy ( till her lami )
my gelding 10 years as all but 6 weeks never been shod he wears old macs hacking . NEVER had shoes on behind
Horses were born without shoes! They cross rugged terrain in America and other countries perfectly happy . Its only us humans who put circular metal shoes on.
My pony goes out ride and lead once a week BAREFOOT she has brilliant feet . Shoes can help some horses , but shoes can hinder horses feet too period!!!!
If your horses feet are hard- in good condition - get reg farrier / barefoot trimmer carting for them what the hell is the problem???
One more thing the term Barefoot are we not barefoot when we take our boots / shoes off
I don't mind the word bare as in naked foot as ion hoof I see no probs its better than the french word * pieds nus *
or spanish word *con los pies desnudos
i like the czech word for barefoot * Bosý * lol
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MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Didn't vote because I have both unshod and shod with just fronts on. All in full work. I shoe according to need and then prefer to use fronts only if they can manage with that.
I only use a fully trained farrier, wouldn't let a barefoot trimmer near any of them.
A trim costs £20. Not quite sure why barefoot trimmers around here, charge £65 with a fraction of the training and less overheads ?
Even my physio with years of training charges less than that for her time and expertise.
I only use a fully trained farrier, wouldn't let a barefoot trimmer near any of them.
A trim costs £20. Not quite sure why barefoot trimmers around here, charge £65 with a fraction of the training and less overheads ?
Even my physio with years of training charges less than that for her time and expertise.
Oberon
Well-Known Member
£65? Going rate is £35!
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
depends on the barefoot trimmer they dont just trim they give a full spectrum of your horses feet inc photos.
If your horse has a hoof problem ( caused by a farrier) then i want a specialist foot trimmer on the case.
something i found
With the proper barefoot trim horses can actually live longer, healthier lives. A great many problems that appear to be from aging (stiffness, arthritis, grumpiness, etc.) are actually caused by poor hoof health - be it due to shoeing, poor trimming, or neglect. Conditions such as Navicular are not only curable by going barefoot, but will most likely not even occur if the barefoot lifestyle is started early.
Not only the horse's health is affected - the following is a partial list of the benefits of barefoot:
There is less chance of missing out on a ride or competition due to shoe loss. There are no shoes to lose!
Injuries from kicks (to horses and people) are much less severe when horses are not wearing shoes. Think of shoes as brass knuckles.
Horses have better traction (especially on concrete and asphalt) without shoes on.
What goes on inside the hoof during motion is important to the circulation of blood in the horse. It has been proven that shoes reduce that circulation. A natural barefoot horse has warm legs (the same temperature as the rest of the body). A shod horse will have cold legs. A clear sign of impaired circulation.
If your horse has a hoof problem ( caused by a farrier) then i want a specialist foot trimmer on the case.
something i found
With the proper barefoot trim horses can actually live longer, healthier lives. A great many problems that appear to be from aging (stiffness, arthritis, grumpiness, etc.) are actually caused by poor hoof health - be it due to shoeing, poor trimming, or neglect. Conditions such as Navicular are not only curable by going barefoot, but will most likely not even occur if the barefoot lifestyle is started early.
Not only the horse's health is affected - the following is a partial list of the benefits of barefoot:
There is less chance of missing out on a ride or competition due to shoe loss. There are no shoes to lose!
Injuries from kicks (to horses and people) are much less severe when horses are not wearing shoes. Think of shoes as brass knuckles.
Horses have better traction (especially on concrete and asphalt) without shoes on.
What goes on inside the hoof during motion is important to the circulation of blood in the horse. It has been proven that shoes reduce that circulation. A natural barefoot horse has warm legs (the same temperature as the rest of the body). A shod horse will have cold legs. A clear sign of impaired circulation.
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Yes, I thought it was expensive but the two people I know who use (different) trimmers, both pay £65 and that was the price a couple of years ago.
EstherYoung
Well-Known Member
Difficult to vote. Each individual horse of ours gets what it needs on its feet at any particular time depending on its workload. Currently none have anything on their feet, but then it's winter and they're all field ornaments barring the odd bareback poddle. During the summer Spud had Easyboot Glue-ons as they suit him better than metal shoes, and H had Easyboot Gloves for the odd occasion when we did want to go a bit further (he's semi retired).
There are so many different varieties of shoe (both metal and plastic) and pad available nowadays, and boots have come on so much that they are now a valid alternative to shoes for many horses, that it's no longer a question of 'barefoot or shod'. The question is far more complicated than that.
There are so many different varieties of shoe (both metal and plastic) and pad available nowadays, and boots have come on so much that they are now a valid alternative to shoes for many horses, that it's no longer a question of 'barefoot or shod'. The question is far more complicated than that.
amandap
Well-Known Member
http://www.performancebarefoot.co.uk/barefoothorsesinperformance.htmlSHOD all year round! i don't belive in all this barefoot is best rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
Mine are all barefoot but three are minis.
[youtube]KD7G_LKlt0w[/youtube]
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MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
SHOD all year round! i don't belive in all this barefoot is best rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry but if u have a horse/pony that is ridden once, twice or everyday needs 2 have some protection in there hoofs no matter what u do with them!
Ignorant rubbish. I cant believe you think a horse NEEDS shoes if ridden. Where do you get this pure rubbish from? Some horses may need shoes if they have bad, crumbly feet but in most cases I believe a horse should NOT be shod unless absolutely necessary. Nailing on metal to the hoof is so outdated IMO, the concussion they cause cannot be good for the horses leg and I believe can contribute to navicular (would love to see any stats on this?). I didnt shoe my last horse until he was 6 yrs old, as the first 2 yrs of his ridden life he simply didnt need them. Only when he began slipping when jumping on grass as I went up the levels did I feel he needed the grip. Otherwise, his hooves were in super condition. My current competition horse is shod through the eventing season then unshod from end October until about March because he competes on a surface. At home he is ridden on grass. His hooves look fantastic throughout the winter and having them off even reduces his windgalls.
AimeeandRuby
Member
my little mare is barefoot and is a stone cruncher.
She had a real big improvement in the way she worked after the first couple of months. She now loves hacking out on the road, going on fun rides and jumping in the menage and in the field. She doesnt slip anywhere when being ridden and she jumps to a halt on the fun rides.
If i get another horse i will definately go barefoot!!
She had a real big improvement in the way she worked after the first couple of months. She now loves hacking out on the road, going on fun rides and jumping in the menage and in the field. She doesnt slip anywhere when being ridden and she jumps to a halt on the fun rides.
If i get another horse i will definately go barefoot!!
sakura
Well-Known Member
my mare is shod in front, her back feet are great but the front just need that extra support
the gelding I used to have was shod on all 4, it's very individual
the gelding I used to have was shod on all 4, it's very individual
bumblelion
Well-Known Member
TB-shod on all four, all year
ID-unshod, all year
ID-unshod, all year
Janah
Well-Known Member
I have recently taken my boys shoes off, he is 20 so I am taking things very slowly. He gets walked out in hand on the roads. I am hoping over time I can hack out 5 days a week with him, we shall see.
Jane
Jane
debsg
Well-Known Member
My girls are both barefoot. Jasmine (5yrs TBx) has never had shoes, has feet like granite and is 100% sound on all surfaces. Blaze (12yrs, Irish cob) has been barefoot for 3 years in April, and had shoes for 3 years previous to that. She has deviations in both hinds (wears the inside edges down faster) due to a congenital malformation of her hind legs, which gives her no problems (she just wiggles her bum like Marilyn Monroe!) and she has been 100% sound on all surfaces. Both horses hack regularly (Blaze for 7+hrs) and Blaze competes in SJ and XC up to 1m, in fact at a wet show this summer she was one of a few horses that didn't slip and the ONLY one barefoot, and she is very forward going!
I have a barefoot trimmer, both live out 24/7/365 unless the weather is truly dreadful (we have no shelter)
I am not rabidly pro-barefoot. All I can say is it works for us xx.
I have a barefoot trimmer, both live out 24/7/365 unless the weather is truly dreadful (we have no shelter)
I am not rabidly pro-barefoot. All I can say is it works for us xx.
Faro
...
1. Has no shoes - advanced level endurance horse
2. Has no shoes - open level endurance horse
3. Has no shoes - dressage and happy hack
4. Has no shoes - retired 30 yo broodmare
5. Has no shoes - currently barren broodmare
(But I only voted the once!)
2. Has no shoes - open level endurance horse
3. Has no shoes - dressage and happy hack
4. Has no shoes - retired 30 yo broodmare
5. Has no shoes - currently barren broodmare
(But I only voted the once!)
cptrayes
Well-Known Member
I am not unshod when I get out of bed in the morning. I am barefoot.
My hunter is not unshod when he goes hunting. He is barefoot.
Simple really, can't see why people make such a fuss
My hunter is not unshod when he goes hunting. He is barefoot.
Simple really, can't see why people make such a fuss
Cluck
Well-Known Member
Unshod = shoes taken off, bottom of foot levelled off by a farrier
Barefoot = no shoes, minimal and non-invasive trim which maintains the natural shape of a horse's foot, retaining callus, frog and quarter scoop (as it develops).
Is this the kind of distinction everyone is referring to?
Barefoot = no shoes, minimal and non-invasive trim which maintains the natural shape of a horse's foot, retaining callus, frog and quarter scoop (as it develops).
Is this the kind of distinction everyone is referring to?
JFTDWS
+++ Out of Cheese Error +++
Both mine are unshod (hate the word barefoot!) because neither have ever shown any need for shoes but they'd have them if they were required
Damn it, that's what I was going to say!
I regularly have conversations with my vet (who i swear has the shortest memory imaginable, since he once asked me this the same q three times during one set of x-rays
) which go like this:Vet: "Do you believe shoeing is evil?"
Me: "WTF, no, I believe shoeing is unnecessarily expensive when my horses have hooves like nails and don't need studs"
Vet: "Ahh so would you ever shoe them?"
Me: "The other horse (outside waiting for jabs) is fully shod"
Vet: "I just wondered how this one chipped his radius from a kick if they're not shod"
Me: "Seriously, go look at the lumps of metal on the hairy beasts feet?
" Vet: "So you're not one of these barefooty natural obsessive types then?"
Me: "Seriously, have you listened to a word I've said this evening?"
He's a great vet, but sometimes I want to smack his head of my horse's shod hooves
Clava
Well-Known Member
Mine are all barefoot (except when booted occasionally ), a Tb ,a haflinger and a shetland x pony.
I'm very curious that the vote appears to show more barefoot horses I would have expected it to show more shod as I'm sure there are more shod horses in work than barefoot / unshod ones. Are the shod population just not bothering or interested enough to vote? Or have things really started to change?
), a Tb ,a haflinger and a shetland x pony.I'm very curious that the vote appears to show more barefoot horses I would have expected it to show more shod as I'm sure there are more shod horses in work than barefoot / unshod ones. Are the shod population just not bothering or interested enough to vote? Or have things really started to change?
Cluck
Well-Known Member
Mine are all barefoot (except when booted occasionally
I'm very curious that the vote appears to show more barefoot horses I would have expected it to show more shod as I'm sure there are more shod horses in work than barefoot / unshod ones. Are the shod population just not bothering or interested enough to vote? Or have things really started to change?
Interesting question. Here in the US the 'barefoot/natural movement' is becoming more and more popular. So much so that local farriers are getting anxious and defensive .... very weird to see it happening.