Thinking of taking the plunge and....

[FoxTrotx]

going barefoot. Maybe.
I'm going to start with looking at my girl's diet, any advice on anything I should change would be appreciated She currently has;
Alfa A oil (recently changed from happy hoof as I don't want to feed a cube/mix anymore and apparantly alfa a oil is good for condition without the starch/sugar)
Seaweed and rosehips,
Brewers yeast,
Soon to add micronised linseed,
Superflex.

Anything I should add or take away?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[jeeve]

All my horses are barefoot and cope well, the main thing is regular trimming to keep the foot a nice shape. I do not feed any additives at present, but when I did it was dolomite, copper, sulpur, glucosamine, seaweed meal, in accordance with Pat Coleby's Natural Horse Care.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Go for it. I'm just starting as well. I've not missed any work with one mare and the other one had an abcess pop but is flying now. I think that was coming before I took the shoe off. I was watching them gallop around the field today. They were all goofy this morning. It was nice to see everyone happy, moving well, and not worrying about lost shoes.

I'm walking on concrete that is smooth. No problems with that. The rocky terrain isn't great but they aren't hopping either. So for now on the surfaces they are happy with and continue building.

My diet is a handful of straw and dried grass chaff. Low startch. Very dry. A smidgeon of cooked oats, salt, flax, a vit and min supp. D&H performance vits and mins.

Am looking into BY in bulk. My vits and mins aren't probably the best but it's a bulk purchase as I have 5. It's very good in the amino acids and has biotin. I just try and keep it simple and basic. I can't spend hundreds on supps every month. Forgot I have mag too. I have to buy in bulk and make it economical for the 5. 60€ for a special hoof supp that lasts 4 weeks is 300€ per month plus other stuff. But i have good quality hoof and they've been on this ages.

I would check with the barefoot Taliban re alfalfa and seaweed. I used to use an alfalfa based chaff but stopped. I think they're better for it.

Best of luck!
Terri