Informative - Natural
- I believe that anyone who believes horses should be shod for things such as trail rides, eventing, competitions etc. Should read "The sould of a horse" - Joe camp. It is very informative and changed my mind on the matter. It also gives you helpful valid information, and if you are not yet convinced, or do not read. Do your research. Those who believe that shoes are nessecary for trail riding - horses in the wild travel for many miles every day, on rough, rugged land. Their hooves become strong enough to crush rock. People may believe that horses need shoes, because, generally, as soon as you take shoes off a long time shod horse, they limp on it/ are tender on it for a period after the removal. This is because the circulation has been cut off and just like us, when we cross out legs and loose circulation in our legs, it can be tender and get the "ooh, ouch" because they have just regained feeling in their hoof. Shoes can do more harm than good- Please, do your research.
- —Guest Toni
Barefoot trimmer / trainer
- If you're willing to learn about the biomechanics of the foot you'll realize that horses do not need shoes unless the digital cushions (et al) have not been allowed to mature due to the suspension that shoeing provides. If you never shoe your horse(s) and keep him/her active, you should never have to; gravel, rocks, eventing, notwithstanding. If you're horse has been shod for a period of time, there will be a learning curve and transitional period, with respect to the amount of time he/she was shod, if you want to go back (and you should) to barefoot. I've been keeping mine and my clients' horses feet barefoot for twenty years. The tradition pundits need to get out from under their monkey-see-monkey do "reality" and recognize what science, common sense, and experience are telling us.
- —Guest Shoelessjoe
Luv your horse?
- Anyone who would ride a horse on an open trail without shoes or hoof boots doesn't care about their horse...period. The quickest method for laming a horse is to ride it on a rough trail with no shoes. I can't believe anyone who responded to this blog who said they trail ride shoeless have either ever done that or know anything at all about horse hooves. I'd like to see them walk over a gravel driveway 'au naturel" with no shoes. Be humane, if you trail ride shoe your horses!
- —LazyJay
Stay Natural
- I think it is always better to go the natural way as much as possible. My horses are both barefoot and I can't think of any reason why I would change that. If I am going on long trail rides very often I put hoof boots on to protect my horse's feet. You can do anything you want with boots that fit properly. In my opinion being barefoot is a lot better for their hooves as they seem to get stronger from being exposed to different type of ground. In addition to that it makes it a lot easier to offer the horse a more natural life. Usually the horses that are kept in a herd are not allowed to have back shoes so being shot keeps your horse being separated from the other horses.
- —Greki
Bare for him me
- I have transitioned to barefoot for my horse about 3 years ago. He didn't have problems with shoes but had a suspensory injury and I decided while he was off he didn't need shoes. His hoofs are now hard - never crack or chip like when he wore shoes, and he is 100% sound. Someone mentioned that they wouldn't leave home without shoes, I WILL! As soon as spring comes and my feet won't get cold, the shoes come off. By May my feet are very tough and have adapted to even running on gravel without discomfort. My horses feet have adapted the same way, they are "rock crushers". The only difference is that for my feet they do get cold when the ground is wet, so I need shoes sometimes - metal shoes for the horse don't protect against the cold so he stays bare.
- —mgood4x4
barefoot
- My 8 year old quarter horse goes natural. I have never shod her because she has very strong healthy hooves that have never had any problems. but that is her. if your horse needs to be shod go for it.
- —Guest caligurl
To shoe or not to shoe.
- I have a 10 year old horse that in the four year's I have had him he has not had shoes on and I don't plan to. We gallop on gravel road's ride in field's and on dirt trail's. He does some asphalt but I prefewr to stay away from to much traffic. I plan to get him into doing trail's in the mountain's,(matter of training and not feet). I love how he does and can't see having him in shoes'
- —GTandLisa
barefoot for long life
- learn from the swedish hoof school WHY barefoot IS the only and best thing for ALL horses and ponies. I showed (we won most of the time) shod horses and did what farries and vets said when my very very beloved mare foundered (thyroid) She was sired by my most beloved and successful stud . Fine until the day arrived that everyone said ; well you must put your mare down now as we have done all we can and now the shoing and pads yaddayadda are no longer effective! THANK GOD I stumbled upon the swedish hoof school research of a decade...that was 2 years ago and my mare is happy alive i ride her and she is barefoot!!! Need to have them on varied terrain to adapt hoof and use boots until they are comfy . follow the ways of the wild horses! shoes are for short term love affairs with your horse...until death do you part.
- —Guest love horses
Shoes or barefoot
- We live in South Africa and have 7 barefoot horses at home. 2 are jumping in the 1.50m classes, and have never slipped on grass or sand, and have won numerous titles. Barefoot required dedication and hard work, you cant just rip the shoes off and expect them to work. one of our jumpers we bought as a 5 yr old, and both front feet had already been equilocked!! she now has a fantastic wall, great bonding and has never slipped. Our other jumper has pedal ostitis, hence failed the vet when we purchased him, it was caused by poor shoeing, high heels, toe clips. he is now barefoot, jumping 1.50m classes and would have broken down if we had left him shoe. the more we see of shoes, quarter clips, studs the more we know we wd never shoe again. take the time and effort to let the joints have a longer life, would you like to be bound up like the Chinese women, thats what shoes do, restrict and cripple, stop the circulation and what is circulation, its life, so lets live
- —Guest Di
Depends
- My horse is a haflinger and has great feet and although we do competitions my farrier and trainer say that it is not nessary. On the other hand there is a trekahner (i hope i spelled that right) at our barn who isn't being ridden who needs shoes at all times or his feet will legit fall apart. So it all depends. Next time you see your farrier ask him (I would also ask my trainer for their opinion too)
- —Guest noneofurbuisness
Leaning Barefoot
- My mare is white footed and has problems keeping the proper length. I put shoes on her front and the hoof itself is growing longer, however, her legs are becoming more and more sore as we ride often and under rough conditions. I strongly believe that her soreness is due to being shod. Her hooves will be put back into their natural state (without shoes) at her next appt. I agree that regardless if a horse is working hard or at pasture, it is much better for their body as a whole to be barefoot and natural. Check into a more healthy diet -possibly with minerals- if your horse is having problems staying sound.
- —Guest Moriah
Barefoot or shod??
- It depends on the horses hoofs. My horse is sore-footed, so i need to get him shod. If you don't ride your horse except round the paddock or something, just leave him barefoot. Otherwise, all horses hoofs are different.
- —Guest EyeLuvMyHorse
Would love to be shoeless but........
- I had ridden my lad for several months low hacking on hard, soft and gravel ground. he lived out 24/7 and suffered a really awful abcess, it took 5 weeks of poltice and bandaging. Made a recovery and went out, again lame and foot sore. Now shod on front and a major difference to his and my life. It all depands on the horse...what is good for the goose is not nessaserily good for the gander!
- —Guest Yvonne
To Shoe or Not?
- I believe that if a horse is competing at a high level, they should wear shoes. But for trail riding I think they should go barefoot. I had a horse once, and he would limp over gravel, so we couldn't ride him anywhere where there was gravel, and that was a pain, so I think that he should have been shod. It all depends on the horse, and what it's doing.
- —Guest Heidi
Shoes vs Barefoot
- Well i think if you have a horse that does BIG competitions and jumping blah blah blah you should shoe your horse but if you do just trail riding and just let them graze all day well then i say bare foot.Really it`s just a decision for people to think about .
- —Guest Sofia
