Starting the barefoot journey.

[AFlapjack]

After a lot of thought I am very determined to take Jack's shoes off and go 'barefoot'.

I have had a look at previous posts, websites, blogs etc. but still have a few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them

1. He is currently fed Fast Fibre, a couple of carrots and hay. He is out during the day, in at night. At Easter he will live out 24/7 throughout the summer. He is a good doer so does not need much fed at all but should I be supplementing with anything else?

2. He had is hind shoes off a couple of winters ago and 'struggled' so I will be buying him hoof boots. Do I need 4 boots or do I just go for front feet boots? Which boots are best? Are they ok to jump in, do XC etc?

3. He is due to be shod 28th of March. Do I ask the farrier to take shoes off then? Or do I get a trimmer out instead to take shoes off?

Think that is all at the moment. I may think of some more questions later

 

[AFlapjack]

bump bump

 

[Oberon]

After a lot of thought I am very determined to take Jack's shoes off and go 'barefoot'.

I have had a look at previous posts, websites, blogs etc. but still have a few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them

1. He is currently fed Fast Fibre, a couple of carrots and hay. He is out during the day, in at night. At Easter he will live out 24/7 throughout the summer. He is a good doer so does not need much fed at all but should I be supplementing with anything else?

2. He had is hind shoes off a couple of winters ago and 'struggled' so I will be buying him hoof boots. Do I need 4 boots or do I just go for front feet boots? Which boots are best? Are they ok to jump in, do XC etc?

3. He is due to be shod 28th of March. Do I ask the farrier to take shoes off then? Or do I get a trimmer out instead to take shoes off?

Think that is all at the moment. I may think of some more questions later

1) If he is happy and sound, then no, he doesn't need anything else.
If he remains sensitive to certain terrain after a period of time, then you will have to look at the mineral profile of his forage or just use a generic supplement (Pro Hoof or Equimins META Balance are good quality).

2) If he 'struggled' then I would look at diet. Perhaps he is mineral imbalanced or the grass is too high in sugar for him (balanced minerals may assist him with this). I would pick up boots and use them straight away, until you've got him comfy enough not to need them any more. He may only need fronts, but he may need all four.
At the point of you doing XC - you should have him comfy enough (through diet and good hoof growth) to go bare.

3) Trimmers can remove shoes safely as part of their training. Use either trimmer of farrier - whomever does the best job for him.

Ask as many questions as you want. If you do the prep work now - then it will all go much smoother (hopefully)

 

[amandap]

Personally I'd get a trimmer out for an assessment visit and then remove shoes. A trimmer will (should) explain what you can do in your circumstances to help your horse.
Finding the right trimmer can be the biggest hurdle...
Best of luck.

 

[cptrayes]

I think that since he is a good doer and has already struggled once with the backs that you need to be aware now that he may not manage unless you can stable him during the day when the grass sugars are highest or strip graze him to keep his intake as low as possible. I would definitely supplement magnesium oxide to help him regulate his sugar intake and yeast to keep his gut nice and happy.