This has become quite a hot topic in recent years, with the past decade seeing barefoot trimming, or ‘natural’ hoofcare becoming more popular. Not sure whether or not to make the transition to barefoot with your horse? You’re not alone, and with such strong opinions both for and against barefoot trimming it can be hard to decide if its the right choice for your horse or not.
One of the foremost factors which horse owners find off-putting is finding someone who will genuinely do a good job trimming your horses feet. If you currently have a farrier you are happy with and trust, they can trim your horses feet and leave them barefoot, and should be happy to do so. If you would prefer someone specifically trained to do trimming with the horses health and performance in mind (not that this means all traditionally trained farriers do not) specifically without the intended use of shoes, then be sure to do your research first. Qualified trimmers do exist, and can indeed be found. Unfortunately the USA is home to many of them, so having them care for your horses feet may cost you! But there are qualified trimmers in the UK, all of which can be found via online directories, such as http://www.epauk.com and http://www.naturalmatters.net/barefoot-trimmers-farriers.asp.
Another consideration is the affect of shoes on the horses performance. Horses actually have better traction when unshod, and when you consider the benefits of barefoot and the drawbacks of shoes discussed momentarily it is not hard to see why performance is improved by going barefoot.
As the saying goes, a pictures speaks a thousand words and this is certainly true of the picture below. The image shows a horse with only one foot shod – care to venture a guess as to which one it is? Yes, you guessed it – the off fore, or, the blue one! The image clearly illustrates the lack of circulation to this particular leg. The reason for this is that the shoe prevents the hoof from expanding and contracting, thus restricting blood flow, which is of course detrimental to the hoof.
Photo courtesy of HorseWorld Trust.
It has also been shown that the expansion and contraction of the horses hoof accounts for 70-80% of shock absorption. The loss of 70-80% shock absorption also causes damage to the internal structures of the hoof – another undesirable side-effect of nailing shoes to your horses hooves. Unshod horses trotting on concrete roads suffer three times less impact than shod horses walking on the same surface.
It has also come to light that horses live longer – yes, you read it correctly! Also, ailments such as Navicular disease are manmade, so to speak, and will not occur if horses are barefoot from an early age. The metal shoes also prevent the horse from feeling the ground beneath their feet, and as such, injury is reduced when they are barefoot and able to feel the surface they are moving over. Injury in the field – as well as to yourself – is also greatly reduced with the removal of shoes, as anyone who has received a kick from a shod horse or has seen a horse exposed to a kick from a shod horse will appreciate.
I’ve saved this final factor until last since the horses health and the issues highlighted above should really be the deciding factors here, however, in reality the high cost of these magnificent animals to keep and care for means that every penny counts. So if you aren’t convinced already, how about the money you would save by going barefoot? Without the cost of shoes, your farrier visits are considerably reduced, even with visits being every six weeks instead of the eight weeks for shod horses.
In light of all of this, my recommendation is to save yourself a few bob and save your horse unnecessary stress and possible ailments. Instead reap in the rewards that barefoot trimming brings. No more loose or missing shoes, longer lives, better health, and some extra money for yourself, to spend on… well, most likely other horse-related things!
Posted by LouisOiOii | Filed under Horse Care
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