To Barefoot or Not to Barefoot
THAT IS THE QUESTION.
I had shoes on my horse too. “HAD” past tense…Upon my own research, I came to the conclusion that “the way” may not be the best way for my horse, even as a thoroughbred.
Horses are healthier and happier with the hooves God gave to them.
Barefoot is the way in the wild. We may consider horses as “domesticated” however horses never needed humans to survive and still live outside. Horses have managed to thrive for centuries without our help, perfectly fine to outrun any predator. Horses are surviving despite our efforts to do the complete opposite of what horses need. We put our own needs and wants above the horse’s needs. Yet we still wonder why the horse comes up lame despite all of our "pampering”.
Shoes reduce circulation and significantly limit flexion. This alone can cause lameness.
If your horse is stalled for several hours to stand its own feces, this daily routine deteriorates the hoof.
Horses do not need shoes to compete in any discipline. Horses need shoes to stand in a stall.
A horse needs a year to grow back a healthy foot without shoes.
Where to begin?
Get your horse out of the stall
Perhaps a stall is necessary for grain feedings (30 minutes per feeding). Otherwise, your horse should be out walking around in a pasture at least 20 hours per day.
With this exception: Be mindful that the hottest part of the day 11-2pm is typically when the grass is the richest. If the grass is too high and your horse is grazing during this time it could come up with laminitis.
Your horse will likely appear sore when the shoes come off. This is the unseen damage that needs to be repaired. This is part of the “undoing process”.
During the horse’s year or so recovery, allow the horse to be a horse.
RESOURCES