Why Go Barefoot…?
Why go barefoot? Here are some of the answers why I love keeping our horses barefoot. This is a simplified list and is in no particular order, but hopefully, it will help you, if you are wondering whether to follow this route and keep your horse(s) barefoot.
- One:- Because it is very easy and contrary to most peoples thoughts most horses can.
- Two:- I can turn out all of our barefoot horses together; mares, geldings (and even foals if and when we have any) without any fear of injury. They may have the odd “war wound” but any fighting or interaction is not going to cause serious injury which can happen with shod horses when turned out together. If I want I can also “free school” (otherwise known as “loose school”) them together in the school because, if they kick out with excitement and buck a bit with each other they won’t cause serious damage (if any at all) and I can literally stand in the middle of the school and watch them muck around without any worry that they will have incurred a serious injury to each other.
- Three:- Since keeping our horses barefoot, the damage to our fields as been severely reduced. Although at this time of year (winter) they become more poached and muddy, they are still more “in tact” because the horses are not wearing shoes. Barefoot horses will always create less damage and every little bit helps.
- Four:- When we are working with them on the ground, whether this is just one of my daughters leading them from the field to the yard or one of us doing groundwork training, they are much safer. If they stand on you, (which hopefully never happens) it is not nearly as dangerous or painful(!)
- Five:- The health benefits for barefoot horses is also a huge part of the reason…No more swollen legs, no more thrush, no more raging mud fever and scabs to treat, no more abscesses (after having transitioned) no more laminitis.
- Six:- No more farriers bills or telephone calls to the farrier, working out when he can come and then fitting in with his ‘tight schedule’ so that we can continue to ride our horses.
No more frustration when he cannot come within a convenient time. No more annoyance when the shoes that he has just put on have come off and wondering whether we should change farriers; but if we do change, is the next farrier we find going to be easy to work with…? Is his shoeing going to be any good…? Does he balance the hoof correctly…? Does he keep long heels…… How does he trim……. and so forth. And finally no more waiting for the farrier… at all! And forget losing shoes in deep mud, or having them “pulled off”… and no more, over-reach injuries……….
- Seven:- When we are hacking, no more metal shoes slipping on roads… and no more heaviness and resounding banging/shock waves which you feel through the horse when you are riding it. No matter the breed of your horse, you will always feel a heaviness which is nonexistent when riding a barefoot horse. (You will only understand this when you take the shoes off and I don’t mean just the back shoes, I mean all the shoes and feel it for yourself.)
No grand prix dressage rider will ever be able to create the lightness with a shod horse that a barefoot horse has naturally.
- Eight:- When we come back from hunting they are sound and we are not looking for overreaches, shoes half hanging off and embedded nails in their hoof walls. We never need to call the farrier after hunting, nor do we worry about injuries the horse causes itself when in work or out in the field…What more is there to say?
- Nine:- Finally with our everyday work and care there is no more looking and seeing ongoing hoof pathologies and problems such as thrush, split hoof walls, thin soles, abscesses (after transition), poor underdeveloped frogs, and mud fever… the list goes on. But all of this is due to the compromised and poor circulation in their hooves and legs which is the result of horse shoes… and without shoes these problems are eliminated.
The drawbacks of barefoot? Learning how to transition a horse from shod to barefoot.
So, why go barefoot? The above is why. In addition, I have not even gone into the huge cost saving advantages, that topic warrants another post.
If you want the above for you and your horse but don’t know where to go or how to start, just contact us – we have answers for you.
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Actually I have something else to say. When is this whole subject going to appear in mainstream media such as Horse and Hound? It is only a matter of time before someone makes the first move. Mmmm..I wonder who that could be…..
Congratulations on an excellent article. After all this time, there are still new things to be known about the benefits of barefootedness and you have explained several. Talking of one, I have often thought that attaching a lump of metal to a horse’s leg interferes with his judgment when displaying ‘mock fighting’ behaviour. Without a shoe a horse may appear to be intending to kick a companion, though he rarely makes contact. With a shoe, his judgment may I think be affected because of the weighted hoof and he ends up making unintentional contact. Just a thought. But I shall always remember, when a student, being at the wrong end of a yearling Thoroughbred that, stupidly, I had frightened. He swung his quarters around and lashed out with both hind feet. Fortunately, he was barefoot, otherwise I would not be writing this. All he did was to flick dust off my trousers.
The graphic brings back boyhood memories but now looks less ‘romantic.’
Bob.
Reading your website is like entering the world of horses in 50 years time…..lets make it 10!!! I cannot believe how blinded I was by tradition and peer pressure and the resulting years of discomfort I have allowed the many horses in my care to suffer. But not any more! I am ordering my poly tape for my paddock paradise and my barefoot tools are on the way……..
Thank you. Beccy Smith BSc EBW (Equine Body Worker).