Barefoot horses?

Question

I have heard that letting your horses go barefoot is better for them, but now my trainer tells me different. I currently ride my horses just in our pasture, paddock and in our back woods. I hear so many pros and cons and would like to hear what this group has to say.

So do we shoe or go barefoot.

Answer 1

Shoes or barefoot should depend 100% on your horses foot. Some horses (such as thoroughbreds and some warmbloods) have very weak hoof walls and without shoes the hoof cracks, splits and breaks. Ponies on the other hand typically have very strong hoof walls that don't need shoes.

This is a conversation you should be having with your farrier. Worst case scenario you try your horse barefoot for a couple of weeks and have to have shoes put on.

Answer 2

I would talk to your farrier about it. He knows where and how much you ride and what suits your horse. But if you are riding often, I would at least shoe him on the front hooves. Horses carry 70% of their weight in front, and shoes might help even if you are riding on unpaved surfaces.

Answer 3

i rode my horse everywhere.  including along the roads.  she never had a shoe on in her life.  friends had horses that had to have shoes for them to be ridden.  ask your vet and farrior.

she was a foundation appaloosa.

Answer 4

Depends on the horse. Shoeing is very good if you ride on very hard roads etc but some horses have strong feet and will be absolutely fine.

Check with your farrier, as they will know what to look for in a horse to see if it would be okay not shod or not.

Where I work with horses we have a mix. Some get shod, some don't.

Answer 5

yes you should. beleive it or not the hoof is flexable and when barefoot the hoof pumps up blood, and with shoes it doesn't.

you can go to google and look up darolyn buttler and martha olivo ( famous barefoot trimers ). i know and work with these people. me and my mom borde at darolyn buttlers, and we both work there.

Answer 6

It really does depend on the horse. Some horses just can't cope with it.

The best person to discuss this with is your farrier but if your horse has no issues and nice feet why would you want to go sticking shoes on them ?

Answer 7

It depends on the horse, on the terrain, and many other things. Is your horse young, does it walk on soft terrain, and does it have strong hooves? if so, no shoe. Is your horse older, walk on rocks or pavement, or have weak or chipping hooves? If so, yes shoe.

Answer 8

If a horse is older and has been in shoes all it's life, it can take up to 2 years to get used to going barefoot. If it is a yearling or younger and has never had shoes on, then taking it barefoot will be easier. The hooves grow stronger by not having nails driven into them. The sole and frog become used to the terrain the horse is kept on and will toughen up with rocky terrain. The more use an unshod foot gets the stronger the hoof will be.

http://www.barefoothorse.com.au/

http://www.barehoofcare.com/packer.html

Answer 9

I think that you should go barefoot, with this exception- if you ride on blacktop or cement, or if your horse has tender feet, which you don't mention. With barefoot shoeing, it is oftentimes easier for the farrier to check the precise angle. Sometimes, if the hoof is off angle, it can cause eating problems/disorders, or even a stomach ulcer.

I think that barefoot shoeing is more cost-effective than regular shoeing because you don't have to replace shoes.

Hope this  helps!

Answer 10

My grandparent's horses are barefoot. Don't shoe them unless you think you need to.

Answer 11

Just for the record -Melanie- is off her rocker & has NO idea what she is talking about!!! Morgans have some of the strongest hooves, one of the things they are known for. Appys are known for great hooves, too!!!!!!

Answer 12

I rode various horses for most of my life "barefoot" before it was in style, and I can assure you that most horses without problems manage fine!

I think it depends on several things.  First, does your farrier do a good job on barefoot trims, or is he very much a shoeing type person?  A farrier with an understanding of a barefoot horse's needs will be a huge help.  Also, what type of footing are you riding on?  If you are just in the pasture and woods I doubt you will have any sorts of problems.  Many horses that are ridden on rocks, gravel and pavement may need help, especially at first.  But don't forget that hoof boots exist, and can get you through those episode.

My current show mare is now going barefoot and doing well.  And I don't consider her to be a horse with perfect feet, and she spent most of her life in shoes.  What I did was - took the money I saved from not shoeing her, and bought some Easyboot Epic hoof boots.  Now I can ride her anywhere without any problems at all.  I have limited riding in the summer and basically have the gravel hardpacked roads, so in those cases I put on the Easyboots (which do NOT come off if you get them sized properly!)  If I'm riding in the fields or pastures I do not need the Easyboots.  I believe the Easyboots will last me two or three years at this rate, so they will be much cheaper than shoing, and I believe they will also be better for my horse's hooves.

I must admit that most trainers are very pro shoe.  But if you look around you will see that there are starting to be more and more horses out there going barefoot.  It can be done, just find a good farrier, and be prepared to help your horse through the transition with hoof boots.

You might want to watch some of the "Under the Horse" DVDs by Pete Ramey on barefoot horses.  It is very interesting.  Horses have lived for thousands of years without shoes and managed well, what makes us think that now they can't?

Answer 13

I've been riding barefooted ( unshod) horses for almost 30 years now. Each horse is different and there might be a few that absolutely REQUIRE shoes of some type, but a lot of horses could be barefooted if their owners would let them. Either way it's totally an individual preference and a choice made by the owner and the needs of the horse.  This is a discussion you should be having with your farrier and not your trainer. Your farrier knows your horses feet much better and would be more qualified to recommend what is best for your horse and your riding situation.

Also I don't agree that shoeing should be based on your horses breed. I currently have registered appaloosas and I've ridden barefooted TB's, QH's, and Paints. Additionally my best friend that I trail ride with rides a bare footed Saddle bred and Fox trotter. None have had any issues.

Having a certian breed does not automatically mean they have bad hooves. Checking with the farrier and evaluating the individual horse no matter what breed is what determines shoes or not.

Answer 14

It really depends on your horse, and where you ride.  I know tons of people that just ride in their pastures, and their horses are fine barefoot.  I had a friend who rode her horse in the desert, and he was great barefoot.  If you horse has nice hard, healthy hooves, he should be fine barefoot.  Next time your farrier does a trim, ask his opinion on what he thinks.  Unless you plan on running your horse over gravel or hauling him around to a lot of places, you should be fine!

Good luck!

Answer 15

Are your horses purebred? They generally need more hoof care, and often require shoes, than a hybrid. If it is any of the following breeds, I would recommend putting shoes on, at least the front feet: TB, warmblood, Quarter Horse, Hanoverian, Paint, Saddlebred, Standardbred, Appaloosa, draft breeds, Morgan, Tennessee walker.

Ponies, mustangs, hybrids, pintos, paso finos, and Arabs should be all right.

Of course, if your horse has a problematic hoof shape or weak walls (your farrier can tell you if they do) then you should probably have shoes.

Also, does your riding terrain ever have ice or slick mud? Some shoes allow better traction for the horse, preventing them from slipping and injuring their legs.

Personally, I always prefer putting shoes on, at least the front hooves, because it protects them and makes some horses more comfortable. Plus, you should listen to your trainer; she knows your horses better than I do, and if she knows horses, follow her advice.

Answer 16

Are your horses barefoot now?  Have they been barefoot very long?  If the horses have been in shoes, their feet will need some time to recover because shoeing is very damaging.  On the terrain you describe, keep them barefoot.  Overall, it is so much better for your horses and their feet will become very strong and durable over time.  You do not need shoes and your horses will be much healthier overall without shoes.  With shoes, the natural movement and flexibility of the hoof is greatly restricted and this has its own set of problems.  Also, with shoes, your horse's frog and sole are not in contact with the ground so these areas usually become very weakened.  The repeated nailing in the hoof wall speaks for itself relative to damage.  Shoes inhibit a horse's natural way of going.  Avoid them if you can.  When you pull shoes, if your horse is sore, that is par for the course while his feet heel from the trauma of the shoes.  You might need to boot your horses for 2-3 months until his feel recover a bit.    With continuous shoeing, his feet will never heal and the concussion forces are so exaggerated and bad for his joints, legs and back.  All of the leading research for the past 10 years by the most world renouned hoof practitioners share the conclusion I have expressed.  Unfortunately, it is not as profitable for a lot of people if horses are unshod, and you may have a problem finding professionals that will support you.  Just one more point I'll make, a barefoot trim is not like a trim that prepares a hoof for a shoe - totally different.  You could not put a shoe on a foot trimmed correctly to be  barefoot.   I have a TB that had terrible feet - thin soles - thin walls  from those horrifying aluminum racing plates.  He has been barefoot for 8 years and has great feet - best he has ever had in his life.   My warmblood is an eventer - barefoot - rock crushing feet.  My QH has excellent feet - good sole depth and wall quality.  Rarely do horses have "bad feet" because of breed.  It is because of human intervention with metal shoes, hammers and nails.  Don't do it.  Good luck to you.  I urge you to do what is best for your horses and ignore those who would disagree with you.  They don't matter, your horses do.

Answer 17

I have two AQHA mares one is 21 the other is 9...I also have a three year old palomino appendix....none of my horses have shoes on for longer than 6 weeks.  The only time I ever put shoes on them is when we go to the mountains, and that's mostly because I don't want them to bruise their little redneck hooves in the big rocky mountains.   I have had drafts...TBs...STBs...mules..and donkeys...appeys..and chestnuts...dapples and blacks.....with the exception of one appendix sorrel gelding I had that had the most screwed up feet I have ever seen I usually go barefoot..and after I had him in shoes and in corretive shoeing for 2 years..he went barefoot also..usually horses need shoeing to correct either what some idiot farrier had did to them in the past or some birth deffect...or neglect.  But most horses can eventually go barefoot.  Unless you're running them all the time on hard surfaces and shoeing them would cut down on the wear and tear to their own hooves.