Barefooted Horse Owners
Comment: After all the threads we've had on this, I'm not trying to start anything again But I have a question. In the previous threads, I've gotten the impression that you guys think that all horses can/should be going barefoot. Even if there is a long adjustment period.But obviously, not every horse owner agrees with the barefoot/natural method or trim, has the time for the adjustment period, or isn't willing to try it... and whatever their reason is, so the shoes stay on. As "barefoot" people, to you is there such a thing as a "correct" way to shoe the horse? Or is your opinion, that shoes are baaad and every horse should go barefoot? Sorry if this question doesnt make sense, I'll try re-wording it if it doesnt
My Response:
Absolutely correct! :) It's not about the horse not being able to be barefoot REGARDLESS of discipline; it's about the human and his or her choices. Any horse CAN be barefoot and is healthier for it. But ... if someone is consulting w/me about whether or not to remove the shoes on the horse and that person is giving me alot of "can'ts" or "won'ts" then I generally say, "I'm sorry. I can't help you, then. But here's the number for so and so who may be able to better serve your needs." I won't pull the shoes on a horse where the owner is not dedicated to what the HORSE needs - it's not fair to the horse.
There are parameters that need to be installed for a horse that is transitioning from shoes to barefoot that will quicken the recovery time of the hooves. Lots and lots of MOVEMENT on all sorts of terrain, is necessary for the hooves. Cutting out chemicals, preservatives and fertilizers as well as processed sugars and carbs in the horse's diet is a strong contributing factor in a successful rehab. Proper conditioning is imperative to restoration. This means you can't turn out a horse in a grassy pasture for 4 hours a day, return him to the stall with 12 inches of shavings, feed him concentrated grains and limited hay then expect the horse to be sound on gravel or stones or rocks and be able to contend in a judged 15 mile trail ride or endurance race. That's not the least bit fair to the HORSE! However, if the horse is turned out 24/7 in a herd on varied footing including rocks and gravel over which he HAS to travel, feed free choice grass hay and limited processed grains PLUS the hooves are trimmed *correctly*, then that horse has a wonderful chance for a successful barefoot life. Even if the horse is turned out for 12 - 14 hours a day on a softer pasture, encouraged to move, handwalked daily on firm, hard, surface during rehab/transition, etc. etc. then that horse has a far better chance of recovery than the stable flower. It *is* about what the owner chooses and the dedication to do what is best for the HORSE; not the human. Barefooted horses are a "way of life"; not something one "does" on a whim.
Take a look here: www.tribeequus.com and www.hoofrehab.com to see some rock-crunching, fabulous hooves on performance and working horses. Horses who are competing in 100 mile endurance races, barefoot, and winning! Horses that work 8 hours a day on rocky trails, barefoot, and are as healthy as ... well, a horse! ;) Police horses; carriage horses; 3 day eventers; backyards - all horses CAN go barefoot. The question is, can or will all horse owners take their horses barefoot? Do they have the dedication to conditioning the hooves? To giving the parameters the horse needs to be healthy and whole, barefoot? etc. etc. That's the real answer for you.
:) -- caballus
My Response:
Absolutely correct! :) It's not about the horse not being able to be barefoot REGARDLESS of discipline; it's about the human and his or her choices. Any horse CAN be barefoot and is healthier for it. But ... if someone is consulting w/me about whether or not to remove the shoes on the horse and that person is giving me alot of "can'ts" or "won'ts" then I generally say, "I'm sorry. I can't help you, then. But here's the number for so and so who may be able to better serve your needs." I won't pull the shoes on a horse where the owner is not dedicated to what the HORSE needs - it's not fair to the horse.
There are parameters that need to be installed for a horse that is transitioning from shoes to barefoot that will quicken the recovery time of the hooves. Lots and lots of MOVEMENT on all sorts of terrain, is necessary for the hooves. Cutting out chemicals, preservatives and fertilizers as well as processed sugars and carbs in the horse's diet is a strong contributing factor in a successful rehab. Proper conditioning is imperative to restoration. This means you can't turn out a horse in a grassy pasture for 4 hours a day, return him to the stall with 12 inches of shavings, feed him concentrated grains and limited hay then expect the horse to be sound on gravel or stones or rocks and be able to contend in a judged 15 mile trail ride or endurance race. That's not the least bit fair to the HORSE! However, if the horse is turned out 24/7 in a herd on varied footing including rocks and gravel over which he HAS to travel, feed free choice grass hay and limited processed grains PLUS the hooves are trimmed *correctly*, then that horse has a wonderful chance for a successful barefoot life. Even if the horse is turned out for 12 - 14 hours a day on a softer pasture, encouraged to move, handwalked daily on firm, hard, surface during rehab/transition, etc. etc. then that horse has a far better chance of recovery than the stable flower. It *is* about what the owner chooses and the dedication to do what is best for the HORSE; not the human. Barefooted horses are a "way of life"; not something one "does" on a whim.
Take a look here: www.tribeequus.com and www.hoofrehab.com to see some rock-crunching, fabulous hooves on performance and working horses. Horses who are competing in 100 mile endurance races, barefoot, and winning! Horses that work 8 hours a day on rocky trails, barefoot, and are as healthy as ... well, a horse! ;) Police horses; carriage horses; 3 day eventers; backyards - all horses CAN go barefoot. The question is, can or will all horse owners take their horses barefoot? Do they have the dedication to conditioning the hooves? To giving the parameters the horse needs to be healthy and whole, barefoot? etc. etc. That's the real answer for you.
:) -- caballus
posted by Gwen at 12:41 PM
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