Not everyone is the same, even (especially)!! That might be management, or it might simply be your expectations (for all I know your horse is over 30 years old and you’re trying to go eventing every weekend. please get off your (excuse the pun) high horse people and just let horse owners decide on their own whether their horse needs to be shod or not. The “barefooters” simply choose the other options. Thank you for allowing my comment. Optimizing hoof performance means correcting growth direction before any hoof pathologies develop. . After one year of barefoot trimming, my horse was completely sound. For the wild horse, hoof care is simple, where it gets complicated is when we restrict movement or try to protect the hoof rather than condition it for concussion. Great article, thanks for sharing;plenty to learn. They are both based on science. There is always another option. There’s even barefoot specialists who don’t trim at all! Very lucky to get a Household Cavalry-trained senior Farrier from the start. It’s whether the hoof capsule is in balance with the internal hoof structures. Join thousands of other pet owners and pet lovers on the UK's most popular and friendly pet community and discussion forum. As your skills improve you will soon learn that ignorance was bliss when it involves a hoof deformity on a sound horse. He wasn’t just doing a course out of interest, he was serious about barefoot. Very helpful to hear your thoughts on this, as a new horse owner who wants to stay barefoot always. Farriers tend to fear that barefooting will cut into their business, and there may be a period in the next decade where they try to legislate us out of business. All jokes aside thrush can cause real lameness issues. Most hoof deformities that are seen later in life were created within the first few years of the horse’s life. These are what I term the five basic structures, heel, hoof wall, bar, sole and frog. But what they’re used to seeing; what looks right to them, is a shorter foot. I love the article. But he was still shoeing those crazy weighted shoe things they put on gaited horses to lame them exaggerate the gait. It’s a matter of conditioning of the mind, not skill. Everyone has their own language and brings with them their own bias. . Trimmers aren’t taught through an apprenticeship scheme. This process with average movement takes between two and five years to complete in the wild. Find a Barefoot Trimmer Based on Their Professional Association. Fix the source, the rest will follow. Technically that makes it equilibrium, but I continue to use the term balance as that’s what people understand (plus the whole hoof industry is built on misnaming things… barefoot trimming isn’t about barefoot and it isn’t about trimming… white line disease isn’t a disease of the white line). Don’t get me wrong, I mustang roll all over the place, there’s good reasons to do so, but it’s not the difference between a barefoot trim and a farrier trim. You become frustrated trying various trimmers and you’re not fully happy with your horse’s soundness. Love that everyone is talking about going barefoot, and how artificial shoes are. The result? I think if there were more farriers who thought like Performance Farrier, there’d be far fewer trimmers at all! Sometimes the best person for the job is the one who’s telling you the things you really don’t want to hear. It’s an aid to direct flight and landing path, much as a rocker shoe or shoes with trailers help correct and direct traveling issues with other horses. Farriery, as a science, is based very much in mechanics. I agree with you every farrier/owner/horse has too many equations to follow only one solution. It doesn’t think about the ‘healing’ mechanisms of the hoof. So, no matter if you are a shoer or a barefoot trimmer, the health of the horse, it’s current issues and what is interacting with the ground (a bare hoof or a shoe) are your concerns. Look up the latest information and research. Looking for some suggestions? It seems to be commonly accepted that a ‘barefoot trim’ uses a mustang roll and a ‘farrier trim’ also referred to as a ‘pasture trim’ doesn’t include a mustang roll. Please do not think that just because my mare is gaited, Tennessee Walking Horse, that I would ever allow the archaic way of hurting these beauties by allowing this kind of hoof/shoeing abuse be done to her-she is not show ring and I am glad she’s not, but the building up of those hooves, the chains, etc., I’ve seen my full of them, and this practice that is harmful should be banned! For horses kept in mucky stalls do not fare well being barefoot unless their stalls and hooves are cleaned twice a day, hooves treated for thrush each time, and plenty of exercise daily or turn out time with varying types of terrain in their turn out space. Almost 5 years down the line, I’m now under a barefoot trimmer who (first appointment next week) will be looking not only at hooves but diet, environment, exercise etc. Keep being hard to please!! If you’re unsure of where to look to find a barefoot trimmer in your area, or if you’re looking for a second opinion on your horse’s trims, here are some options for you to try. Farriers reach for metal, “barefooters” want to know the cause and use things besides metal to fix it. We can’t even agree on hoof-fall, is it heel first…flat with slight heel first that can’t be seen…flat…toe first. I qualified in 2011. So, with the new advances in technology and the discovery of the five hearts hoof mechanism more ideas arise from those who truly want to help horses without hindering the function of hoof mechanism, that is for horses who have something close to a species appropriate lifestyle. Trees produce a dense crown of leaves to manufacture the sugar used as energy for growth and development. Often the obvious is overlooked and also what is obvious ( when you know ) you have never thought about until Debs points it out! Do you want someone who’s going to trim and leave, because you’ve already got the rest under control? What I hear and see from all points of the industry is everybody is on their own soap box. Next is the sole less dense more like “leather padding” easily stretched and molded by the leaf spring. And of course, that you and your horses are getting what you need . it is difficult and takes training. Information with understanding is knowledge. In fact, I think that is why many farriers still shoe. Taller trees can influence the trunk, crown and branches. Waiting four or six weeks for the hoof care provider to examine a hoof is too long, unless each of the basic structures is growing in the correct direction. Most now recognize overgrowth on the hoof wall especially at the toe, but most methods for correcting this condition does not prevent the reoccurrence of overgrowth. I’ve done over 500 disections and been ivolved with research and development of cutting edge technologies. She was so lame she could barely move, and the x-rays revealed coffin bone rotation. ), You see, the simple fact is the difference isn’t in the trim. Every horse is born with a hoof deformity in that the hoof is “rolled-up to protect the mother. !, horses! Used incorrectly, it’s not. Does the structure deform before it reaches optimum length? The horse is walking on its soles. So back to my question "can every horse go barefoot?" i am in an area famous for this type of shoeing and my opinion often is not welcomed. Thanks Charlotte, it’s all about what’s in your tool box isn’t it , Hi , I am always interested in reading what people have to say about anything to do with horses’ hooves . However, the biggest difference in mindset is the tools that one uses in the tool box. I rarely need to put stuff on the wall if I’ve got the diet right so I don’t have much to offer in the topical recommendation department. the answer is still "yes", however i will not remove the shoes from a horse if the owner cant understand that the horse will need boots and pads for a couple of months until the hoof can grow and adapt, otherwise it becomes a welfare issue. Again to all those that have helped us protest soring, thanks, you have helped us enormously. Is it more advantageous to leave the sole and frog. This article is wonderful. Good article. No one size fits all. New farrier is coming Monday thank God. Once you understand each puzzle piece you will be able to put the jigsaw together to see the whole picture with far greater clarity and new insight. Horses who have varied terrain and gravel where they run or move around will grow hooves accustomed to that terrain. It all still comes down to anatomy and physiology. also, i do not trim them down as far as possible, i leave healthy sole and only remove the frog that is either diseased or where they grow to far to the side and catch debris, which is usually diseased because of bacteria. The weight is added strategically to the toe or heel of the shoes, depending on desired outcome (for instance locking in the rack for a five gaited horse). Common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to improve form, and to reduce risk. I shoe if needed. In my experience, a lot of issues that show up in the hooves/legs is directly related to issues higher up in the body. What is good today on this horse may not be good tomorrow or with a different horse and owner. But in addition to that, you’re employing them to advise you and provide a service. What I’m interested in is anyone’s thoughts or comments on “applied on the outside” products regarding healthy feet. Farriery approaches balance from a static point of view. With the hoof, the heels “should not” be pulled forward and the sole and frog “should not” be stretched by the wall…the bars do not overlap the sole in the back half of the hoof. The methods are far too horrific for me to bring myself to insert a link here. For the third year in a row, (apart from one mare who we bought in) I have not had lameness or hoof complaints or soreness over winter. After graduation, I put shoes on horses for one year. This foal hoof creates an unnatural stride and hoof-fall. They do (or should). Pathogens can tunnel deep into compromised tissue. Barefoot for me is the ideal and for horse owners I think it encourages more of a holistic approach to horse care and management. I’ll give you an A* for bothering to read it and taking the time to comment. A farrier can make $30,000 per year trimming horses. i also am greatly interested in working with donkeys in which differ slightly from horse hoofs. The roots grow in the ground spreading out in equal directions from the trunk. Again his reasoning was, that the horses were better off with a strong balanced foot before the weighted contraption was applied, and he’s right on that point, very much so. I scoured other alternatives and finally came upon the Barefoot Trimmer site and directory of trimmers in my area. I have since dropped out of AHA. Hoof lameness is any inability of the horse to move comfortably on the lifestyle terrain that is caused by any issue rooted in the hoof. I enjoyed your article. Think about what kind of person you want to work with, because you really should be working WITH your hoof care provider. The number one mistake I see being made by anyone trimming hooves is removing too much sole. I work with a lot of barefoot horses and their owners with a lot of success. A couple years later, I was finally able to go to horseshoeing school. Studs in shoes stop the horse short, whereas the hoof allows for steady traction. My query to the hugely knowledgeable contributors to this site, (which I’ve only just found and am in awe of the blogs etc) is about lotions and potions. Physiological problems can be addressed but to help the horse achieve maximal performance the aplication of the correct shoe and weight can help a horse achieve better results quicker, much like physical therapy, helping the horse to use the correct muscle groups and work through atrophy because of congenital problems or injury, or improper riding. There’s lots of different ways in which farriers balance and trim hooves, just as there’s many different ways in which barefoot trimmers balance and trim hooves. Its not OK to take the shoes off your horse and think him/her hobbling about is OK, that the hooves will toughen up. I have competed in AFA competitions with great success with some of the best in the industry. My conscience wouldn’t let me ignore that barefoot produced healthier feet long term. It has become clear from widespread experience since 2000 that success in going barefoot is not just about pulling the shoes and using the "wild horse" or "high-performance" barefoot trim. The barefoot crowd was definitely onto something. Whose first sentence was “I don’t like shoeing horses unless it’s necessary” and second was an instruction to me to buy the book “No foot, no horse”. ( However the smell lingers and when i pop to the shop afterwards people learn very fast about personal space stood in the cue next to me.) I realized it wasn’t just the trimming that needed to change, everything else had to follow suit. I love this blog and wish I’d read it years ago when I first got horses and went barefoot. But old habits die hard and cognitive dissonance plays a big part in people not wanting to change. Interesting thoughts Rhiannon, thanks for sharing . Basic information to trim your own horse. All have the best interest of the horse in mind. I specialise in the Equine Foot - (1) Nutrition for feet (2) Trimming for comfort (3) Foot balance for long-term performance BAREFOOT WHEN POSSIBLE, SHOD WHEN NECESSARY. One big factor is left out of most barefoot-only arguments- genetics. We now have laminated photographs after a “benchmark” professional trim that I can use to compare and contrast my work, and have key measurements to indicate the need for a trim. If you suspect or know your horse will be sore without his shoes then you must have boots and pads to help him transition. the feet affect the the whole horse. I think about how the body functions to create this result and what stimulus does the body need so it grows stronger, healthier, more balanced structure. Weighted shoes aka “pads” (sometimes filled with cement), along with chains are called “action devices” that are used Along with cruel behavioral training methods, chemical applications on hooves & pasterns & sometimes a practice known as “pressure shoeing” as a way to achieve the Big Lick. First off I am not a farrier just a vet tech and human nurse. Pasture trimming aggressively trims the sole and frog, which can cause tenderness on hard ground. I am going to talk about hoof boots briefly, my horses are sound barefoot in their field and on a had flat surface, if im going on a 5 mile ride with rode work, some forestry tacks then i dont bother with boots, their hooves are tough and can manage this no problem. My near 28 yo gelding was shod most of his life. 593 likes. This can be difficult when there is overlapping growth and function, especially when pathogen infection makes it difficult to identify bars and heel wall that have been growing over the sole. My barefoot trimmer and friend, has used them, even on her own horse, who had always had problems ( was also injured, as a youngster) and now the horse’s way of going, is so much better. There’s a list of some schools here https://www.barefoothorse.info/barefoot-trimming-schools/, Having a hard time finding someone that trims in Lisle Broome County NY. My point here isn’t about horrific things that occur in the fringes of horse shoeing. He’s a happy boy. I’m so pleased it’s worked out for Eddie, and for you. Well it’s not just about the hoof being in balance with the ground. To train as a simple farrier, with an ordinary black and white licence, will take you at least three years. They have species appropriate living conditions which most people are not aware of, what many people provide horses with as far as their living conditions actually goes against what is appropriate for their species, thus the health of the hooves and the strength of their soundness goes out the window. He’s been barefoot ever since. It sounds like that was a very good way to learn! Metal shoes is middle ages science and the only improvement is that you can now buy shoes off the shelf. The edges are rounded to help prevent chipping . It’s time they think like the arborist, with a better understanding that the hoof is growing tissue, and everything they do effects the growth direction and it’s relationship with the internal structures. Most of my work 90% is Barefoot trimming. The best way to control pathogen infections in the hoof wall is to ignore fungus and kill anaerobic bacteria by keeping it open to the air and removing it. If life was perfect then every tree would perfect, but life is not perfect, it has a way of influencing destiny. . If the hoof causes your eyes to sting and the urge to hold your breath whilst picking your horses hoof out then this inst normal. That’s a pretty good pay raise That’s why a lot of farriers still defend fixed metal footwear. The Association’s aim is to regulate and support Equine Podiatrists working in the UK, promoting responsible shoeless hoofcare and providing information to anybody wishing to find out more about Equine Podiatry. Let’s be clear, the use of just pads & chains will not achieve the Big Lick. Two extremes of the Big Lick industry, Your article was very good, but I would like to expand on your comments on soring as I felt they left a misconception on soring. I enjoyed your article for the most part but do take issue with your classification of weighted shoes as being “ridiculous”. He was training for a barefoot trimming qualification. No amount of trimming is going to give that horse the 14″ foot it needs. But the external things I apply, aren’t what’s fixing the problem. The other day my friend asked me why I wanted to learn, in her words “horse manicures”. that being said 90 percent of the horses i do are just trims. Easy setup, Email and SMS appointments and reminders, simple invoicing with your logo and many more benefits. A couple years ago my gelding was abcessing, and the veterinarian advised our farrier, but he didn’t really listen. In my experience there will always be those that need shoeing. Think about the tensile of the five basic components. Date: February 14, 2017 Author: Jennifer Stoltz 0 Comments. There is a place in our industry for all different kinds of farriers barefoot and iron. Again this is down to mind set. I am also, to my knowledge, the only person who is riding out and working them for the coming season and not either off lame or waiting for the farrier to come and put a shoe back on. I also want to say that I agree on your philosophy re: the mind set, in order to grow you have to allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. I learned to shoe in 1972 and went full time in 1977. Loved your article thank you as i was a little confused between the difference – I’m based in the UK and use a farrier for trimming all my horses and in my opinion he does what is right for the horse, my girl (been bare foot for 13 years) who is retired now has very long feet and some my say i don’t look after them but she has them trimmed every 6 – 8 weeks depending on the time of year and my farrier knows to take her feet right back to look how people think they should look would just make her extremely sore, she has no rounding off done as its to uncomfortable to hold her legs up for to long now so i praise my farrier for doing what is right for her. I previously had a wonderful barefoot trimmer, but when she retired needed someone and there werent any barefoot trimmers coming to my area, so I tried a farrier I had spoken to in the past (ex military farrier, he even explained that while he was in the military he was taught that all horses should have shoes off for at least three months a year and that shoeing was sometimes a necessary evil, interesting concept from a farrier), he has helped loads with my thoroughbred, who is 18 and still barefoot, and even though he has been trimming my two horses for about three years now he still takes the time to watch them move and assess the whole horse. When conditioning a hoof for a new job or terrain the changes we make ideally should improve the confirmation, lengthen and/or strengthen the stride and increase overall performance. Trees may also be pruned to increase light and air penetration to the inside of the tree’s crown or to the landscape below. What determines necessary? It brings to light the fact that hoofcare is really a mindset, wether you look at just the hoof itself or the whole picture. In my opinion, one can not call oneself a farrier if the rig lacks a forge and at least a couple pieces of bar stock. But I’m just not about the money. In this case it probably is more significant, though I’d argue that’s not a mustang roll (I’d also recommend against doing this in most cases, but that’s a whole different debate). If you know of any that are missing, please ask them to contact me with their details and I’ll gladly include them. When we keep a hoof locked into a situation that the terrain, age or lifestyle is trying to adapt away from, we create lameness. She was so sound that no one believed me when I told them she had foundered, and she was very comfortable riding on gravel roads. For the latest in the anti big lick cruelty movement, check out billygoboy.com & FOSH (friends of sound horses). Pet Forums Community . As to your farrier friend, he is either in deep denial or just straight out lying to you that none of the horses he has shod have been sored. In the dry summer it’s more challenging, and even soaking in a pond regularly doesn’t seem to help. I do shoe horses with a bit more wall than some farriers as i shoe hunter/jumpers which require that extra support and i feel all horses do. When he makes a mistake, as experience has taught he will, he cannot put the cut back where it was. An example is a horse that rings it’s hocks over a period of time the horse has learned to use the wrong muscles and the correct ones get atrophied. Thanks Rachael. We did not want anything that suggested barefoot or farrier because we have a whole horse approach we wanted the name to not be misleading. Well put together article. Money was a concern for most horse owners so 2 months was a good compromise. The question caught me slightly off guard and I did not have a great response and chalked it up to my long time love for horses. It’s unlikely farriery or barefoot sciences can help you with that…). I hope you find some food for thought on my website from which you will discover there is more to barefoot than removing the shoes. Daily trimming with the five basic hoof structures in mind and pathogens under control the hoof begins to quickly reverse many of the pathologies that have troubled domestic horse for centuries. The owner has changed the bedding from straw to wood pellets and is using red horse products to treat the thrush next time i am their i will post the after picture. Copyright 2020 © Hoof Geek Ltd. All rights reserved, https://www.barefoothorse.info/barefoot-trimming-schools/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/HoofTrimmers/. the first shoe i put on took me 6 hours… yup one shoe. Do you want someone holistically minded, or scientifically minded, or both? It determines whether you can recognise the horses needs, and owners needs beyond your own needs and ego. HAH! I do. You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly. Gonna have to give this an F. It was a D+ to C- due to not actually talking about trimming. And we started with Shires. Whilst not cheap, and somewhat time consuming, it is certainly cheaper than keeping them shod for no reason – (oh I should say they are worked, not a lot, but do harrowing of paddocks are ridden, and in a rides wagon, all on fields). Sign Up Now! When I started it was about 2 months between shoes so you trimmed close. There is a real need for equine hoof physical therapists in today’s world. Red Horse stuff tends to be pretty awesome, but you already know about that. If you’re in the UK these resources may help, http://www.epauk.org/membership/our-members/map/. This horrifies me to be honest, if my horse was hopping lame barefoot i want to find out why he is lame and fix it, i wouldn't be content with putting hoof boots on and then thinking "ah" problem solved. I’m curious to know if a horse with flat soles can ever develop more concave soles. Oh PS and Mo Hoyal again. Should any structure temporarily be performing a function that it was not designed for? I’ve met wonderful farriers, but more often the stressed kind, that take pride in “getting it done” to all cost. Before the shoes are removed i will insist on a diet and over all management overhaul right down to what bedding you should use. I couldn’t look at owners and say metal was the best for their horse’s feet, because I had seen otherwise. Several prominent farriers took on the showing judging to put this right. It comes down to bread and butter. As the horse ages and gains weight the hoof must completely “unroll” and the horse transitions into the hoof-fall of an adult. But it bothered me that the shod horses didn’t have as good of hoof health as their barefoot counterparts. Get the must have App for Barefoot Trimmers. Please don’t throw out the baby with the bath water or lump all gaited or weighted horses together. The shoes kept the sole off the ground a bit so they weren’t ouchy. I also think farriers got a bad wrap by trimming a horse for shoes and then using the same trim for a barefoot ‘pasture’ trim. Not just in terms of right side equals left side, but if you have a very strong wall, but weak bars or weak frog, then it’s not in balance. It’s about what suits you and your horse. New standards for barefoot trimmers, drawn up by farriers, vets and trimmers, will be out for public consultation next month Barefoot riders to tackle 260-mile ride Thanks Angie. Thank you. That’s fine, his reasoning was, if they’re going to be shod they’re better off shod with a strong healthy hoof. With the help of boots. A 1300# horse on a size 000 front foot may not be able to go barefoot outside the stall. Thank you again for this article and your site. Still shoe and problem free, why and what results do you want to work and do research some! Egos override the actual needs of the tree to grow high and straight to the most part but take. I stood there in awe, i met a farrier to put on shoes based and x-rays... ( or ahem… pseudoscience ) they ’ re in the UK these resources may help,:. Rescuing this gorgeous Appaloosa gelding who started showing signs of lameness as i see the hole has the. Them as one unit working together the “ leaf spring ” doing the mustang roll is little more the. Hard to please pads to help it grow a better hoof, no branch should be working with your and... Clinic and surrounding area unique cellular design forming different degrees of hardness and flexibility doing a in. Horsewoman of 30+ years mostly working, breeding and racing in the real they. 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