Space for Horses Forum
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SPACE FOR HORSES CHAT: What is your opinion on horses going 'barefoot'
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What is your opinion on horses going 'barefoot'? Do you use hoof boots? What are the advantages and disadvantages to going barefoot? If you are riding with hoof boots, which would you recommend?
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I don't ride with boots or shoe and my pony is find. Infact she as brill feet.
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Mt horse has been shod all the time but 2 years ago I took her back shoes off during the winter and then re-shod her again in the summer when the ground got harder and I have to say her back feet do better and look better than her front now. I use Biotin when I take her shoes off and I swear by it, its great stuff.
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No one answer works for all. Some horses do fine barefoot. Others need shoes. Many factors combine to make each situation unique.
Breed, conformation, injuries, type and time of turnout, type and quantity of work, type of surfaces ridden on, diet, owner preference, farrier experience, etc., etc.
One of mine needs shoes all the time, The other never needs them. Both doing identical work.
Go figure. -
one of my ponies has shoes on his front feet, but that is because he is a dressage pony. My other pony no longer wears shoes and his feet look great, i think it depends on the horse/pony.
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it depends on what breed the horse is as well. my ollie is a heavy/middle weight cob and he is fine without shoes but we keep him in shoes. However my mums horse who is a light weight throughbred cant go without shoes or her feet will crumble.
All horses/ponies are different, but give it a go and if it doesnt work then you'll know. -
My horse had been shod all his life up until Jan 08. His feet have now never looked so good and his is doing really well. I do use hoof boots on the front if I am hacking on gravelly areas but on tarmac and grass he is fine. Shoeing is what weakens the hoof wall and causes problems and in my oppinion barefoot is definately better. It takes time for the horse to adjust and we need to work with this accordingly. I would also recommend that with barefoot horses it is best to switch to a qualified EP rather than a farrier.
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I can't go without my horse being shoed.It just doesn't feel right.Although i do like to gallop my horse wherever there is loads of space.All the horses at the ranch i go 2 are shod
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I took both my horses back shoes off this winter , because they was not doing a lot of work and it helped to keep the cost of shoeing down. But as Duncan has come back into work , I have noticed he is a bit sore footed on the stones , so now I am going to get his shoes put back on all round. I will for Snoopy too.
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This sort of question is really best answered by your blacksmith, who will know your horses hoof conformation and be better able to advise you if your horse will be suitable for 'barefeet'!
Dolly wore shoes when I bought her, but when I had her covered I had to have them removed (rule of the stud she went to). In the period after being covered, but before she was too large to carry baby and me (!) I tried her barefoot for a while and she went a bit footsore.
However, my blacksmith advised shoing her only in front, and she has been like that ever since (baring in mind Luna is now three years old!) It took some careful care and attention, i.e i avoided stony ground (not necessarily roads as these ahrd flat surfaces she coped with really well), but also avoided any man-made apths that were made of compressed cinders/stone, as these were really abrasive and wore her feet down quickly. I also cahnged her feed to Happy Hoof chaff and applied a good hoof grease daily. Now she is fine and you can rider her virtually anywhere without becoming footsore!
But as I say, this is somethign best discussed, and planned with your blacksmith, as it is not the case of simply removing the shoes and see how you go!!
Good Luck if you decided to give it a go! -
I think that your horse/pony should be shod because it helps give them the shape and personally i think they ride better with being shod as I have seen. . . =]
But we are all intitle to our own opinions
thanks x -
unless it is remedial, Id say that horses are better off unshod....but you must keep the hooves in good condition!!!
when the hoof hits the floor, the natural hoof (unshod) spreads - allowing the impact to be absorbed and easily spread...however, shoes on the otherhand restrict this movement and do not absorb the impact well - so it travels up the legs and you are far more likely to have joint problems!
also, because shoes restrict the movement of the hoof, it causes a numbness in the hoof (hence why shod horses appear to be able to walk over small stones) - this is actually a dissadvantage because you dont know about a problem with the hoof until its really bad! horses who are unshod retain full natural sensation...but they do toughen up with time - all of mine will happily walk over any terrain without a problem...but if anything did go wrong, Id know before it was too late!
Ive always had all of my horses unshod (from foals), and their hooves are much better when compared to many that are shod! some horses Ive seen have huge chunks in their hooves just from the nails that hold the shoes inplace (and it isnt necessarily just bad farriery)...
anywho...Id definately keep my horses barefoot if I can... -
p.s. Im aware that there are other issues to consider here! in response to Lizzie - you are right...it is always more difficult to make the change from shod to unshod...many horses become dependant upon shoes and find it difficult to go barefoot at first...I guess its like us getting used to wearing a snug pair of shoes when running around outside, and then being asked to take them off and run on stoney ground - you just wont be used to it! however, over time you get used to it, and if you have never warn shoes, then your feet toughen up and you can do it easily!
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oops, not Lizzie, I meant Sarah9, lol...
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I know what you mean Ashlea
As i mentioned, I now keep Dolly shod only in front, because she has found it difficult to go fully unshod. Its a shame really, because like you say, if she had always been unshod she would probably be ok!!
However, i am going to try and keep Luna unshod as we begin her ridden work. I have only been in the school and nicely tarmacked roads so far, which she has been fine on but the real challenge will be to see how she copes on the rougher, stony bridlepaths! Hopefully i will be able ot keep her unshod though as I agree that from a natural perspective it will be better for her. -
Really interesting! Would like to try it - but we've always shod.
Have always wanted to try becuase think the frog important - natural way to avoid skidding - if you have shoes, frog is off the ground, so you need to put studs in - if you don't have shoes, frog stops horse skidding? Also without shoes pressure on the frog helps the blood circulation in the hoof - so don't get navicular, laminitis? -
I think thats correct Vanessa - Im often the only one out on the hilly roads in the winter because my horses rarely skid...they are all young, so they trip over themselves, but they have greater grip than most!
yes, it helps the circulation...infact it is more the shoes that hinder it, than it is barefoot increases it....if you know what i mean? -
All my horses are bare foot, they go fine. We've never had any problems with their feet, and we don't use hoof boots. But some horses are different, I guess we've just been lucky with ours! :D
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My pony doesn't has never been shod, and his hooves are fine. sometimes they get a bit shelly especially his back hooves since they are white but it clears up with a bit of hoof grease. His front hooves are black and fine. He gets ridden on all different terrain.
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Depends. My 16.3hh is wintering out, and he's barefoot, but no way could he of managed barefoot when I was riding him. My 11.3hh is barefoot and always has been, never had any problem so we never started. My 14.2hh is fully shod and has studs in for competign on grass, wouldn't have him barefoot. Depends on the horses quality of feet and how much your doing with them.
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my horse hasnt has shoes on for years and the farrier said he has gr8 feet :):)
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I have had my horse 2 years now and he has never had shoes on. He has got really hard feet and manages really well.
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I just started getting Regal's front feet done & she seems fine....but am wondering if i should get the back done now as i'm starting to train for endurance riding....but she seems fine ATM
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My mare has never had shoes on,we dont use boots and she copes with all types of ground,Its alot cheaper too!
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my fjord mare had never been shod when i got her-she was only ridden for half hour per week. when i got her i was keen to keep her barefoot but because we do so much hacking we were wearing her feet down too fast. the compromise was to have fronts fitted. it took her ages to get used to being shod-she was stumbling and all sorts. we are now on her 5th set and all is well.
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