To shoe or not to shoe?

[MickeyFinn22]

I am simply wondering whether or not my 16 y/o ID X actually need shoes, and whether I dare try barefoot. The farrier is next coming 16th December. Finn has front shoes on only, and doesn't seem to wear them down too spectacularly. In the summer, his unshod hind feet do crack and go a bit dry, though this massively improved with slathering kevin bacon's hoof dressing on. I also alread feed with hoof health in mind.

He does mostly arena work, simply because he lives on a main road and I am terrified of the thought of hacking on the roads. When we go to shows its usually on grass, and he is turned out on a grass paddock in the summer, and the same field (though turned into a mudbath) in the winter.

I just got into reading about the benefits of barefoot and I am just curious as to whether he would be happier and healthier without?

 

[cauda equina]

Certainly he sounds a good candidate for going BF and this is a good time of year to do it while the ground is soft
What's to lose? He can always have his fronts back on if needed but chances are he'll be fine

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Give it a try it's the best time of year to do it as the ground is soft, both of mine are barefoot one just was fine from the off the other one needed boots and proper rehab.

 

[ycbm]

Most cracks at the bottom of bare feet are caused by the foot being too long. Second most common cause is a mineral imbalance and many barefooted supplement cooler and zinc to counter high iron in UK grazing.

If you try it, you can always shoe again if he can't manage.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

When your farrier removes the shoes ask him to leave the sole and frog and just rasp the edges as a tidy up to start with, if you do a big trim from the off he will feel the ground more.

I get mine trimmed every 5 to 6 weeks and my farrier never really touches the sole or frog much and I often rasp myself in between, in summer when it's dry and stony I use hoof armour on the one I hack it just helps him cope.

 

[MickeyFinn22]

Most cracks at the bottom of bare feet are caused by the foot being too long. Second most common cause is a mineral imbalance and many barefooted supplement cooler and zinc to counter high iron in UK grazing.

If you try it, you can always shoe again if he can't manage.
.

Ooh ok! They maybe are a little too long, abd the moisturising helped. Do you have a supplement you would particularly reccomend?

 

[MickeyFinn22]

When your farrier removes the shoes ask him to leave the sole and frog and just rasp the edges as a tidy up to start with, if you do a big trim from the off he will feel the ground more.

I get mine trimmed every 5 to 6 weeks and my farrier never really touches the sole or frog much and I often rasp myself in between, in summer when it's dry and stony I use hoof armour on the one I hack it just helps him cope.

Aye ok noted thank you!

I think I would keep him on the 6 week cycle he is already on (of course would change this to 5 if needed) and see how he gets on but I think im sold! Ive looked at scoot boots as well for if I suddenly did get brave and started hacking futher afield.

 

[MickeyFinn22]

Certainly he sounds a good candidate for going BF and this is a good time of year to do it while the ground is soft
What's to lose? He can always have his fronts back on if needed but chances are he'll be fine

This is it, I did sort of think that whilst the ground is so soft maybe I should just give it a whirl. He is a hardy and sturdy boy!

I think because ive known no different I just needed the reassurance that I wasnt doing anything ridiculous

 

[Widgeon]

my farrier never really touches the sole or frog much and I often rasp myself in between

Same here. What is the thinking behind hoiking loads of sole and hoof off? FB is constantly showing me farriery videos (it's because I watch that cow hoof chap....they're addictive) and so many of the seem to start by (to my eyes) chopping off the frog and then cutting off a load of sole. Why do some farriers do this? They're not third world "rough and ready" jobs either, these are UK / US / European farriers.

(This is not a dig at farriers, it's a genuine question, because mine doesn't do it and I don't really understand the need)

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

There is an excellent FB group for anyone considering transitioning to Barefoot, it is "Barefoot Horse Owners Group UK".

Ours are all barefoot. It feels daunting at first when you're thinking of transitioning. The key is to get prepped: you need to think about management well beforehand. So you need to think about turnout, and "surfaces" (you'll hear this a lot in the BF community!!). As well as "supplements" (mine has just Lite and Lean, you don't need to overthink this one!!). Also you could start to think about stuff like "boots" - the advice I was given is NOT to buy a nice brand-new pair of hoofboots when you first transition, but to get a second-hand set - the reason being is that during the first few months particularly your horse's feet will change shape quite radically! The Hoof Boutique is a good place to reach out to for information and support, you can also get "shells" to try for fit.

The other thing I will say, and am hating having to say it, but NOT every farrier out there will welcome one of their clients announcing they are "going barefoot". You will see if this is true of your farrier when you raise it with them. Also, sadly not every farrier will give you a proper "barefoot" trim; often what actually happens is that they'll do a normal "pre-shoe prep" trim, or what they feel is a "field trim", but NOT a correct barefoot trim with a "mustang roll" on the outside. This is where problems develop; the hoof then starts to split and look awful, and the client then decides they'll revert back to having shoes on. Whereas a good hoof care professional will do the right job and the transition to barefoot will be a good one.

You may wish to consider an EP (Equine Podiatrist) as opposed to a farrier.

We do have a lovely farrier! We know we are lucky. The only reason we don't use an EP is simply because he is sooh darned good! Whichever professional you use, they need to be supportive of your barefoot journey as well as providing a trim of the necessary quality. That is the main thing.

Good luck!

 

[HopOnTrot]

You can overthink it! I took mine off when I found out I was pregnant, have always said I will shoe if needed and it’s been nearly 10 years.

I do boot in summer but only as she has EMS so balancing grass caused sensitivity with the need to get her burning calories is a juggle!

Not losing shoes in mud or snow is a huge bonus!

 

[Birker2020]

Most cracks at the bottom of bare feet are caused by the foot being too long. Second most common cause is a mineral imbalance and many barefooted supplement cooler and zinc to counter high iron in UK grazing.

If you try it, you can always shoe again if he can't manage.
.

Really? Do you think Lari's are? First photo shows crack. Sorry to hijack post OP but just interested as I've never come across a crack like this b4. Farrier is loathe to trim much on the N/F due to the previous foot scraping and lack of foot. Wasn't sure if had anything to do with the abscess he has on it/ still has.

Photos taken since he's changed farrier.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

You could always just do fronts, or maybe hoof boots.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Currently going through the same dilemma.. and like you, probably over thinking it!

She is shod in front, but looses shoes for a past time. My main 'worry' is if she does go footy, I've tried every boot Hoof Bootique recommended and they slip/twist/come off so if her fronts come off, she'll have to be totally barefoot with no boot options.

In your situation, if you rarely hack, I'd be shocked if he wasn't fine..