Watch this video to find out! I’ve ridden plenty of shod, barefoot, and booted horses, and the booted horse has the best traction under most conditions. While barefooting is considered the ideal for horses, there are times when shoes are necessary. I rode a BLM mustang with the toughest feet ever, and tried to keep her barefoot, but having to condition as much as needed to get a horse fit for endurance on our terrain, I just wore her feet too short. Today we’ll start a new little series on the topic of Pasture trim vs. a natural, barefoot trim for horses’ hooves. ... and Jones made sure to keep alive a tradition of walking the field barefoot — something he has done for years. Click here to save on Shur Hoof supplement. If the horse is sore, and not lame then it is conceivable that boots may help. Some horses’ feet will toughen up over time, but others will not. Tia Nelson, DVM, a farrier and veterinarian near Helena, Montana, who has been shoeing horses since 1980 and who studied wild horse feet “This typically means feeding less sugar and starch (too much of those can compromise the attachment of the hoof wall) and following a more scientific approach with mineral supplementation.”, Everyday footing. Have you ever asked yourself why you have your horse shod? Make the right choice for your horse with insight from a barefoot expert and three riders who’ve tried both options. Some go directly out of shoes with no problem, and others have foot pathology that takes more time.”. The use of borium or pads can be a lifesaver for horses who are ridden in the winter or who simply need extra traction for the activities in which they participate. For these and many other reasons, the barefoot horse has many advantages over the shod horse… Horse & Hound spoke to Nick Hill and Ralitsa Grancharova, a natural hoof care practitioner and veterinarian, respectively, based in Bulgaria. Barefoot horses gain-- quality of movement, because a light, naturally shaped hoof with early breakover, allows the front leg to extend fully and the foot to land heel-first; -- surefootedness, because barefoot hooves can feel the ground and have better traction; -- stamina, because the flexing hooves help provide blood circulation to the entire body system. “I knew I could help her within three trimmings. ; The heavier your shoes are, the less efficiently you run. None of her horses wear metal shoes, and she’s taken over all of their hoof care herself, trimming and booting when necessary. Look at his legs but also observe his hooves. On the other hand, if he is only ridden lightly and within that pasture area, he may fare just fine barefoot. We’ve also experimented with the new Easy Shoe to help him be comfortable. Some report that the decision to pull their horse’s shoes was made for philosophical reasons, while others cite economic hardship as a motivating factor. As a friend of mine, with horses who are kept barefoot the majority of the time, says, she trims her horses because she is cheap but when they need shoes, she shoes her horses because she is cheap. Summers shoes her own horses (she attended a farrier school) and admits that with as many horses as she keeps, it’s more convenient to shoe with traditional metal shoes. Side note: The word “shod” is commonly used in the equine industry to mean a horse with metal shoes. A horse depends on his feet to escape from predators, and feels insecure if he can't feel the ground. Just a few weeks later, he was functional and happy. I'll take a barefoot horse on ice over one with borium or studded shoes any day of the week. There are situations where shoes are used to extend a horse's abilities beyond what nature provides. If you decide to try the barefoot method with your horse, allow from 30 to 90 days for the hoof to return to its natural state. The topic of having horses go barefoot vs. shod has been discussed at several American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual Conventions and always generates some very informative dialog while raising many important questions. Barefoot and booted horses’ hoofs are better able to absorb shock and dissipate energy than metal-shod horses’ hoofs, which can equate to increased performance and longevity, particularly on hard surfaces. She had been competing in a 100 miler when her horse pulled out at 80 miles. Horse Racing . In those cases, wear may exceed growth and those horses need shoes to be comfortable when ridden. Can or should your horse go barefoot? Have you been wonder whether or not horses need to have shoes? “Whether I shoe with metal shoes also depends on the horse’s job,” she continues. If you’ve been looking for a heavy duty snow boot that still has barefoot features, then Xero Shoes’ new addition in their Fall 2020 line might just be the answer.The Alpine barefoot snow boot is a lightweight, warm, and fully waterproof. © 2020 by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. “He’s a big, beefy horse and when I got him at age 6, his body was trying to put out a good hoof, but his shoeing job was predisposing him to long toes and underrun heels. However, with the advancement of booting technology, you could also argue that a booted horse is shod. Also, if not 100-percent sound during turnout, hoof boots or glue-on options should be used there, as well. During that time, your horse should be off work so that the hoof is minimally stressed. In fact, some farriers prefer letting horses go barefoot for at least part of the year. Consider the footing your horse will be on much of the time. Three True Stories Who better to ask about their experiences with barefoot horses than top-level competitors? He really needed the frog support, which increased stimulation and blood flow, and wedges to get his heel up, which would have been hard to do without metal shoes. With barefoot rehab, the outcome has been so consistently successful, that bold statements can be made about navicular I found that on many horses I could have taken barefoot otherwise; wear was the biggest issue. A horse is an awfully expensive pet to have sitting around while it can't be used. A horse's hoof is complicated and horseshoeing is an art and science according to most farriers. The bottom line on this debate? As they usually move at a walk over rough grasslands, their hooves wear evenly and harden. Never did I say she should never shoe her horse … What is better for the horse? However, the reality is somewhere in between. A horse being ridden cross country on a three-day event course may not only need shoes, but may perform much better with studs screwed in for the course. It also makes a big difference as to how long the horse has worn shoes because this has a bearing on how long a lag phase can be expected before the horse develops the necessary sole protection once the shoes are off. When shoes are put on a young horse, the coffin (pedal) bone cannot grow to its full width, therefore the foot will be too small to carry the horse's weight, and is often contracted. Even in a barefoot horse with long hoof walls! Apply the same logic and consideration for riding.”. Before: Hoof of a Quarter Horse whose rotated coffin bone had penetrated the soles of both feet in 2004. Some composite shoes are reusable, some are not, and they vary greatly in cost and time involved in application. “He’d had soundness issues in multiple types of shoes,” she explains. If you want to stir up an interesting conversation among horsemen, bring up the barefoot versus shod question. The barefoot lovers say any horse can be barefoot and will be better off for it. Purchase one of the hoof boots listed below on Amazon; Easyboot Glove, Easyboot Trail, Trek Hoof Boot, Easyboot Glue-On, or Tough-1 Hoof Guard Boots. For more about barefoot dressage horses visit: www.eurodressage.com. That’s a much healthier scenario and can prevent serious soundness issues. These horses live and train barefoot to help toughen up the soles of their feet and encourage strong hoof walls. The need for traction also dictates the choice of barefoot vs. shod. I pulled his shoes and trimmed his feet. The owner: Sue Summers, Rice, Washington; endurance competitor who’s raced at the FEI level for 15 years, and tries to go barefoot with her horses when possible. Each time, we had to work on building a new, stronger foot again.”, Peters says conscientious trimming has been the first line of defense with Squishy. For this article “shod” means with metal shoes – … Fortunately, most glue-on composite shoes accommodate a barefoot … It is also perhaps the biggest obstacle if you are undecided about going barefoot, especially when your horse has - apparently - become dependent on being shod. The Horse.com has an interesting debate about different views on barefoot horses. Corrective shoeing can help horses with hoof ailments to continue a normal quality of life and work comfortably. Usually, no one setup is appropriate for every condition a horse encounters. Not all horses need horseshoes and not all horses can go barefoot. For more information click here. Never did I say she should never shoe her horse … Products we feature have been selected by our editorial staff. Still, I find that the benefits of barefoot hoof care far outweigh the occasional inconveniences, especially as I know that my horses are likely to stay sounder, and for longer, without metal shoes. Remember that the work you ask of your horse may also influence a decision about shoeing or going barefoot. He had FRONT shoes on, and I would love to make him barefoot. “Squishy never had great feet,” she relates. Sound hoof care. Overall hoof health. Honestly assess his conformation. (I figure if I have time to run a curry comb and brush, then I have time to run a rasp. Or maybe because you believe (or somebody has told you) that your horse has bad feet and must wear shoes? Horse Racing. Boots can last a desert endurance racer 500 miles or more; therefore, a more casual rider could get many years from them. Therefore, it isn't touching the ground and doing its job of bearing weight. For barefoot riding, the horse needs the healthiest hoof possible. I’ve ridden plenty of shod, barefoot, and booted horses, and the booted horse has the best traction under most conditions. 2) If you think about it, Horses could go barefoot, except for the ambitions of their owner / rider. Better use of the entire foot. Whereas the shoe fans believe that shoes can be the better option for the horse. In shorts. Corrective shoeing is an art, and a good farrier can help horses with issues ranging from a sole bruise that is helped by a padded shoe or special angle work to pads to make a horse with conformational issues feel more comfortable. Proper fitting and selection of hoof boots is as critical as it is for metal horseshoes. If the horse is limping or compensating for foot pain during rides, you probably will never grow a foot healthy enough to ride barefoot without pain.”, [READ ABOUT: Transitioning from Shod to Barefoot]. Defer to the farrier about your horse's foot and what's best. Heel first landing is the default position for horses. Be forewarned—the discussion may get heated! If I were just packing or trail riding in the mountains, I’d probably keep them all barefoot and boot when needed.”. Barefoot horses with ridden high mileage will always grow better hooves than horses with unmounted high mileage. “He’d be fine for one or two shoeing cycles, and then we’d have to make a change. “The growth of the foot—healthy or not—is a product of how it hits the ground,” explains Ramey. If he lives in a grass pasture with natural springs, or if the ground is generally soft or wet, his hooves won’t toughen up enough to handle the work on hard, rocky areas. Proponents of the barefoot side range from those who believe that many, if not most, horses will do just fine going barefoot to “all natural” equine advocates who disapprove of barns, blankets and grain feeding. Physiological function of … She keeps more than 30 horses, including working Quarter Horses in addition to her endurance Arabians. ©2017 Farnam Companies, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Shoes for Horses Not all horses need shoes, but many do. It’s difficult to make an adjustment like that on a barefoot horse! Natural hoof care is the practice of keeping horses so that their hooves are worn down naturally and so do not suffer overgrowth, splitting and other disorders. Your horse’s turnout environment should match your riding terrain so that his hoof encounters similar terrain during everyday life that it’ll encounter during work under saddle. “Since endurance is so demanding, I put metal shoes on a few of our many horses. Not to start a war and not to disrespect anyone but to help educate and teach. Not to start a war and not to disrespect anyone but to help educate and teach. Comparison of healthy and unhealthy hooves. The horse: Arabian mare Pixiedust, age 9, is currently in transition. A metal shoe on hard terrain can damage the hoof’s soft tissues and the hoof wall. Barefoot is a requirement for health and should be accepted as a condition for keeping a horse. “Her feet were too long and unbalanced,” Lane says. Some horses can perform soundly and happily while barefoot. I recently came across two very interesting and related articles about barefoot vs shoeing in dressage and how it affects a horse… Correct movement causes correct hoof growth. My barefoot horses have intact walls and their hooves … Advantages of Alternatives Pete Ramey, a farrier specializing in rehabilitation of hoof problems as well as a well-known author and clinician, sees a deeper issue than just metal shoes versus barefoot. In effect, the reasons to shoe are few. Summers shoes her own horses (she attended a farrier school) and admits that with as many horses as she keeps, it’s more convenient to shoe with traditional metal shoes. Swedish owned, bred and/or trained horses swept a majority of the 2014 Hambletonian Day races. But why do domestic horses require shoes when their wild counterparts seem to be doing perfectly well, walking around barefoot? I know that all horses have different feet etc... blahblahblah! It’s taken five years, but he’s beaten the odds to come back and be sound barefoot, and he just competed at Grand Prix level without shoes in April.”, More insight: “Squishy’s situation started my barefoot education,” she continues. A horse’s environment, his type of work and his natural hoof quality are all factors to consider when deciding whether your horse can go barefoot. The shoeing vs barefoot argument will always be a talking point with equestrians but remember, each horse is different and while some horses can strive from the barefoot approach it may also simply not suit others and so this is why we cannot give an answer as to which is best and it may be for one horse … The solar corium can be easily damaged by compressive forces. They are also used to give horses extra traction in the snow and ice. dont ask why- dont argue with me, that is what I want to do. They live longer, happier, less painful lives. I am not licensed in any of these things. If metal shoes are working for you and your horse is sound, stick with them. Proske et al (2017) found altered locomotion in shod horses vs barefoot horses while simultaneously finding increased digital cushion depth after a period of time in the barefoot, again indicating more optimal morphology of the barefoot. Endurance. Remove the Shoes! We’ll also detail some hoofwear products available to protect the feet of horses without metal shoes. In the snow. My barefoot horses aren't the ones with stone bruises after riding down gravel roads, but the shod horses are. I learned how to shoe 16 years ago, then learned about going barefoot ten years ago. “The horse’s diet should be improved so that he can grow the best hoof his individual genetics will allow,” he continues. I quit shoeing my own horses and maintain them on a consistent 20 day rasping interval. Initially they schedule trims as frequently as every two weeks. I use them, and they work fine. Cook:All horses' hooves are healthier without shoes, and barefoot horses are healthier than shod horses. Is he prone to sole abscess and bruises, even with shoes? There is no one answer that is right for all horses. As a friend of mine, with horses who are kept barefoot the majority of the time, says, she trims her horses because she is cheap but when they need shoes, she shoes her horses because she is cheap. Transitioning your Horse:The Best Time to Get the Shoes off and Go BarefootI’m often asked when the best time to transition a horse to barefoot is. Better shock absorption and energy dissipation. On the other hand, horses with less than ideal conformation, weak hoof structure or an involvement in equine sports will benefit from being shod. Exercise. We’ll go into the individual differences in this little series. ACVSMR, MRCVS, in which she evaluated a specific barefoot trim’s efficacy on horses … The back part of a horse’s hoof is designed to flex vertically, or twist, which aids the horse in negotiating uneven terrain, hitting rocks sideways, or when moving through a turn. The story: M&M is a horse Summers feels wasn’t a good candidate to go barefoot, even with boots. Transitioning to Barefoot Done correctly, “going barefoot” doesn’t simply mean you stop putting shoes on your horse, according to Ramey. Metal shoes can be convenient for the owner. There are three possible headlines for this blog post: Running in shoes takes less energy than running barefoot. ... Today we are talking about shoes versus barefoot, gated horses and long toe versus short toe. This occurred both by human and natural selection out on the range or other pastoral situations where horses ran free much of the time. On top of that, he contracted Lyme disease, and over the next four years, he had laminitis four times. The story: Not every horse who ends up comfortably shoeless has an easy time getting there. This flexion takes a tremendous amount of torque off the horse’s joints and collateral ligaments (which help hold the joints together). From high-tech Razer shoes to naked hooves hitting the Meadowlands track, they strategized victory, and got the results they wanted: big wins. In effect, the reasons to shoe are few. However, if your horse has soundness or performance issues, you should be aware of the possible advantages of getting away from metal shoes temporarily or permanently.”. Liniments or Poultices… What’s the Difference? “With proper trimming, nutrition, and exercise, a lot of them make the transition fairly quickly.” Another Remuda Run horse, the hard-working, ranch-bred Quarter Horse gelding Chicosa, also smoothly transitioned to shoeless and has never looked back in the 10 years since. As barefoot running gains popularity and the market sees the development of more minimalist shoes, podiatric physicians and athletes have debated barefoot running versus shod running, which is faster and which leads to less chance of injury. Today we’ll start a new little series on the topic of Pasture trim vs. a natural, barefoot trim for horses’ hooves. A competent farrier can help determine if a horse will be better off going barefoot. Hey sooo I just got a horse a couple months ago. In 2010, Grand Prix dressage horse Squishy was the first horse Peters tried barefoot. “An average sole will be 3/8in thick. Solid hoof care, including diet, regular trimming, and exercise, as well as an experienced barefoot trimmer, can make or break your horse’s shoeless experience. Lameness in the equine world is getting worse not better. This professional should know how to do a barefoot trim, which is different from a shoe-ready trim, and carry a stock of hoof boots and/or glue-on options to be able to fit the horse immediately when the shoes are pulled. It also features the barefoot basics, including a zero drop, flexible sole and a wide-toe box. As well-regarded experts in barefoot trimming and holistic horse care, they travel regularly to the UK.Nick says: “The main reason [that I do barefoot] was that I saw the amount of damage done to the horses by the application of nailed on metal shoes, both by myself and other farriers, after obse… The majority of horses’ feet remain healthy until the time they are broke and begin training. Credit: Photo by Jennifer Paulson A barefoot horse isn’t necessarily a low-maintenance one. More insight: “It’s time-consuming to boot, figure fit for each horse, and keep the boots organized,” Summers says. Both shoes and barefoot have perceived pros and cons. When you trim a hoof with the intention of putting a shoe on, you tend to trim the … Or because all your friends’, competitors’, or peers’ horses are shod? The hoof on the left has a contracted and narrow, unhealthy frog, the heel bulbs are weak and the sole is pitted. Healthy hoof growth depends on getting plenty of exercise, and some horses may not get enough exercise to stimulate regular hoof growth. Horses with good conformation and structurally sound hooves may do just fine all their lives with no shoes and being trimmed as needed. She’ll do Tevis this year in glue-on shoes, and I have absolute faith she’ll complete that ride.”, More insight: “The average horse I come across, no matter the breed, can ultimately go without shoes,” Lane explains. From small, light Arabians and a tough-footed mustang to a heavily muscled Quarter Horse and a massive Warmblood, they’ll describe their varying degrees of ease and success with shoes and without. Turn out a barefoot horse only if he’s moving well in his turnout environment. Time and Effort RequiredThe owner: Shannon Peters, San Diego, California; U.S. Dressage Federation bronze, silver, and gold medalist and three-time national championship competitor. The use of boots if a horse is uncomfortable varies with the expert you consult. He’s been healthy now for more than a year, and his feet finally have hit their stride. Increase your horse’s exercise, particularly if he spends much of his life in a stall. Jerry Heasley Recommended for you 1967 Shelby GT500 Barn Find and Appraisal That Buyer Uses To Pay Widow - Price Revealed - Duration: 22:15. Anything you can do to improve hoof quality—nutrition, exercise, etc.—will improve the health and longevity of the whole horse. Lets look at these sole shots together from an HGM perspective. The thing is I'm gonna tell you right now. Jerry Heasley Recommended for you If your riding routine remains as active during the winter months as it was the rest of the year, and your horse has never or rarely gone barefoot, pulling shoes may not be advisable. A natural hoof care practitioner and barefoot vs shoes horses, respectively, based in Bulgaria I favour horses being without. 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