Taking a horse barefoot with no support

PorkChop

PorkChop

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Would I be mad?

I have lost a bit of faith in my farrier tbh, and as yet have not convinced the farrier I would like to do my horses.

Horse in question is a bit off in one of her front feet. She has had blocks, x-rays and scans - nothing significant found, though the Vet did ask for her to be shod differently.

She has been shod as per Vet's advice a couple of weeks ago - no difference as yet. Not remedial shoeing as such, as in bars/wedges, or should I give it more time.

I am so tempted to have her shoes taken off now so that I can rehab over the winter, just feeling a bit "meh" about it all.

She has flat feet, low heels, but I think has a decent quality of feet - never pulls a shoe, no crumbling.

I know ultimately it is my decision, but is there anything else I should consider before taking the plunge?
 
I set a time limit on how long I would remedially shoe for, he did 2 cycles, hoof looked much better, horse still lame :p. I think only the outside looked better, none of the inner structures which are more important
Out of interest did they start blocking back of foot before whole foot?
Personally from what I ahve seen flat heels are best resolved by engaging the back of the foot and it starting to work and function properly.


Diet, movement, trim in that order and probably minimal of the latter anyway in the transition stages, particularly if you do some staged roadwork.
Whole big dose of patience ;)
 
Thanks for your reply :)

Yes, the back of the hoof was blocked first, no change - then all of hoof, a bit better. Other blocks on that leg, no change.

X-rays showed some very slight changes compared to the other foot.

She is on grass nuts and Vit E powder atm.

Is it necessary to have the farrier trim? Bareing in mind he will be dead against me taking her shoes off.
 
I dont think 2 weeks of a new shoeing regime is very long to see if the problem resolves. I would leave it 2-3 months and see if it makes a difference then.
 
Honestly, I would get a better farrier and do it with his support given your horse has issues; you need a fall back position you have faith in.

My mare is barefoot at the farrier's suggestion -he has a big barefoot client list but also has the ability to act immediately if she ever needed shoes again.
 
stormox said:
I dont think 2 weeks of a new shoeing regime is very long to see if the problem resolves. I would leave it 2-3 months and see if it makes a difference then.
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Absolutely, my issue is that my farrier has been shoeing her coming up for two years, so therefore should have in theory been able to make some improvements in that timescale.

The fact that he has not mentioned any concerns about her front feet until it has been suggested by the Vet leaves me feeling a bit despondent.
 
Interesting, what might be interesting for your own info would be to film her walking up and down towards, away from and across camera. This is what really highlighted F's issue as he is xrays were equally bad, lame foot possibly slightly less heel, but lame foot also landing really laterally first which if he had been doing for a long time was bound to have caused some soft tissue damage.

You may or may not need someone to trim her, it depends a little on how much roadwork you can do, which will be slightly limited possibly to start with depending on how much the hoof can do. Some need nothing at all, F wears laterally still so will get long toes medially and roll off even worse laterally if he doesn't have his toes kept in order ;). Some can need the rather wonky feet they grow - his hind with the arthritis in the hock is wonky, that is allowed to stay wonky ;). I would investigate if you can find a slightly tamer farrier ;), I wouldn't have someone dead against it who is likely to be pleased if it doesn't work.

It is possible that the shoeing might improve her too but I think it is unusual for even a break out of shoes to be detrimental.
 
pansymouse said:
Honestly, I would get a better farrier and do it with his support given your horse has issues; you need a fall back position you have faith in.

My mare is barefoot at the farrier's suggestion -he has a big barefoot client list but also has the ability to act immediately if she ever needed shoes again.
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I would change farriers if I could get the one I want tbh.

The farrier that the Vet uses has also had some issues with less than amazing shoeing. I would only want to change to a farrier that has great feedback, as my current farrier has all the credentials and experience, but this means nothing if not backed up by consitently sound shoeing.
 
ester said:
Interesting, what might be interesting for your own info would be to film her walking up and down towards, away from and across camera. This is what really highlighted F's issue as he is xrays were equally bad, lame foot possibly slightly less heel, but lame foot also landing really laterally first which if he had been doing for a long time was bound to have caused some soft tissue damage.

You may or may not need someone to trim her, it depends a little on how much roadwork you can do, which will be slightly limited possibly to start with depending on how much the hoof can do. Some need nothing at all, F wears laterally still so will get long toes medially and roll off even worse laterally if he doesn't have his toes kept in order ;). Some can need the rather wonky feet they grow - his hind with the arthritis in the hock is wonky, that is allowed to stay wonky ;). I would investigate if you can find a slightly tamer farrier ;), I wouldn't have someone dead against it who is likely to be pleased if it doesn't work.

It is possible that the shoeing might improve her too but I think it is unusual for even a break out of shoes to be detrimental.
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Thank you - I will do that.

I have plenty of tarmac, grass and a school with a good surface. I only have proper gravel though, nothing smoother.

I am hoping to wear my chosen farrier down!
 
My pony has a foot imbalance and shoeing added to the problem. My vet asked for him to be shod differently but getting the farrier to change proved too challenging so in the end I had his shoes taken off and he has been barefoot since January.

When his shoes came off I could see the different angles in his feet and it has taken a while to get them level again but they are now as good as they are going to be given the imbalance and I use a different farrier who is also a barefoot advocate.
 
I'm a bit gung ho so yes I would do the vids and pics on flat tarmac, get them off, do more vids and pics and bash on myself. I'm on my tenth (ish I can't keep track) of taking one BF into full work and while none of them have had soundness issues, none of them do now either and I do all their feet myself and they are covering between 70-100kms on rough tracks every week. Vet regularly comments on what great feet and perfect foot balance they have ;).
 
Lindylouanne said:
My pony has a foot imbalance and shoeing added to the problem. My vet asked for him to be shod differently but getting the farrier to change proved too challenging so in the end I had his shoes taken off and he has been barefoot since January.

When his shoes came off I could see the different angles in his feet and it has taken a while to get them level again but they are now as good as they are going to be given the imbalance and I use a different farrier who is also a barefoot advocate.
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FfionWinnie said:
I'm a bit gung ho so yes I would do the vids and pics on flat tarmac, get them off, do more vids and pics and bash on myself. I'm on my tenth (ish I can't keep track) of taking one BF into full work and while none of them have had soundness issues, none of them do now either and I do all their feet myself and they are covering between 70-100kms on rough tracks every week. Vet regularly comments on what great feet and perfect foot balance they have ;).
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Thank you both :)

I know its my responsibility and I should do what is best for each horse, its just a bit daunting when I don't know right from wrong with regards to hoof balance etc - wish they could talk :(
 
Thing is if you go down the self trimming route the horse does the work anyway. If you've got lots of nice smooth tarmac to ride on you're made. Just looking at the feet and analysing them will teach you. If I look at a shod foot I nearly always think eek. Looking at a barefoot is much easier I think.

Plus you won't be alone without support, you'll have us ;)

I keep saying it but horses have been walking on their own feet for hundreds of years. It's not as scary a concept as it seems if you think about it like that. (And yes there will always be some exceptions like horses with metabolic disorders but the majority can do it).
 
from your description of your feet I would think you are going to need someone to trim. That is going to have to be either your farrier, another farrier or a barefoot trimmer. I would get someone lined up to trim before you take the shoes off. Make sure they are experienced at trimming horses to actually work barefoot. Self trimming is great but many do need trimming. If this is your own farrier make sure he supports your decision to go barefoot. It is very easy for a farrier to trim a horse and tell owner to ring up if the horse is sore and shoes can go back on. The farrier knows full well that is going to happen and a few days later the owner will be on the phone!
 
FfionWinnie said:
Thing is if you go down the self trimming route the horse does the work anyway. If you've got lots of nice smooth tarmac to ride on you're made. Just looking at the feet and analysing them will teach you. If I look at a shod foot I nearly always think eek. Looking at a barefoot is much easier I think.

Plus you won't be alone without support, you'll have us ;)

I keep saying it but horses have been walking on their own feet for hundreds of years. It's not as scary a concept as it seems if you think about it like that. (And yes there will always be some exceptions like horses with metabolic disorders but the majority can do it).
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Thank you again :)
 
paddy555 said:
from your description of your feet I would think you are going to need someone to trim. That is going to have to be either your farrier, another farrier or a barefoot trimmer. I would get someone lined up to trim before you take the shoes off. Make sure they are experienced at trimming horses to actually work barefoot. Self trimming is great but many do need trimming. If this is your own farrier make sure he supports your decision to go barefoot. It is very easy for a farrier to trim a horse and tell owner to ring up if the horse is sore and shoes can go back on. The farrier knows full well that is going to happen and a few days later the owner will be on the phone!
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Thank you, I think you are absolutely right.

Farrier is out next week to do a different horse, I will broach the subkect gently and see what he says.

Though tbh, if I decided to turn her away for a bit I would get her shoes taken off, maybe this would be my best bet anyway.
 
There are a couple of really good barefoot groups on facebook, please look there for some advice/moral support. Barefoot approach to whole horse heath and Barefoot Horse owners group uk.

I would take shoes off, diet should be addressed to see if any changes could help and boots would mean that should you wish you could carry on riding. Perhaps contact a trimmer in your area and ask them to come out for an assessment?

All the best for you both!
 
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