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Thought I would jump in. Rain out today no riding.

I was 'forced' into going shoe-less. My shoer for many years  for 
unknown reasons no longer wanted to shoe for me...

The 'local' shoers were just that - local.. and not
very good.
So I decided to just deal with the trimming issues.
I was not going radical 'barefoot' , just trim the way the hoof grows,
After lots of reading and getting a book by Jamie Jackson, I took on the 
task of trimming my own.
 For he past years I was trimming the older non ridden horses. They 
were looking good and had no issues. The challenge was to get the ones 
we rode going well barefoot.

I now have one retired horse that is not ridden much at all. He has been 
BF for over 3 years. Actually his  hoofs look way better then when he 
was shod. If I take him out on  a play ride, I use a new type of boot 
called B4 by Bonnie. It is a strap on type of boot. I have had good 
success using this boot on him. The boot is bulky but he goes well in 
it. He does not get ridden far or hard.


Carol's arab-mule was BF for 2 to 3 years. Her hoof  did better without 
shoes. I had some real problems getting her trimmed 'correctly'. Mule 
hoofs and frogs are sure different.  After working on her using methods 
by Jackson and Ramsey, I have her looking good and going sound on trail. 
We tried Epic EZboots but had problems with rubs from the gators. Carol 
also felt she did not stride out as well. So  she has  been BF for the 
past year and doing well. Carol carries the Epics when we ride in rough 
areas. The boots go on if needed. She only boots the front.

The 'gone'  foxtrotter had great hoofs. I trimmed him the 10 months I 
had him. He had issues with shoers. He also had great tough hard hoofs. 
He went well BF. I  tried the BARE and EPIC on him. He did not gait as 
well and kept picking them off.
I switched over to the Renegade. After 2 rides I got them adjusted right 
and he never lost one again. I rode him BF unless we were going on 
really rock trails. He did go BF on a rough rocky trail at BSF. For 
those who know this  trail it was Gernt/O&W/coles gap. Lots of rock. He 
did fine after that 27 mile ride. I carried the Renegades  but as long 
as he was going well I did not put them on.

The Renegades worked great when needed.

The new FT 11 yr old mare has never been shod. Took awhile to get her 
trimmed correctly. She had soft soles. I use a sole hardener- 
Crossapoll. After 8 months she is going great BF. I do put her  in the 
Renegades as needed based on trail and how long we ride.

I tried the EPIC/BARES on her, but failed to work both in gait and rubs 
from the gators. Gloves would not fit her and the gator would rub her 
after about 5 miles.

I find the Renegades to be about the best. Once adjusted, they stay on. 
There are no rubs. I prefer the Velcro straps - as some said they will 
rip or pull apart if they get hung up. I carry one spare strap . I ride 
her in 4 boots or none.
The longest ride she has taken BF was about 22 miles. She did fine. I 
think this year should be a great year for her. I may not ask her to do 
an LD but we will be riding  more and on longer trails.

I did find a BF trimmer. She has been teaching me her methods and will 
work with me. She filled in for me with  the trims over the fall/winter 
when I was healing from the DVT in the left leg. I am good to go now. We 
put her on a 8 week schedule. I will do the weekly touch up as needed 
and she will be back to review my work and make corrections as required.

Overall the shoeless change has been easy, not complex. Read and look at 
LOTS of pictures. It is not all that difficult, once you get it figured 
out. I think I had about a 2 month learning cure to change form flat 
pasture time to  natural BF trim. It takes me about 30 minutes to trim a 
horse. I do measure some but I now know what their hoof should look like.

I have tried many boots, the only ones that works well for me  was the 
older non-gator EZboot and the Renegades.
Renegades are now fast to get on. Takes me about 5 minutes to boot all 4.

Bottom line - the Renegades have worked  out the best for me and my horses

Roger R



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