The barefoot TB 2 months on :)

Sparkles

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So shoes been off about 2 months now. Been doing everything with him, XC, fun rides, showing, show jumping,hacking etc. Pretty much just normal full work load as normal.

Anywho. Pics :)

Off hind
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Near Hind
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Hind pair.
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Near fore.
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Off fore.
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And just him :)

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Heard of what lol? Sorry, please humour me I'm having a blonde moment!


Thanks! When we had all the hard ground and dry weather for months over the summer,his feet were cracking and breaking like crazy, particularly round the clenches. So I bit the bullet and thought I'd just strip them and see how we got on. :)
 
This is great and just the boost I need, thanks!

I am about to embark on barefoot with my TBx - she's having shoes off this Thursday. I have prepared her with good diet and my farrier has done a good job setting her feet properly so now it's time to try without shoes.

I am hoping it goes well and she adapts ok because I really don't think shoes are for her....so fingers crossed!:)
 
Pleased you are getting on ok barefoot. Both my mares are barefoot took there shoes off this time last year. I havde had a baby in the mean time so knew i wouldnt be doing anything this year with them at all. They are occasionally a bit footy but they both seem to do it at the same time so i put it down to grass growth. Next year i plan on doing a lot more and they are going to be on restricted grazing.

Do you use hoof boots or anything? Any feed or suppliments for his feet? It makes everything so much easier doesnt it?
 
Heard of what lol? Sorry, please humour me I'm having a blonde moment!


Thanks! When we had all the hard ground and dry weather for months over the summer,his feet were cracking and breaking like crazy, particularly round the clenches. So I bit the bullet and thought I'd just strip them and see how we got on. :)

I saw something in a horse mag about "barefoot horses" and not needing shoes but i didnt buy it. Is this what youve done?
 
Ooooh right. Nope wasn't anything to do with the article lol...just an idea I decided on. I originally turned him away on holiday for a couple of weeks so pulled his shoes off as he was just out at grass. Then the change in his feet in just 2 weeks was so noticable, I thought I'd keep them off a bit longer and see how what happened :)
 
Do you use hoof boots or anything? Any feed or suppliments for his feet? It makes everything so much easier doesnt it?


Apologies, I missed this!

No, not used any boots or anything. Feedwise - just been out 24/7, competition mix/chaff/sugar beet and kevin bacon hoof cream :)
 
Looking good !! :)

My mare (also TB) is now on 7 weeks and I am amazed too. Thanks for your early support when I PM'd you and for sharing early pics as well. She is due a trim on 4 October but she has done really well. I will try and get some pics but for a thin soled, flat footed, weak walled set of hooves - they are looking really healthy now so I know how you feel :)
 
Aw fabulous mardymare!! :D Glad your's is coming on right too!

Heidi - stones getting into the shoe? :o Apologies...having a blonde moment again...
 
My boy's white line area picked up gravel when he first walked on it, but now the white line has really hardened up, and we have no problems at all. I do pick his feet out twice a day to be sure tho.
 
This post has given me hope after two weeks of worry. My boys feet have no growth and cracked a lot so no shoes on now. He is footy at the moment and not able to ride him. Farrier said its possibly due to the dry weather we had earlier in the year. Have been giving him biotin in an effort to help with growth and checked with vet that his diet is ok which they have assured me it is. Tried to ride with old macs at the weekend but was still footy. Anything extra you guys could suggest would be greatly appreciated.
 
have you got foam pads in the old macs? thats might help with his sore feet.

I have taken my cob's backs off and he is footy on stoney ground so I am trying some old macs on the back and it seems that pads are recommended to help horses transition, especially if they have thin soles like mine does.
 
Hm. This is making me wonder....

I tried Dizz barefoot, but after weeks (can't remember how many), she was still footy on stony ground. That was over a year ago since I tried.

Am contemplating trying again though. The two ponies are both shoeless and happy.

Anyone else have a young Dutch Warmblood sans shoes?
 
Go for it mrs m. I have read quite a lot about feeding, grass growth and didnt realise how much this can effect them. If she is out more than she was last time you tried her that would be in her favour.
 
I took templates of his feet and cut out some foam pads from a camping sleeping mat I had. Will try these inside the old macs later this week when I get chance to ride again. Do you think that he could be walking a bit different with the old macs on cos they feel a bit funny to him.
 
Thanks. Glad it's given hope to some! Just thought I'd post it for all to see now as I'm very happy with how his feet are coming along.

Heidi - he used to get a bit of gravel stuck in the white line initially, but I just made sure I was anal when picking his feet out. Now his white line and outers are hard as nails and really 'forming' solidly unlike before, and rarely do I find anything stuck in there :)
 
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