Talk to me about barefoot

[christine456]

Potentially looking at a horse that's currently barefoot. Were surrounded by roadwork for hacks and there's unavoidable gravel tracks on the yard. How realistic is it she could be kept this way? Current steed slips on the roads in their shoes, so interested to hear experiences..

 

[paddi22]

all mine are barefoot and the forestry tracks around me are razor sharp. I hack them all in boots with absolutely no issues. The brand I use are scoot boots and they are fantastic. i can gallop through muddy tracks and event and they stay on with no issue. I just boot up whenever I needed to. with the right feeding and management a lot of horses can cope with roads and gravel.

 

[ycbm]

I've not shod a horse now for nearly 20 years and I've evented, drag hunted and ridden some rough paths in that time. I'm currently doing a racing TB who typically has thin soles, but even so it's clear 6 weeks in that he will manage without shoes and may even manage without boots. He has boots on the front, when ridden only, currently. He has 500m of stony track to walk up and down to his paddock, a kilometer a day, which he does led without boots.

Some horse need a pretty drastic reduction in fresh green grass, some need some careful balancing of minerals, some sail through regardless.

If the horse is happy currently you've nothing to lose by trying to carry on. You can always shoe later if you feel its necessary.

 

[Gloi]

If he's coping well now you shouldn't have a problem. If you find he is not comfortable on stony tracks you can get him boots for when you ride on them. Barefoot and booted tend to slip less on tarmac than shod horses.

 

[vmac66]

My previously shod mare wears scoot boots all round for hacking. The path from stable to field is gravel and quite stony, she's absolutely fine on this barefoot.

 

[christine456]

Thanks all, I'll have a little look into boots for hacking if viewing goes well though the feather may be tricky. As you say no harm in trying if shes coping well currently. Are the trims to be more regular? Was thinking every 6 weeks. Any suppliments fed or is it all just marketing?

 

[Gloi]

Thanks all, I'll have a little look into boots for hacking if viewing goes well though the feather may be tricky. As you say no harm in trying if shes coping well currently. Are the trims to be more regular? Was thinking every 6 weeks. Any suppliments fed or is it all just marketing?

Trims will depend on the work being done. May be more or less frequently depending on that. Just don't let them get too long so wall starts breaking back or they get out of shape. You can tidy them yourself between professional trims.
A good supplement such as progressive equine pro hoof will help if the hoof quality isn't 100% though some cope well without anything.

 

[Hackback]

Not that I'm planning on eventing but I am hoping to keep my youngster barefoot and may take him hunting - how do you event barefoot? Do you boot or go naked? Can you get boots with studs, or do you not need studs?

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't jump in boots and they aren't allowed on the xc in affiliated competition. You just have to accept that you may need to take wider lines and lose on time.

 

[SEL]

Mixed IMO.

Tarmac fine so long as they have decent concavity. Baby cob is back shod in front after a winter out of shoes because he kept bruising. We'll see how he does after the summer. He fits scoots but they were rubbing and he just wasn't striding out in them.

Microcob was fine on tarmac but we have a lot of mixed use tracks here and the ones by the rail lines are covered in ballast which is sharp. She's got odd shaped feet and I'm yet to find a set of boots that work for her.

I think you have to see how you go and be prepared to adapt.

 

[Landcruiser]

I've kept mine barefoot and booted when needed for 15 yrs. You have to actually educate yourself and take responsibility, rather than handing that responsibility to a farrier, so it's a commitment. I always recommend Hoof Geek website, because there is a massive amount of info there in a very accessible form. Try this:

Barefoot Approach Explained Silo

The Barefoot Approach ExplainedTaking a horse barefoot isn't just about removing the shoes. Often, having a shoeless horse can require a completely different mindset. The focus is on getting the hooves as strong and healthy as they can be so shoes are unnecessary. The unshod hoof has very...

hoofgeek.com

 

[christine456]

Been to view, she looks great on a whole to handle and ride. Has been out of work for a year and they have been bringing her back into work as previous owner supposedly lost interest. Watching the video back she made a small hop in trot on back leg towards the end of the video. Hesitant to progress to vetting watching it back but from one misstep am I being dramatic?

 

[ycbm]

How long has she been back in work? I would want it to have been at least 3 months.

Also why was she barefoot in the first place? Because that's what the owner does, or to recover from a problem?
.

 

[christine456]

How long has she been back in work? I would want it to have been at least 3 months.

Also why was she barefoot in the first place? Because that's what the owner does, or to recover from a problem?
.

Exactly my concern, are the shoes off due to a previous problem. I am naturally very skeptical though I trust the seller (friend of a friend) she cant vouch for much of her history bought locally through word of mouth to bring back into work and find new home and I get the inkling this horse has been passed around. It won't have been 3 months. Half tempted to ask more questions but equally tempted to walk away to be honest

 

[Bobthecob15]

If you get the horse I'd ask your farrier, they will be able to see what condition thr hooves are in and suggest whether you should pop fronts on or leave them off.

One word of advice from someone who has got this wrong...don't set yourself up for a situation where the horse could be lame in the early days of having him! We pulled shoes off a pony we got a while ago as we thought he'd be ok barefoot given ground conditions etc...but of course he went lame immediately so couldn't be ridden, weeks after getting him. Worst possible time for my daughter to not be able to ride when she was just getting used to him. Needles to say shoes went back on! If there is a good chance he will not manage then just stick shoes on him! At least until you've got to know each other x

 

[ycbm]

I think I'd wait 3 months and see if she is still for sale, assuming she stays in increasing work for the whole time and stays sound with it.,
.

 

[tallyho!]

If you get the horse I'd ask your farrier, they will be able to see what condition thr hooves are in and suggest whether you should pop fronts on or leave them off.

One word of advice from someone who has got this wrong...don't set yourself up for a situation where the horse could be lame in the early days of having him! We pulled shoes off a pony we got a while ago as we thought he'd be ok barefoot given ground conditions etc...but of course he went lame immediately so couldn't be ridden, weeks after getting him. Worst possible time for my daughter to not be able to ride when she was just getting used to him. Needles to say shoes went back on! If there is a good chance he will not manage then just stick shoes on him! At least until you've got to know each other x

Unless your farrier has a list of successful barefoot horses that he is managing (they do exist!), there's no point asking a farrier that has no experience. Farriers would like to tell you they are the authority on hooves, but times have changed (thank the Lord!).

Farriers are not trained in the same way as an Equine Podiatrist or a Barefoot Trimmer. Ethos, method are all different.

If your farrier only has shod horses, find a barefoot specialist. Don't set yourself up for failure.

 

[Red-1]

Been to view, she looks great on a whole to handle and ride. Has been out of work for a year and they have been bringing her back into work as previous owner supposedly lost interest. Watching the video back she made a small hop in trot on back leg towards the end of the video. Hesitant to progress to vetting watching it back but from one misstep am I being dramatic?

Out of work for a year doesn't necessarily mean she is 'barefoot' as in proved capable of working barefoot. It means she has not currently got shoes on, which, to me, is a subtle difference.

I would look into her background before I would buy. If the old owner is genuine, they will be willing to talk and explain the circumstances.

Odds on the horse did a suspensory or had navicular or something. I don't know the people at all, but that is what statistics would say, I think, for a horse who has been off a year and then is for sale.

I would like the horse's vet record, plus the history from the previous owner - unless the price reflects the huge risk.

As far a management going forward, that part wouldn't worry me as if it didn't work, you could put shoes on.