Embarking New Track

by Bonnie (Vic, Australia)

Hi Sarah,

I am getting ready to set up my track. Can’t wait!! My horse’s (quarter), currently have use of all paddocks which lead from one to the other however the spring grass is starting to appear and I want them off and onto the track.

Also I’m redoing my pasture and sowing native
grass which I understand is better for them( not high sugar) so I have some work to do.

My boys are also barefoot, one for 2 yrs and the other which I bred, has never been shod. The one who has been barefoot for 2 yrs had terrible feet, he’s a reiner, and clearly, was shod very early on in life however they have improved, but it will take time.

They may already have been too damaged that they may never fully recover, but I know he’ll never have shoes on again. His frogs are so narrow- hardly recognizable! I can see some concavity starting to occur so that’s exciting!

So I will let you know when everything is up and running and post some pics! Love the website too,trying to sway other horsey friends but they just look at me as if I’m mad.

So sadly it’s their horse’s loss. Anyhow will keep you posted!

Cheers,
Bonnie from down under

Reply:-

Dear Bonnie – Well done, every single step you take will make a huge difference. Don’t worry about everyone else, just keep being a leader and then one day you will look around… and find you have followers…

The horse with really bad hooves – just keep trimming every 2 weeks if possible. The healing that can occur in horses hooves continues to amaze me and I know many other barefoot owners have also found this.

So don’t give up – those frogs will start working as long as you keep trimming regular.

Read my notes on grazing – a track can be good but we have found that seeding fields with a medieval pasture mix and then keeping the horses on a rotation system has been kinder to our land.
Look foward to hearing from you. Sarah