Re: RC: Barefoot

[Lynette Helgeson <helgeson@ndak.net>]

Hello Truman,

Tuesday, September 25, 2001, 7:29:48 AM, you wrote:

TP> While we were out west this summer we did 150 miles in a 8 day period. The
TP> Valley Fire ride in Montanta and then two days of the Shamrock in WY. I had my
TP> horse shod with new shoes (St. Croix Eventers) about three days before the
TP> Valley Fire ride. After that 150 miles, the back shoes were worn to the point
TP> that you could literally cut with them. I was fortunate they did not break.
TP> The were worn very thin. There were virtually no nail heads left.  My horse
TP> has a big trot and does slide some on his hind feet, so he probably wears
TP> shoes more than some horses.

We have been doing the natural trim and leaving our horses barefoot
for two years. Before that we kept them shoed. I had a chestnut that
had to be shoed in the spring as soon as you started to ride him, or
else he would wear down his feet into nothing. I was just trail riding
at the time. Now I do trail riding and distance riding  and we have been
riding him three times as much barefoot and we HAVE to trim him every 6 weeks or
his hooves get too long.

We have 7 horses and they are all barefoot, we have 5 riding in our
family. This spring we went on a ride and covered 120 miles in 5 days.
Most of this ride was on gravel roads. We averaged a speed of 6-7 mph.
All of our horses were barefoot. We had no soreness and all of our
horses flew down the roads. Their hooves were in great shape by the
end of the ride.

Our horses hooves are A lot tougher and in much, much better shape
since we went to a natural trim. We did a two day LD in the ND
Badlands with some of our horses. Their hooves did not even crack.

TP> But if a horse can wear 1/4 to 3/8 inch of steel off in 150 miles I do not see
TP> how a horse would be able to do a significant number of miles without shoes -
TP> particularly in abrasive footing.  When hoof wear exceeds hoof growth, then
TP> either you stop riding or put on shoes.

There have been plenty posts to explain this. It has to do with the
functioning of a healthy hoof being much more efficient and lasting
much longer then a steel shoe.

TP> Now I may be missing something in all the post on the  barefoot horse.  I
TP> think a person should be able to ride barefooted in a ride if they want. The
TP> only way we will know in the long run if barefoot horses will hold up to
TP> endurance is to get them out there and let the trail sort it out.

I don't think this is a passing fad. Too many amazing results with it.
I think you will see more and more barefoot horses in performance
sports. I know I like what I have seen so far.

Best regards,
 Lynette                            mailto:helgeson@ndak.net