Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Over Fences on September 8, 2009 at 4:44pm

Thank you for such an intelligent post, It is always important ot consider the horses natural state, and I periodically pull my shoes to ensure that everything is functioning and circulating the way it should.

I have to share my most recent experience however. My mare Cassidy had her shoes pulled when it was time for her foal to arrive, I brought her in to the paddocks at 9 mos and her colt is 5 mos now so she had been barefoot and totally sound for 7 mos. But I had been riding her relatively lightly for those months (while she was pregnant and then while her baby was at her side)

The Baby is almost weaned and stays in the barn when I go work now. I've started going on longer trail rides and schooling alot heavier in the arena almost daily. Well, I had to get shoes back on her yesterday because she simply had worn the sole too thin. She was'nt lame but I can feel weight shifting because of stones or uneven footing.

I dont have anything against natural horsekeeping methods, especially if you enjoy that and it makes you feel good to care for your horses as naturally as possible. But that's not for me and it's not for everyone. I've worn metal shoes down to foil thickness at the toe in eight weeks or less. I dont think a hoof exists that will outwear metal.

Many horses suffer and are in unnecessary pain because their owners insist "a horse was'nt born with shoes" A horse was'nt born with a human on it's back either.

I appreciate your view and your post, especialy because you point out that the hoof must be trimmed properly and by a professional who specializes in natural trims. Not just a regular flat trim, but I would avoid the "mustang trims" or anything that drastically changes the shape of the foot in one trim. Those kinds of trims should be worked on gradually and only if theres areason tis will benefit his way going. The presence of nail holes is definately detrimental to the wall, but in all of our horse decisions we have to balance these things against eachother.

The same rule applies that you have to find the most qualified professional possible to take care of shoeing your horses.

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Permalink Reply by Kinni P on September 8, 2009 at 10:27pm

Very well said. I couldn't agree more. It took me a long time to come to this decision, mostly because I thought hoof boots and Natural Horsemanship trims sounded like a scam. It's hard to watch the process at work, especially because I've made a few mistakes. I gave him two weeks between having shoes pulled and having his first barefoot trim, because that's what fit the human schedule. It was stupid and insensitive of me. I can't help but think things would've gone easier had I been a bit more flexible.
That said, I think he can make it this way for most of a year. I bought him a lovely pair of Renegades to wear under saddle. The arena I practice in is turf (of course, we grow rocks in GA). My main concern when I posted my question was how to deal with show season. I can't guarantee what kind of footing we'll find at any given show. I can't even guarantee he won't go lame during practice. There are some mean rocks that emerge here after a rain, thus the Renegades. I've come to feel that he will always need some time out of shoes, just so he can heal. His hoof wall already looks better. Considering the difficulty he's encountered coming out of shoes this time, I'm reticent to put him in a position where he'll have to repeat this whole conditioning process.
There isn't an easy answer to the question of whether to go barefoot or not. It's a difficult process for everyone involved. As for me, I'm learning to maintain a trim on my own. I really think this can work, but not on a convenient schedule. Waiting 6-8 weeks for a farrier to come back and make him sore again is just stupid. I'm with him everyday and I can see how much hoof has grown, how much should be removed and how much he can stand to have removed. I don't think the barefoot trimmer did a bad job I just think the schedule isn't realistic. The constant long toe--short toe rollercoaster just won't work for this horse.

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Permalink Reply by Over Fences on September 9, 2009 at 5:03pm

Kinni, you could'nt be on a better track. You're on here learning and taking advice from alot of different people and deciding what aproach is going to work for you and your horse.

I am not a militant shoe person I just sound like it. LOL

I believe that for what you want to do at home and for the show ring even, barefoot should be totally do-able. you came across obstacles like the abscess, and not being able to correctly trim the foot immediately when the shoes came off.

But otherwise you probably just need to accept that it's called a transition for a reason.

I bet by show season hell be perfect

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Permalink Reply by Lesley Danko on August 15, 2009 at 9:00am

Well said Jan!
I'm sure in some case bare foot works fine. Some horse just have better feet than others and live on ground that allows you to do so.
But there some horses that work hard enough on varying surfaces and some type of protective foot wear has to be used.
After all there is nothing "natural" about what we do with our horses.

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Permalink Reply by Petstorejunkie on August 26, 2009 at 6:36pm

Until he's sound and comfy on regular arena footing you really can't show him. My TB has been barefoot for over 2 years now, and we cover all terrain without issue now. he's been out of boots (on gravel) for a year and a bit longer for regular footing.

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Permalink Reply by Kinni P on August 27, 2009 at 8:31pm

Thanks, I'm just beginning to see what a long road this will be. I was really hoping he'd be arena sound by next year, but I'm not holding my breath. I got him a pair of Renegade boots, so at least we can practice. Every rock he steps on hurts him. I feel so guilty sometimes, but he's young and I know this will benefit him in the future. We were running out of places to put nails because of the chipping!

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Permalink Reply by Penny Siml on August 28, 2009 at 10:12am

I started my mare on natural trimming in May and I think she will totally be complete with new hoof growth by about November or December. I must say...she has never been better! If I'm not mistaken, it takes about six months of new growth.

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Permalink Reply by Kinni P on August 28, 2009 at 12:17pm

Six months is about right if there's decent bloodflow to the hoof. Gabe's feet are in such awful shape that I'm pretty sure it'll be a year or more before he's grown out completely. I've been supplementing him with kelp, so maybe that'll speed things up. The new hoof looks pretty good.

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Permalink Reply by Penny Siml on August 28, 2009 at 4:50pm

Yes, hoof growth will slow through the winter as well. The first few weeks will be the most tender and, gradually, the soreness will drop away.

At this point, I'm really excited to see new hoof growth! Even my husband noticed how much better my mare's hooves look.

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Permalink Reply by Kinni P on August 28, 2009 at 9:19pm

Glad to see I'm not the only one who guages the relative coolness of horse happenings by what the man manages to observe. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Over Fences on August 30, 2009 at 2:11pm

When you have a case where the hooves just dont seem healthy anymore (shelly, full of nail holes,cracks,overly brittle etc.) Pulling the shoes will be the best therapy. Making too many demands in your horses performance though would'nt be such great therapy.

I've never had them be tender after pulling shoes for more than a week or so. Ultimately though if what you're wanting is to restore the quality of the hoof barefoot & regular trims is the way. Even hoof supplements are only moderately helpful.

When is your show? Maybe you can just get a set of shoes for those days to make sure he stays sound at the event.

Is that out of the question? Sneaker type horseboots are'nt legal, but regular shoes are, besides shod horses look more polished in the showring. You could always just have the farrier put on shoes for a week or two. (this would not in anyway destroy the recovered hoof, its just a couple of nail holes)

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Permalink Reply by Kinni P on August 30, 2009 at 2:39pm

I don't have any shows planned for this year, but I'd like to go to some next year. I have my doubts about whether he'll be able to reliably handle strange, new footing. I just want to have a plan when the time comes.
His feet were in really bad shape. They look a little better now, but he's fighting an abscess. He didn't even have any sole removed! The farrier is beside himself. He really didn't expect this much soreness from such a mild trim. He doesn't seem to think this will be a timely process, and I'm inclined to agree.

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