| Barefoot trimming, or the practice of not shoeing your | | | | Learn more about how to transition your horse to |
| horse, is a wonderful gift that you can give your horse. | | | | barefoot by reading books by Pete Ramey and Jaime |
| Leaving your horse barefoot allows his body to | | | | Jackson. |
| function the way nature intended, with the hooves able | | | | 2. The Horse's Feet Are in Poor Shape |
| to expand and contract as they strike the ground. This | | | | Given enough time and care, every horse can |
| allows them to act as shock absorbers for your | | | | probably go barefoot. I've had some horses that had |
| horse's entire body. | | | | terrible feet, and I was able to transition them to |
| At present, I have three mustangs and one quarter | | | | barefoot. But a horse with a good set of hooves is |
| horse, and all of them are barefoot. In the past, every | | | | going to make the transition to barefoot a lot easier |
| horse I have owned, with the exception of my very | | | | than a horse with genetically poor feet. A horse with |
| first horse, has been barefoot. But barefoot trimming | | | | platter-shaped hooves, crumbly hoof walls, |
| isn't for every horse or every horse owner. I love | | | | compressed frogs, or thin soles is going to have a |
| barefoot horses, but I am also enough of a realist to | | | | much more difficult time going barefoot. Also, horses |
| understand the limitations of this approach. | | | | with bad feet living in demanding environments (like |
| Why Barefoot Trimming Isn't for Everyone | | | | rocky soil) will find the transition quite challenging, since |
| There are numerous reasons why barefoot trimming | | | | the rocky soil tends to wear away the hoof wall |
| does not work for every horse and rider combination. I | | | | faster than it can grow. Having said that, if you are |
| believe that every horse CAN go barefoot under the | | | | truly dedicated to making your horse barefoot, it can |
| right conditions, but often times those conditions can't | | | | be done. I've done it with some of the most impossible |
| be met, which means the horse will need to be shod. | | | | cases! |
| So why isn't barefoot the way to go for every horse? | | | | 3. The Owner Doesn't Have the Time, Energy, and |
| 1. The Transition Is Too Long or Painful | | | | Money |
| If a horse has worn shoes for many years then the | | | | This is the biggest problem that most people run into |
| transition to being barefoot can be painful and take a | | | | when taking their horses barefoot -- the investment of |
| long time. A horse shoe protects the bottom of the | | | | time, energy, and money. With the cost of shoeing |
| horse's foot, especially the sole and heel, from contact | | | | rising out of sight, it can be tempting to think that going |
| with the ground because the shoe lifts the hoof off the | | | | barefoot is a cheap alternative. It can be -- if you can |
| ground. This means that the horse tends not to grow a | | | | find a barefoot trimmer who does a good job. A good |
| thick sole or thick hoof wall. When you remove the | | | | job means that your horse is trimmed so that he |
| horse's shoes, the resulting hoof is tender, thin-walled, | | | | remains sound and continues to make progress |
| thin-soled, and very sensitive. Now every rock and | | | | toward a healthier hoof. With bad-footed horses, I find |
| bump on the ground makes the horse go, "Ouch!" | | | | that I have to trim their hooves every two weeks or |
| Now the horse has to grow a different kind of hoof to | | | | so to make speedy progress toward healthy hooves. |
| accommodate his new conditions. As you know, it can | | | | If you horse has lousy feet and you don't want to |
| take up to a year for a horse to grow a completely | | | | learn to do barefoot trimming yourself, you'll find |
| new hoof, from the coronet band to the ground. During | | | | shoeing a cheaper alternative than having your farrier |
| this transition, the sole and hoof wall have to thicken, | | | | visit you every two to three weeks for barefoot trims. |
| the heel usually has to expand and widen, and the | | | | On the other hand, if you are willing to invest the time |
| whole hoof has to achieve more concavity (which | | | | and money up front, your horse will eventually be able |
| raises the center of the hoof off the ground). All of this | | | | to go barefoot on a six to eight week schedule. |
| change takes a long time (from a few months to a | | | | Barefoot is Great for Many Horses |
| few years). During this transition, the horse will need to | | | | I hope this article doesn't discourage you from |
| wear some kind of boot to protect his sensitive | | | | transitioning your horses to barefoot. I prefer it as a |
| hooves. In addition, he will need access to both gravel | | | | much healthier alternative to shoeing, but I also realize |
| and smooth ground. The gravel will give his feet | | | | that barefoot won't work for every horse or every |
| stimulation, which will encourage the right kind of hoof | | | | horse owner. My three mustangs are blessed with |
| growth, while the smooth ground allows him to rest his | | | | solid hooves of steel, and they've never worn shoes. |
| feet when they are feeling sensitive. The horse will | | | | My quarter horse gelding, bless his sensitive little soul, is |
| probably also need a nutritional boost to strengthen his | | | | transitioning out of shoes. I expect it will take a year or |
| hooves. | | | | so for him to complete that transition, and in the |
| So are you starting to get the picture? The transition | | | | meantime he is a happy pasture ornament. I am fine |
| period can take a while, and you'll have to provide | | | | with having a pasture ornament, but many if my |
| special care for your horse during this time. For some | | | | friends are not. |
| horses, such as ones that haven't been shod for long | | | | The choice is yours: to shoe or not to shoe? That is |
| periods of time, the transition can be very simple. For | | | | the question. I hope this article sheds some light on |
| others, it can take a while. Just be prepared to boot | | | | reasons you may or may not want to take your horse |
| your horse to keep him rideable during this period. | | | | barefoot! |