Barefoot Performance Horses

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

K S SWIGART   swigart@bigbear.com


Abby Bloxsom wrote:
> 
> > All horses do not have one "natural" shape of foot any more than all
> > people do.
> >
> > Let you horse tell you what its natural foot is.
> >
> As a general rule, I'm in agreement with this statement, but I do
> believe it's important to recognize that with a horse who's worn shoes
> for a number of years, or an older horse, you can't just "pull his shoes
> and let him go barefoot".

No, there are many horses for whom this is the case. I have two 
myself...big TB mares that have been shod for so long that taking off their shoes (actually, them throwing their shoes, I don't ever 
take off their shoes and "let them go barefoot"...even when they 
foal, they only have the shoes off for a day or so, if at all) 
would be considered torture. And there are some horses who would 
have to go barefoot for as much as a full year (which may not be 
feasible) before the foot "recovers" from being shod.
 
> First, simply wearing shoes will change the way the hoof grows and
> develops over time, often (maybe I could say usually?) creating changes
> in the hoof capsule that will be self-perpetuating.  The extent to which
> these changes are incompatible with the individual's natural hoof
> depends largely on the capability and intuition of the person doing the
> shoeing.

However, with the horses that I have raised myself....I don't let 
this happen.  I and the farrier make a note of their natural foot 
before shoes are ever put on (usually shortly after they are 
started under saddle, but sometimes much later than that), and 
they are regularly (frequently as often as between shoings) 
allowed to go barefoot to "self trim."  It is not unusual for me 
to pull a horse's shoes the week or so before the shoer gets there 
and let the horse trim its feet.  Then all the shoer has to do is 
nail the shoes on.  In fact, I am generally careful enough about 
doing this often enough that being shod does not "change the way 
the hoof grows and develops over time."  This, of course, is not 
always feasible during a competition season, but I try to work it 
that way.

Since many of these horses are Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred 
crosses themselves (and related, as in sons or daughters, of the 
TB mares that cannot go barefoot), I have learned alot about the 
horses whose feet cannot go barefoot, from observing the feet of 
the horses who can.  Additionally, YOU CAN tell a lot about the 
"natural" (as in appropriate) foot for a shod horse by observing 
growth patterns of the foot while shod and observing wear patterns 
on the shoes.  In essence, if the shoe ain't wearing evenly, this 
is a BIG indication that the horse has not been trimmed properly 
before being shod.

> In addition, lack of hard use and appropriate turnout conditions will
> cause changes that can mess up the natural hoof's development.

Indeed, but since my horses live 24/7 on 100+ acres of California 
hillside which has a soil composition of decomposed (or not 
decomposed) granite, this isn't one of my problems.  And for 
people who DON'T have this luxury ( I recognize it as such in 
Southern California), there are still things that can be done to 
get a good idea of what THEIR horse's natural foot is by properly 
managing their conditions, by observing the way their hooves grow 
between shoings, by inspecting their shoes after they have been 
removed.

There is NO WAY for a farrier to do this when s/he comes out to 
see the horse every 6-8 weeks.  Consequently, it is very difficult 
for any farrier to know what the "natural" hoof is for a horse 
that they have only ever shod on a regular schedule.  This MUST be 
a discussion between shoer and the person who does see the horse 
every day, look at the horse's feet every day, watches the way the 
horse moves every time it is ridden  or not ridden but just turned 
out.

> Finally, there are age-, soundness-, and metabolism-related conditions
> that can drastically effect the horn development in different areas of
> the hoof, making the truly "natural" bare foot almost impossible to
> achieve.

Indeed, a "natural" barefoot can be impossible to achieve.  But 
over time, you and your farrier can, with careful observation and 
proper management of the horse's conditions, discover what your 
horse's "natural" hoof development, shape, etc. is and trim and 
shoe accordingly.

And understand that this is an ONGOING process.  A horse does not 
have one natural foot that it carries throughout its life, but 
rather feet change to accommodate work and conditions (and gait 
irregularities).  Vigilence on the part of the owner is essential 
for communicating these changes to the farrier.  The easiest way 
that I have found to do that for MY horses to to pull there shoes 
off periodically (usually every 1-4 months) and let them go 
barefoot on hard ground (except, of course, for the monster mares 
who are shod regularly).  This not the only way.

Other ways include a LOT more observation on the part of the horse 
owner and a LOT more ability to communicate with a farrier who is 
not a prima dona and unwilling to discuss YOUR horse's feet with 
you.  It also requires that the horse owner BE THERE when a horse 
is shod (because one of the most important things to observe is 
the way a horse is wearing its shoes and the only way you can look 
at left shoes and right shoes at the same time...and properly 
analyze their wear patterns...is to have them OFF the horse's 
feet!!).  It also requires that the horse owner/daily observer 
understand a LOT about the way horses move and the way that feet 
reflect this.

Getting a horse properly shod is not merely a matter of hiring a 
competent farrier and letting them do their job every month or so.  
It is an active and ongoing process of observing a horse's feet on 
a daily basis and them communicating this with a competent (and 
willing) farrier whose ego isn't so big that s/he doesn't 
understand that there is more to understanding a horse's feet than 
looking at them between shoeings.  It isn't about telling the 
farrier what you want them to do; it is about telling the farrier 
what you have observed and then letting them either tell you what 
they think that means and mutually deciding (depending upon your 
own expertise) what is best for the horse.

kat
Orange County, Calif.