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The Barefoot Movement

Cinch Magazine

There has been much hype recently as to the recent barefoot movement. Can your horse go bare? Many horse owners have taken the plunge, and are pleased with the results. Others have had bad experiences with it and are tentative as to whether they should give it another shot.

 But it is important to realize that not all barefoot trims are the same. A correct barefoot trim does more than just trim excess growth- it allows the hoof to function as nature intended. Not all trimmers will trim exactly alike, but they should all agree that the hoof has specific functions which need to be accommodated.

 When correctly done, this natural trim allows for maximum hoof flexibility and strength, creating maximum blood flow with each step, which, in turn, promotes continuous healthy hoof growth. A common misconception is that horses need shoes for protection from certain terrains. This, however, is generally untrue. A horse, allowed to go barefoot for long enough will begin to develop much stronger, harder hooves, and be more resistant to stone bruising than horses who are otherwise shod.

 It must be remembered that horses, being flight animals in the wild, were always on the move for better grazing opportunities and to escape predators. Thus, their feet are designed to carry them over all types of terrain comfortably and safely. Some people also argue that domesticated horses work harder than their wild counterparts.  This, in most cases, just isn’t true. A horse in the wild has a much harder life than we realize. They roam 10-20 miles a day, searching for food, pawing through snow crust, mares in gestation carrying foals running from predators, and continually being exposed to temperature changes, migration and less than optimum surfaces. And it has been discovered that few wild horses have hoof problems, and that their hooves wear down naturally in specific ways.

 Signs of an unhealthy hoof include: cracks, splits, thrush, abscesses, flares, bruises, tripping, stumbling and snow and ice build-up in the winter. Many horses have chronic conditions like founder or navicular syndrome. These conditions, as well as contracted heels, can be aided, and often eliminated through the use of a barefoot trim and changes in management practices.

 The fact is, when we shoe to protect our horses, it is often because we don’t understand why the feet are unhealthy. But once the cause of the problem is removed, the feet will be able to strengthen and improve their durability. Often, the use of shoes creates weaker hooves!

 To provide optimum results with your barefoot trim, you should allow your horse as much movement as possible. Constant 24/7 movement is beneficial to all horses, as it allows blood flow to nourish the hoof’s horn. It also creates circulation which is vital not only for healthy hooves, but the rest of the horse. The horse’s feet should have access to water. It especially beneficial if they have access to morning dew. This provides moisture for flexibility, and can also often replace the need for hoof conditioners for most of the year. In the wild, horses drink out of streams where their hooves are soaked daily. Please note that bedding soaked with urine is not healthy for hooves due to the acidity levels and bacteria it contains. Remember, a suitable diet is important too! Keep foods low in starches.

 The transition phase for most horses usually goes off without a hitch, but for some it can temporarily be quite uncomfortable. The same feeling can be equivocal to the feeling of the pain of relief we feel after recovering from a minor case of frostbite. Pulling the shoes on horses results in increased circulation, which can, until the horse adjusts, be the source of the pain. Sole sensitivity can be expected as the horse becomes accustomed to sole contact with the surfaces it travels again. The use of hoof boots can aid in many of these problems until the hoof grows out stronger. Horses with problem hooves can take anywhere from two months to two years to heal. For most horses though, results in improved performance can be seen within a few trims.

 Countless horses have been saved from slaughter, euthanasia or early retirement because their owners have changed to a barefoot trim. Many come to it as a last resort after trying every shoe and pad available to no avail. But it’s more than just about the trim. It’s also about environment and lifestyle, which all make dynamic differences as to the over-all health of your horse.

 To sum it off, the barefoot trim helps make hooves stronger, healthier and could reduce the onset of lameness in your horse! In some rare cases, breed, diet and genetics can be to blame for poor hoof quality, but even these horses can be aided through the use of a barefoot trim and hoof boots when required. So if you provide a barefoot trim and opt for a natural, healthy environment, even your horse may find comfort going bare!

Fast Facts:

  • A shod horse received up to 80% more shock at a walk on pavement than a barefoot horse trotting on pavement.This extra stress can lead to severe stress on tendons and ligaments, making shod horses more prone to lameness.
  • A regular trim is NOT the same as a natural barefoot trim. A trim just removes excess hoof, but does not allow the hoof to function to its full capability as a barefoot trim does.
  • For horses which do require hoof protection, such as carriage horses, which work on abrasive roads all day, the use of hoof boots would be beneficial. The benefit of these is that they can be used for some percentage of the work, then taken off to allow the hoof to wear naturally!
  • If you look on previously shod horse's hooves which have switched barefoot, you will begin to see that there is actually a line where the new hoof, growing in from the top us thicker than the old wall below!
  • For horses with stone sensitivity, try using hoof boots until the soles harden up.
  • In the feral horse the sole thickness is twice that of the domestic horse, which is why they can run or walk over just about any surface without any tenderness.
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