hoof strength

[xox stace xox]

is it possibl;e to increase the hoofs strength naturally

so if my horse currently dosnt cope on stones ca you get the foot strong enough to walk out on roads etc with out having the worry of them chipping and filling down, how do you know how much they can take with out getting wrecked

[MelanieD]

Chipping a bit and getting worn down is just normal without shoes, its only reason to worry if its making the horse uncomfortable or the feet too short. It is possible to improve hoof strength, the best way is with plenty of work but without overdoing it so much that you cause problems. A good diet so they have everything they need to be able to grow good quality hoof is important but won't do it alone. Good trim is pretty important as well. Generally if the horse is sound then you aren't overdoing it, but it is good if you can get someone to show you on your horse what to watch out for in terms of too much wear.

My cr*ppy footed horse started off wearing her feet down too much walking around in a field, and with the WLD she had putting shoes back on wasn't an option. She's now got strong feet and can do up to 4 hour road hacks without wearing her feet down too much. She can now trot and canter down stoney tracks she'd struggle walking down 2 years ago. All I did in between was plenty of work, using boots where needed, and waited for her to grow new and improved feet.

[xox stace xox]

ok so should i put her on a feed cos she isnt on any at the moment

[Yann]

Getting the right diet is very important, lots of barefooters feed balancers like Topspec which contain all the important nutrients for a healthy gut and good horn growth. It's also common to feed additional salt and magnesium as both help stave off laminitic type symptoms and promote a strong laminar bond.

Lush grazing can cause real problems for some horses and spring grass can make even a seasoned barefoot horse with no history of laminitis unusually footy if it's predisposed. If your horse is prone to these types of issues then no amount of conditioning or correct trimming is going to overcome it. There's anecdotal evidence that the diet and type of grazing many horses have in this country is the reason many struggle without shoes, rather than the wet climate.

A good trim and gentle conditioning by doing as much as the horse is comfortable with (booted if needs be) and always pushing the boundary a little now and again will result in stronger tougher feet, thicker soles and walls and healthy working frogs. I've seen the process of improvement with both my horses but it can take quite some time depending on where you're starting from. One now comfortably walks across rocks the majority of the time, 12 months ago it would have been too much for her.

Chipping usually results on a foot needing a trim, and bear in mind what a lot of people would consider to be a short foot (especially if they're used to seeing shoes on them) is actually a foot at a healthy length.

[traced]

I posted re this earlier this year. We bought our New forest mare from somewhere flat to somewhere stony & hilly. She was quite foot sore at first, but I was very reluctant put shoes on as she has such good feet. After a bit of research I started her on Topspec Antilam which had been recommended on several websites as a great supplement for barefoot horses. Her feet are great now, no soreness, are much stronger - plus her coat looks fab! Apart from that, I don't mess with her feet too much, occasional dressing/moisturiser, depending on weather. Since the dry weather her front feet are chipping a little, but she's due for a trim so I'm not too concerned.

[Yann]

I think I remember your post - that's good to hear :)