Setting your Barefoot Horse up for Success

I have come across a lot of people who say they can see the logic in keeping a horse barefoot and do, in fact, keep their horse barefoot. However, once I know that the horse is trimmed by a farrier I anticipate that their belief in keeping their horse barefoot will be short-lived.

It frustrates me that people do not recognise that a Barefoot trimmer will do a very different job to a farrier.

A farrier is great at nailing shoes on (generally speaking). This is what they do to makes horses (at least) appear sound. There are many out there who would say that they do not believe that a horse, with good feet, should need shoes. So let’s examine that belief for a minute. Remember, we are referring to a (supposedly) pro-barefoot farrier.

If a farrier truly believed that a horse does not need shoes then why are they nailing them on anyway? If this is a true belief then they could convert all of their customers to keeping their horses barefoot. They don’t. There are a plethora of arguments to this point of view. The main one – I expect- will be that most of their customers don’t have horses with ‘good’ feet and they still need to make a living!

Ugh. So we have the argument regarding ‘good’ feet, what is meant by a ‘good’ foot and why we should concentrate on these…..well, I will deal with this subject in a minute.

Some of my training was conducted by farriers, actually most of my training was conducted by farriers. These were great farriers – very pro-barefoot – which is why they would patiently stand by over my attempts to remove shoes and carefully critique my dorsal wall rasping. These guys were pioneers in their work in hoof care and the understanding of what makes a truly ‘rock-crunching’ barefoot horse. They were very aware of the harm done by nailing shoes to a horses hooves. This was evident in their description of their barefoot / shod clientele……the shod clientele were steadily declining. One of these farriers in particular informed me that he had no interest in keeping his shod clients – if he could not convert the various owners to keeping the horses barefoot then he would pass these horses on to those farriers who were prepared to continue nailing shoes on.

I have no doubt that this farrier would be sorely missed by his clients!

Anyhow, we also have the argument that being barefooted is only suitable for those horses with ‘good’ feet.

To this I would argue that shoes should not be nailed to ‘bad’ feet! Let those feet heal! I see so many laminitic horses hobbling around their field in shoes. I trim horses that had been lame for years in shoes. Navicular maybe? It’s nothing special to me, just give those feet the correct stimuli and environment to heal and they do, to varying extents.  Not sound barefoot on gravel? Apply boots and pads to that hoof and ride that horse; enjoy your equine friend, don’t be a slave to them.

As for the ‘good’ hoof? I think most people in my business will appreciate that a ‘good’ foot can easily change into a ‘bad’ hoof in time if the horses needs for movement, correct nutrition and optimum hoof care are not met. In my experience you can also turn a ‘bad’ hoof into a ‘good’ one.  Who cares if that takes a while if the horse is rideable throughout in boots with pads? My clients are also telling me that booting works great with older arthritic horses. I never thought of that, and it never occurred to me that my clients would actually feel their horse’s joints for heat and report the good news to me!

As for the difference between a ‘grass’ trim and a correct ‘barefoot’ trim  - there is a massive difference. Always ensure that you are getting a correct ‘barefoot’ trim.  This is the subject of an article all of its own, but generally speaking the hoof wall and bars should be reduced to the level of the sole whilst leaving the sole itself untouched. I make it my business to seek out areas of the hoof that I leave well alone, to note what structures are correctly developed and why.  My way of dealing with a thrushy frog is to provide a precision surgical job to remove any tiny flaps of frog where infection is present – I will leave large scale slicing away and sculpting of the frog to others as I’ve found that it simply results in soreness. Where there is infection treat the infection!

A good hoof trimmer will make it their business to get your horse happy and sound, supporting you every step of the way. From their direct experience and receptiveness to client feedback they will understand and be able to explain why your horse will or will not be sound. I do not understand the resistance that farriers have to explaining to their clients exactly what is going on in a horse’s foot. I hope that this is the minority! Any good trimmer will explain exactly what is going wrong and what is going right.  They are dedicated hoof nerds who will take every step of a sore foot to heart and make it their business to ensure that you, the owner, fix it.

To rug or not to rug.....that is the question....

I am pretty tight with my money and have a real dislike of people who tell you that you or your horse NEEDS something when they blatantly do not and it is just a way of encouraging you to part with your hard-earned cash. So I feel a bit like that with horse rugs, although I have a whole stack of them and I was going to write my 'take' on the subject. Then a number of people contacted me and asked me the whacky question, "can a horse cope without rugs?"......well.....of course they can.....but....

THEN things got slightly weird when I had a discussion with a fellow hoof nerd and she told me about this research.

Basically some University had done some research which suggested that horses did not need rugs....Hmmmm....interesting. Of course horses don't NEED rugs, we need rugs, so who would be barking mad enough to fund such research? From my experience in research I know that you either need to present a magnificemnt case to a research council who compare your proposal with around ten thousand other deserving cases or a manufacturer seeking to test or promote a product. So I was sceptical from the onset. BUT it would be nice if it was true.

SO I was informed that Colorado State University, one of the top three equine veterinary schools in the had done some research using thermal imaging cameras and found that rugging horses was, "one of the worst things that you can do to a horse in the winter". What the heck. Apparently horses have the ability to loft and lower their coats to 17 different levels (17, really?), so it's like exchanging 17 different thermal weights of blankets off and on them all day and night by means of a'self-blanketing' process that works a little like 'chill bumps' do in our own skin. Hence long-haired horses are fluffier on some days than on others.

Ok, so so far so good. Oh, but then comes the real 'double-whammy' for me. Just when it was looking so good. Apparently three things render the 'self-blanketing' process ineffective: blanketing, clipping, and wind. Hmmmm....apparently a horse MUST have a way to get out of the wind in order for their 'self-blanketing' abilities to function fully. So neither snow or rain render the process ineffective.....but WIND does.

Hmmm.....not sure if I swallow that one. Its all looking rather unscientific to me. Plus unscientific types are generally nowhere near as arm-wavey. Also, unpalettably, I don't like to think about my fluffy friends, who really are very fluffy at the moment, being a tad cold when the north wind blows. Its all rather odd infact, my horses seem to cope quite happily with wind, but hate relentless rain....it is that which flattens their fur and surely ensures that their 'self-blanketing' mechanism - for want of a better terminology - is rendered useless. So I had, on the face of it prepared to disagree. And where was the scientific basis for the 17 different duvets?

Anyhow, following a bit of research on the internet I find that noone is taking responsibility for the study and, in fact, whether there actually was a study is hotly disputed. So we are back where we were before; the question of Do They or Don't tThey need rugs....

Well, not quite.

Because I would assume that our horses are born with the right tools to make it through the winter without the assistance of some fancy rug. Just.....like....horses have always done. My friend in the frozen north believes that her horses actually improved their condition. So....what do I say when people ask, "Can My Horse Survive Without Rugs?"

Well.....

The Rugless Survival Guide

1. If your horse is rugged DON'T be tempted to yank its rugs off in the middle of winter. It really will feel the cold. The coat will be insufficient to keep the poor thing warm and its temperature regulation mechanism is likely to need time to adjust.
2. DO offer lots of ad lib hay. Eating hay is a great way for a horse to keep warm. ALWAYS provide lots of fresh water for your horse to drink - they can drink lots when they eat lots of hay!
3. DO ensure that your horse has some access to shelter. Horses often appreciate shelter but don't get too hung up on perfect wooden field shelters.....natural shelters include hedges, trees and the natural lie of the land.
4. DON'T stable if you want your horse to winter out rugless at some point. Stables tend to reduce coat growth in the same way that rugging does.
5. DON'T clip. Really. This should be obvious. Not even a 'bib' clip. If you do, and you have a 'well 'ard' northern type horse then....well....I won't condone it....
6. DON'T worry if your horse shivers. Feed hay and keep a careful watch on condition.
7. DO appreciate your hairy horse. Care for the oils in his/her coat and avoid deep grooming sessions. Careful mud removal is key.
8. DO warm down carefully after excercise.
9. DO provide a rump rug during excercise if your horse is working hard in heavy rain. Those muscles may still suffer if they are not kept warm during hard work.
10. DON'T be disheartened if things have not worked out for you this year. Keep the rugs off during the summer and allow your horse to adjust gradually. Try again next year.