BellaOnline has a great article about this debate of allowing horses to go barefoot. "Barefoot versus Shod Horses"
Darling Poor, (BellaOnline's editor) wrote this article to answer several questions. Is it working? What is the truth behind the barefoot issue?
She not only explains the design and the purpose of the horses' hoof, but also takes a look at the horseshoe as well. What the horseshoe does to the hoof, and how the hoof functions both with and without the shoe is also explained. She does a wonderful job of keeping the article in the horse owner's world rather than in the farrier's world.
Speaking of the farrier, she also has several links regarding hoof care practitioners and the importance of having a farrier who is very proficient in barefoot trimming. Some principles that steel shoe farriers follow, are no longer observed by barefoot trimmers. She also refers to our favorite magazine, The Horses Hoof, for more information regarding barefoot horses. EasyCare website orders this month will get a free copy of "The Horses Hoof".
Again, transition is mentioned just like in all of the other articles and again it recommends hoof boots. EasyCare has several boots to help with various problems or to help the horse with the transition time-frame.
Please read the article on going barefoot. If going barefoot is something that you have been thinking about doing for a long time, now is the time to do it. Before you put those metal shoes back on for another ride season, check out everything educational you can on going barefoot. Check out what Karen has recently posted as well about being barefoot on her own horses.
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