Q: My neighbors
passed along your "Look at Those Hooves!" booklet to me. What great information! I have 5 horses and all of them are barefoot
and have been for as long as I've had them. My newest horse is a
shire x TB filly, 10 1/2 months old. I plan to ride her when she grows up,
and my farrier is skeptical about keeping her barefoot, at least in front. I am really committed to keeping all of my guys
barefoot. Their feet are very sound and they are healthy and happy this way. Do you have any suggestions or know of any resources for keeping draft or large horses barefoot? Also, I am very interested in learning more about
how to care more for my horses feet myself. Thanks, and thank you for
your work on natural hoof care!
A: It
doesn't matter that your youngster is of a large breed or not. Many farriers
think that these larger horses are somehow bad-footed and start them in shoes
so young that they BECOME that way in no time. I have a belgian and a belgian
cross that have super nice hooves that do well on extremely rocky terrain.
Read as
much as you can the resources listed at the back of the hoof trimming manual
and you'll be all caught up on the latest and greatest stuff going on.
Glad you liked the manual.
Best wishes to you and your horses,
Dr. Tom T.
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