Barefoot or not? Please help me decide

[atillathefun]

Hello
I have been toying with the idea of going barefoot for about a year now. I have a natural balance farrier so his feet are a very nice shape and currently touchwood he doesn't have any foot issues. (He does get some breakaging at the bottom which my farrier fills but it is caused by the old nail holes so I dont think it would be a problem if they were off)

He was shod 2 weeks ago & somehow he has lost both of his front shoes - the nails have been sheared off on the two fronts some how :confused:. They haven't broken they look really nice. So without meaning to he is now barefoot on the front :p. I have called my farrier and he cant come out for about a week but I am thinking perhaps this is the time to try him barefoot :confused:
He is sound walking on mud and on concrete at the moment.

Only issue is I am schooling him quite a lot and would like to continue this (on sand surface) - he does hack but I am happy not to until they harden up or to take him out in hand. I want to show from May so am not sure really whether I should have them put back on until the end of this year??

I have Keratex hoof hardener which I am applying and he is fed Topspec so shouldn't need any supplements is there anything else I can do or should I have them put back on?? :confused::) His soles are quite low so that is something I am worried about - sort of feel like if its not broke dont fix it but know there are benefits to being barefoot.

What do you think I should do?

Any advice welcome & appreciated Thankyou

ETA - SORRY its so long and thanks for reading

[No_Angel]

hi, if you want to try him barefoot and find that he is still a little foot sore or unsure on hard/stoney surfaces, boots might be an idea.

I have had to go back to boots with my welsh cob as her feet are just not right on the stoney surfaces we are riding on quite a lot now.

[atillathefun]

Thanks No Angel :D
Do boots make the horse comfortable when riden even in early stages of Barefoot??

I am tempted to try him and think if it comes to showing and he is not comfortable I can always have them put them back on (hope not to though)

Is there anything else I should be doing to the feet??

I pick them out and clean them when he comes in at night and then paint the sole and hoof with Keratex hoof hardener

[No_Angel]

I believe boots can be used for ridden work and turnout for short-ish periods of time.
What sort of showing will you be doing? you might get away with boots, but for soft surfaces you shouldn't need them if he is sound.

[MelanieD]

Hoof hardener is helpful early on but not something you want to rely on long term so wouldn't keep using it for more than the first month or so, longer term it can actually make the feet more brittle.

Milton is good if there's any infection around the old nail holes, but really as long as the growth above is good it'll probably grow out even if you do nothing.

The first month or two is the most difficult with excess wear so don't give up too quickly if you do have a small problem. If he's comfortable and not wearing feet away then its good but boots can be a help if you're getting too much wear or want to ride on stoney stuff and the feet can't cope totally bare.

Showing is usually on a nice enough surface that any horse that's comfortable on concrete and other more difficult surfaces should be good to go without any footwear so that should hopefully be no problem.