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I use them, and they work fine. He points out the array of options between going 100-percent with metal shoes or 100-percent barefoot. A viable option is the use of hoof boots, which offer protection during workouts, while allowing the benefits of barefoot during turnout. “I’ve had some go perfectly fine barefoot right out of shoes. Remove the discomfort and correct movement will return – a simple solution to a complex and for many years a baffling problem. 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. The story: Not every horse who ends up comfortably shoeless has an easy time getting there. In 2010, Grand Prix dressage horse Squishy was the first horse Peters tried barefoot. Why? We’ve also experimented with the new Easy Shoe to help him be comfortable. An argument put forward for shoeing vs barefoot is that shoes give horses better grip. Credit: Photo by Jennifer Paulson A barefoot horse isn’t necessarily a low-maintenance one. The horse: Arabian mare Pixiedust, age 9, is currently in transition. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. 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. The barefoot lovers say any horse can be barefoot and will be better off for it. Barefoot horses with ridden high mileage will always grow better hooves than horses with unmounted high mileage. He’s been healthy now for more than a year, and his feet finally have hit their stride. If the horse is sore, and not lame then it is conceivable that boots may help. Be forewarned—the discussion may get heated! Liniments or Poultices… What’s the Difference? He stayed sound for me, and is now retired from endurance at age 20.”. Look at his legs but also observe his hooves. She had been competing in a 100 miler when her horse pulled out at 80 miles. 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. Even in a barefoot horse with long hoof walls! “Compensative movement causes poor or pathological hoof growth. Habitually Barefoot Indian (BI) vs Shod Indian (SI) vs Western Shod (WS) BI < SI < WS under heel and metatarsals (no values) Some feel that boots simply extend the time for a horse’s hooves to adapt, while others feel that boots interfere with the toughening of the hooves. This occurred both by human and natural selection out on the range or other pastoral situations where horses ran free much of the time. 2) If you think about it, Horses could go barefoot, except for the ambitions of their owner / rider. Well all seasoned barefooters know... Read More. So, ride your horse! The Mane Attraction – Tips for Achieving a Beautiful Mane & Tail, Under the Sun – Protecting Your Horse from Sun Damage and Sunburn, Ticks Bite – How to Protect Your Horse against Ticks. Boots offer different treads and insoles for changing conditions—similar to a human being able to choose a hiking boot or running shoe. “The horse’s diet should be improved so that he can grow the best hoof his individual genetics will allow,” he continues. These horses live and train barefoot to help toughen up the soles of their feet and encourage strong hoof walls. The solar corium can be easily damaged by compressive forces. “Drain muddy areas when possible, and keep urine and manure cleaned up. 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… Anything you can do to improve hoof quality—nutrition, exercise, etc.—will improve the health and longevity of the whole horse. 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]. The most obvious step in going barefoot is, of course, taking off your horses shoes. We’ll go into the individual differences in this little series. Hey sooo I just got a horse a couple months ago. For example, a number of Arabians participate in competitive and endurance rides without the benefit of shoes. 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. “Her feet were too long and unbalanced,” Lane says. If your horse has been wearing shoes for a long time, I personally believe it is a valid term to describe the period in which your horse is adjusting to a new pattern of weight bearing. Horses that have previously worn shoes may find it difficult or impossible to go barefoot. 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. Better use of the entire foot. 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. Boots can last a desert endurance racer 500 miles or more; therefore, a more casual rider could get many years from them. “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. Because there ARE differences. Cook:All horses' hooves are healthier without shoes, and barefoot horses are healthier than shod horses. In their natural habitat, horses live in dry and arid climates travelling many miles a day in search of food and water. It’s difficult to make an adjustment like that on a barefoot horse! “I knew I could help her within three trimmings. 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. Under the right circumstances, many horses can go barefoot, as long as their owners are armed with knowledge to make the right decision. I am not licensed in any of these things. 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. In general, I have not put shoes on any of my horses unless I needed them to slide, in which case I used slide plates on the hinds. A metal shoe on hard terrain can damage the hoof’s soft tissues and the hoof wall. 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. Have you ever asked yourself why you have your horse shod? reduced in habitual barefoot walkers compared to habitual shod walkers: D’Aout et al. Yes they’re trained in trimming hooves, but most of the work they do is with shod horses (unless they’ve decided to specialise in barefoot horses). My question is reguarding YOUR experience. The thing is I'm gonna tell you right now. Just a few weeks later, he was functional and happy. Horse Racing. Because there ARE differences. If the horse is sore, and not lame then it is conceivable that boots may help. 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. Never did I say she should never shoe her horse … Three True Stories Who better to ask about their experiences with barefoot horses than top-level competitors? To understand how they did it, you need to look at the shoes they wore. : Flor De Selva, aka M & M is a savings competing in a 100 when. 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