Barefoot -how long to get used to it

[tabithakat64]

Fudge has had his hind shoes off for two months now, had them properlty trimmed, isn't foot sore but prefers to avoid stoney ground, I always make sure no little flints are stuck in his feet, that he hasn't bruised his soles etc and his feet are regulary trimmed.
Is avoiding certain types of ground normal for the unshod horse?
The farrier says his feet are easily strong enough to go without shoes completely, he hacks four days per week, seems happy enough when we're on the roads, do you think I should have his shoes put back on?

[Bay Mare]

Unfortunately it's like asking how long is a piece of string. All horses are different and it depends how much structure has been lost, if there's infection, what the trim is like etc.

There is no reason that a large majority of horses can't go barefoot but it does require a commitment from the owner and a good trim. You do have to keep on top of thrush and any infection. You do have to do conditioning work. You do have to become involved in their feet a lot more than when they're shod. You may have to do some hand walking in pads and you may have to consider buying hoof boots. You do have to make sure that the trim is working and make sure that you know the basics of a good barefoot trim (especially when using a farrier I'm sorry to say)!

Saffy is quite happy on all surfaces. We haven't done much road work because the nearest road is a 40 mph (though everyone does 60+) dual carriageway. She's been happy enough on the roads that we have been on though. She also happily stomps up the very stony lane to the yard ... not with me on top, I haven't tried that yet.

If you want to go the whole hog then I would advise that you research barefoot before you take the plunge. The backs are generally easier than the fronts anyway so it's not necessarily an indicator for how well they'll go completely barefoot.

Look at the main trimming schools - KC La Pierre (the UK offshoot is EPAUK), AANHCP, Peter Laidely. There are a lot of similarities to these trims but some differences too. I wouldn't be unhappy to have my horse trimmed by any of these three 'schools'. Strasser I would personally avoid with a very long bargepole but don't want to get into that argument, nothing will change my mind about Strasser.

There are some farriers who do an excellent trim BUT just because they're good at shoes doesn't mean that they're good (or interested in) trimming.

From a personal perspective I've found a qualified barefoot trimmer to be better for us than a farrier.

All the best with your decision


x

[KarinUS]

Is avoiding certain types of ground normal for the unshod horse?


I think it could be. Like if your horse was in soft, squishy pasture all day for the whole week and then you came once a week and rode her on rocks for an hour that would be something she wouldn't be used to even if you did it once a week for an hour for two months, kwim?
On the other hand if you had all kinds of terrain in your pasture and she was exposed to it all teh time her chances would be much better to be bothered less by it.

When choosing a trimmer I would like to say it's also important to take the skill of the individual trimmer into account. No matter what trim style you go with, it's only going to be as good as the person applying it and it's only natural for an individual to interpret the same style their own way.
For example we started out with an SHP simply because it was the only properly trained hoofcare professional available to us. She did a wonderful job for us. No horror stories here. ;)

[Ptaty70]

CW was like your horse when his back shoes came off in September, so I took the plunge with the fronts 2 months ago... oh! He is very very ouchy and finding it hard to walk on hard ground (not been ridden for 2 weeks, just the concrete in the stable yard). Am going to buy some boots. This is making me rather uncomfortable, but i am going to get the advise of my farrier on Monday (and he's a reputable barefooter, teaches at a local college on the barefoot horse).

I am SOOO looking forward to the day he goes 'stones?? what are they...?'

[KarinUS]

Am going to buy some boots. This is making me rather uncomfortable,

Why is it making you uncomfortable? We bought boots when we transitioned our horses. I think they are great. It allowed us (and our horses, too. They enjoy a change of scenery...) to continue our trail riding and at the same time keep them comfortable.
It was expensive to outfit them innitially and in the beginning it also took some practice to get them on quickly. But overall they did the job really well: Good traction, better protection than shoes, comfortable even in mud and sand (thanks to the optional Gaiters), removable, etc.

I think there's nothing wrong with using boots. I wouldn't think twice about it.

[Ptaty70]

Hi
no, don't feel uncomfortable about the boots, in fact feel VERY comfortable about the boots... just feel bad that after 2 months he is still bad enough to require boots.. or should I say, he has 'become' bad enough to require boots.

Farrier is coming on Monday to trim and then I shall get a better idea as to the 'median' size of his feet. Was going to get some this week so I could ride at the weekend, but am now going to wait till his feet are trimmed and then take the medium value of what they were and what they will be.

can't wait to take him out when his isn't chosing which path he goes and invariably dragging me through bushes to avoid stones..

If the farrier says his foot confirmation has changed for the worse, his front shoes are going on again. This is killing me! he is normally so forward going and i have had very little going wrong with him in the last 8 years and now he is foot sore... asking myself if it's worth it.. will update on Monday

[Ptaty70]

oh and I am certainly pleased that all went well for you wearing the boots. I am hoping that the same will happen with me.. i am just in that awful stage where I thought he didn't need them as he is a native x, but now he does. Am looking forward to the benefits!!!!!

[Bay Mare]

2 months is no time after years in shoes. When you think about how fast the hoof grows you're not going to see dramatic changes overnight especially if there has been loss of structure.

Even now, almost 2 years down the line, I'm still seeing changes in Saffy's feet.

Each to his own though :) As long as the horse is comfortable it's down to the individual to make their own decisions for their horses.

[Bebe]

no, don't feel uncomfortable about the boots, in fact feel VERY comfortable about the boots... just feel bad that after 2 months he is still bad enough to require boots.. or should I say, he has 'become' bad enough to require boots.

Try 2.5yrs without shoes and in boots.

Most of us with shoeless horses in the UK will be in the position of going to and from boots as and when the horse dictates that they're necessary. Winter conditions aren't ideal for hooves and most people find the hooves soften to some degree regardless of how much effort you put in to try and prevent it. Some horses start to feel their feet because of this and boots are a very good way of getting around the problem. Changes in diet and routine can also affect the hooves for better or worse and unless you're really knowledgeable about diet and have the facility to manipulate and monitor your horses diet to the last degree there's always going to be things you can't factor in and may result in the need for boots. It's not a failure on the owner or trimmers part, just one of those things.

My mares hooves are still changing 2.5yrs into taking the shoes off. I'm confident that once they've finished doing this she won't need boots but in the meantime I have them on hand. We have had long periods where she didn't need them at all and she'd comfortably go for up to 90 mins a day over varied terrain, but then something changes and she's not as comfy and we need boots. I don't beat myself up about it.

[MelanieD]

2 months and wearing boots is no problem. Fatty has been barefoot over 2 years and hardly used boots for over a year, if something happened that made her need boots even now I wouldn't be worried about using them. Boots are very useful things, not a sign there's something wrong :)

If the farrier says his foot confirmation has changed for the worse, his front shoes are going on again.

There's really no good reason for foot conformation to get worse just because there aren't any shoes there, as long as the trim is right and there aren't any other problems further up affecting the way the feet wear.

[Casey76]

However... just to show the other side of the coin to others who may be reading this thread and thinking about going barefoot...

Pinto had his shoes off on 18 Dec 2006, and didn't blink. He hasn't missed a step, and happily marches over all kinds of terrain, is jumping 80cm courses with a rider, and up to 1m10 free in a sand school. He goes out on long hacks on all terrains at all speeds.

Pinto is trimmed by my farrier (as we have no barefoot trimming specialists in my area), who is really pleased with the way his feet are starting to look now. On his last trim, which was just yesterday, he basically tidied the bars and frogs and addressed the heel balance, and that was it, as Pinto is self trimming very well.

I do have boots for him, which I plan to use in the summer, when Pinto goes on all day rides. But apart from that we have made very little change to his hoof care, other than treat his frogs for thrush as and when needed.