25 Questions & Answers: About Going Barefoot
How come barefoot is claimed to be better for hooves?
It is proven that shoes are the primary cause of contracted hooves, reduced shock absorption, and distorted hoof growth, limited circulation within the hoof and additional concussion to the hoof. The hoof is a vital organ not only as a circulatory support for the small equine heart. But, because of the special shock absorption that the hoof provides, allowing energy and vibration to dissipated.
Balanced and regularly trimmed bare feet allow the hoof to maintain or return to its natural form. When a hoof is barefoot it benefits from increased warmth, sensation and proprioception. Further benefits of barefoot for the equine is safety for themselves and rider. Without the fixation of a shoe the rear part of the hoof has independent rear suspension. The rear of the foot can move up and down independently to account for the terrain changes, which adds stability. Though the key benefit from independent rear suspension is the cartilage and digital cushion shift verses leveraging the pastern joints to accommodate the tilt.
First and foremost YES. I have yet to see a hoof and equine that did not benefit from being barefoot. Things to consider will be if the hoof needs some rehabbing from disease, contraction, cracks and thin sole? When 1st going barefoot I tell clients to prepare for some transitioning discomfort. Discomfort with movement is seldom the problem as much as thin soles. But, if your horse does have some discomfort, stay strong for them. Provide comfort if they need it most all do fine without any changes to lifestyle. Look at changes as a positive for your equine friend who will be rejoicing in feeling the earth without a brace on their capsule.
When shoes are pulled the added circulation to the capsule can expose damages not earlier noticed. Bacteria and fungus may have entered through the nail holes, possibly an old capsule injury, illness creating stretched laminae or frog disease. Treat for these with hoof treatments that clean into the anaerobic areas. Only by being disease free inside the hoof can the capsule and sole grow correctly.
Don't misunderstand cautious movement as soreness. The proprioception in the bottom of the hoof feels the ground better barefoot and will respond to sharp rock by lifting or rolling the shoulders and hip. The hoof will toughen as friction and movement on abrasive ground is added to their living. Hoof boots are easy to wear and put on providing comfort during transitioning and a good investment to have in your tack room.
Can a club foot go barefoot?
Yes, though, barefoot trimming won't alter or change a true club foot shape, you will see an improved healthier foot and capsule by balancing and removing flare. But, the trimming is never to match up the opposite hoof Clubby type feet after a period of time return to a more normal capsule shape.
I tried barefoot for a month and my horse started abscessing. Would this be caused by stone bruising since he is lower to the ground now?
The 1/4th lift of the shoe doesn't make a significant difference in rocks the sole comes in contact with. Actually, a barefoot horse has less chance of stone bruises. They can feel their hooves hit sharp or possibly damaging rocks and lift fast enough to protect the corium.
Abscessing that is observed during barefoot transitioning is almost always due to prior damages within the hoof capsule. Think of the abscess as removing necrotic materials that accumulated over time in the capsule and is now being flushed out.
You can help the abscess to expel by soaking the hoof in warm water. This will soften the skin and the abscess can exit easier.
When I ride, my horse seems to lift her shoulders and hips more and sometimes stumbles now that she is barefoot.
The lifting of her shoulders and hips is her way of not putting as much pressure on some types of rocks. Some of the terrain we ask our equine friends to walk on is not comfortable for them, so they will lift their weight off the rock when they can. There are roads that will always be a challenge and horses, like people, have different tolerances of discomfort.
My farrier said that my horse has bad feet and they need shoes.
Get yourself educated about hooves, their needs and how to keep them healthy. I have yet to find a horse that could not go barefoot and benefit from doing so. I have seen horses that needed the aid of good hoof boots for transitioning when ridden. I know that shoes are counter productive to hoof function and form. Offer your horse a chance to grow some healthy hooves.
I have a mule and his feet are supposed to be great, but my farrier keeps him shod. Can I take a mule back to natural hooves?
Most definitely. Mules, like donkeys have great strength in their hoof capsules. The same rules apply to them as with all equine hooves, they need movement and a balanced trim. The structure of the hoof though different then the horse has the same 1/3 2/3 formula to provide a good balanced hoof. A straight 30 degree hairline angle and a frog that meets the ground. Mules and donkeys don't flare like horses they tend to get taller. Taller capsules are a problem for mule people to see as it is so common, but the mule must have ground contact with the frog.
My horse foundered and I was told that she could never be barefoot again.
Foundered horses do better barefoot. There is something that happens with founder related to a perverse cell structure that creates a wedge in the front half of the capsule. This wedge keeps the wall for reattaching to the coffin bone. You will need to treat for bacteria as it thrives in this tissue called the lamella wedge. If the wedge is large creating wrinkles in the upper part of the capsule dorsally and there is a bulbous toe you will have to trim it away along with bi-weekly bacteria and fungal treatments. Be sure you have someone that understands how to proceed and create a healthy form.
How long can I expect to wait to before I can ride my horse once I take the shoes off?
Many horses feel liberated when the shoes come off and don't show any soreness. You really won't know until you try. I always recommend the use of boots for the 1st few months. Remember the more movement a horse has the faster their hooves will toughen up.
How long does a callus take to build up on the sole for trail riding?
In the winter, soles are softer but still build resilience. You will know if you have a good skin on the bottom if the sole dimples or not on small rocks. This tells you that the skin is thin and weak. However, If you see a smooth or puzzled sole then you can say there is some callus. Stalled horses have a longer time developing callus because their hooves are not exposed enough to movement or time on abrasive turf. If you ride daily for a couple of weeks on trails you will see the callus forming.
My horse is barefoot but still has a crack in the center of the wall.
Not trimming the toe quarters is the most common cause of center cracks as well as leverage from toe flare, fungus and hoof contraction the other primary causes. Balance the hoof with timely trimming and include rubbing some anti fungal product on the crack. The crack will grow out and down the hoof within a few months.
Is there ever a time when barefoot won't work?
I don't think so but there may be times when a hoof that is injured needs to be stabilized with glue-on's and casting for short term.
My natural trimmer said my horse will have to overcome problems from flare and high heels. What problem would this be?
They might be referring to stretched laminae from toe flare created at breakover, quarter cracks from long walls, contraction from unnatural leverage during growth and wear. Flare will also prevent natural movement to the lower leg forcing the shoulders to lift with each step to negotiate breakover.
High heels tilt the hoof forward and put the joints in uncomfortable and unnatural positions. There is also pressure to the sole in front of the apex of the frog that can damage corium, thinning the sole, and can even sever the circumflex artery that rests on the sharp edge of the coffin bone that can be pinching it from high heels.
Can I hurt my horse trimming him with a natural trim?
The answer is no,when done correctly. Not all natural trimming styles are without risk and pain to your horse. I avoid invasive trimming where the bars are unnaturally removed deeper then comfortable. I don't feel thinning the sole in the back of the hoof is kind. And know that forcing concavity is painful and unnecessary. Many farrier's do this removing toe callus and more. Natural trims are a balanced trim that seek to mirror what the hoof would be like if allowed to have free movement on abrasive ground. Understanding the position of tissue and bones inside the capsule and up the leg guides a trimmer to know heel height, location of the heel purchase and the toes length.
Our 22 year old horse has been in soles most of his life. He has had hoof problems for years with ringbone and heel pain. We would like to see his feet more comfortable and don't plan to ride him anymore. We are wondering what problems he would have or even if it is too late for him to go barefoot.
Although I don't know the exact condition of your horse, navicular may be one diagnosis. Since he has already been suffering with hoof problems for years in shoes, you might give barefoot a try. Trimmed naturally many problems of the shod horse are eliminated successfully. What I would do is take the hinds off 1st and let him go a few weeks without the shoes and see if he is going to abscess. Then take the fronts off. Hoof boots that you can add some foam too will make his transitioning easier.
What is the difference between a natural trim and the trim my farrier does?
Farrier's trim so they can apply a shoe which needs a flat edged surface. When they do a barefoot trim this is generally the style they repeat. A natural trim flows along the natural shape of the sole wall junction. The natural trim provides a 30 degree angle hairline on the sides for a ground parallel coffin bone. Also, the natural trim addresses the bars so that they are lower then the outer wall and not covering the sole. Heel purchase location is addressed by the natural trim where farrier trimming seldom pulls this back to the widest part of the frog.
If I go with a natural trim can I change my mind and put shoes on if it doesn't work?
Yes, but try to give the hooves enough time to transition, which may take a few months or longer in some cases. With the use of hoof boots their hooves are comfortable and protected from a thin sole when riding on rock. Also with boots you can take them off after a ride and allow your equine friend to stretched their feet and feel the ground.
Why were shoes started if they don' t protect and help the hoof?
When the lifestyle of maintaining horses in fields and open areas moved them into city stalls, the hooves began to deteriorate from standing in their own waste and lack of movement. To protect the capsule edge the shoe was invented. What happened with the application of the shoe was the human could push the horse harder and longer daily. This was a great advantage because horses were like our cars today. We are always trying to get more MPG. And this was happening with the aid of shoes. Owners and horse experts started seeing capsules reshape with contraction, noticed the life span declined, noticed disease and illness increased but because they got more mileage out of the horse with shoes it this became the reason for shoes. The blacksmith business became a big one and it has remained for a few thousand years. People today think shoes are necessary for safety and health when actually it does the opposite.
What can I do to get the soles to toughen up?
You can create the terrain that you want to ride on in their paddock or area they move around on. Pea gravel is a wonderful footing for toughening and also circulation. Look for small rounded rock and you will see them press down on the shifting surface with enjoyment. The main sole callus will be towards the wall where there is more ground contact.
Abrasion that is comfortable will kindly toughen feet. I have seen sharp larger rock used and horses would whiney to their food verse walking over it. They would tippy toe cautiously, then in time they are flying across the rock comfortably.
The capsule strengthens from pressure...ride more, create ally runs around your fence line with a variety of footings and you will be doing a great service not just to their feet but overall condition.
Which protective boots are best to buy?
The last 10 years hoof boot protection & designs continue to improve and offer more selection. I have bought all the styles and found that each had some drawbacks but they were minor to the good points of the boot. I like boots that don't get rock and dirt in them as well as stays on when going through creeks. That describes just about all of them now days. Style seems to be a big factor for some.
The boots that are tight fitted don't forgive contracted oblong hooves like the looser fitting ones that do move a little.
I have noticed that over the last 2 years since I took my horses barefoot I have to trim less often. Do you think they are self maintaining?
Actually yes I do. I know that hooves will slow growth in the winter because of the lack of light and energy is sent to the body to stay warm verse capsule growth. Another growth spurt will happen if you don't ride often and then go for a week of riding the hooves will really grow faster. The pressure of movement and demands on the hoof stimulates and replenishes wall and sole quicker. You are getting a balanced hoof that needs only a little grooming.
I noticed the frogs are shedding again. Is this normal?
I personally feel it is not. I have heard the frog sheds twice a year. I have not seen this and take pictures regularly. I have seen a sort of shedding in winter when the frog callus is loose and wanting to lift away with a pull. I have seen diseased frogs lift and pull off. but, not a healthy frog. The frog has long little tubules that can break and lay in a pad on the frog. Then under this layer is some gray soft tissue and people think this is the new frog but I feel is unexfoliated frog skin.
My horse is contracted and avoids heel 1st landings. Can a natural trim help this?
First figure out what caused the contraction. Was it from years of shoeing? This is an easier one, just removing the shoes and walking in soaking boots with bath hot water will correct this quickly. If the contraction came with a founder then you have a lamella wedge inside the capsule that will hold the toe open and the heels tighter together. Did avoiding the heel come with an injury?
The best I have found to de contract the hoof is to walk in the soaking boots 15 to 20 minutes a day in warm water. And for the very run under narrow based walls I will scrap the wall only up about 1/4 inch and to the sole without trimming the sole. This weakens the tight grip on the bottom so it can more easily expand. And also forces the pressure to be on the sole which will help expand the capsule.
What happens with contraction is the capsule that is meant to be protection will become the vise that crushes the soft tissues in the back of the hoof.
Does ringbone go away with a natural trim?
I don't think so. I have heard that there are cells in the body that will demineralize them. I personally have not seen this. Our ringbone gaming horse Flicka lessened the lump both to touch and visually since returning to barefoot. She still however would be described with ringbone and a slightly twisted capsule.
My horses hoof capsules have growth rings around them. Is my trimming causing this?
The rings can be from a diet too rich in carbs and proteins. They can be from seasonal changes that affect your horses lifestyle. Any stress to the coronet will cause some type of crease. After thinking through diet and housekeeping changes, look to the way your horse moves. Is there leverage from flare to the coronary band or capsule? Sometimes we need to just sit, watch and process what is happening from several directions and give enough time to see changes.
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