Most newly de-shod horses do fine in a pasture, arena, and on soft trails. How well they handle challenging footing, and how long it takes them to be comfortable on moderately challenging surfaces, depends on their feet, general health, living environment, diet, exercise level, the terrain you ride on, the competence of your trimmer, and the regularity of the trims.
People who choose to take their horses barefoot tend to be proactive about their long term health and welfare and to form interactive, supportive online communities that share a wealth of information. Horses getting good low carb diets, living on challenging terrain, and getting lots of exercise, usually do fine barefoot on all types of terrain year round.
Linda Cowles, wrote a great article in "Equine Wellness" magazine that is excellent to review and learn several good tips.
There are four things to incorporate into a successful transition:
1. Boots and pads......boots give horses the advantages of metal shoes without the concussion, nail holes and peripheral loading, while allowing them to continue normal work. Boots can be padded with cushioned insoles that encourage the horse to use his feet correctly and athletically, thereby accelerating redevelopment of internal hoof structure. This correct heel-first landing movement results in stronger, straighter and wider heels, and the increased blood flow builds tougher, stronger feet.
EasyCare has a complete line of various styles to accomodate many hoof sizes, such as Epics, Bares, Grips, Easyboots,Boa's , Old Mac Originals and G-2's.
2. The correct trim.....Getting the horse transitioned is easier when you have an experienced barefoot hoofcare provider and the trimming is done on a consistent timely schedule.
3. The right diet......all that most horses need to perform athletically are:
a. Balanced nutrients
b. Good water
c. Good low NSC (non structural arbohydrate) grass hay
d. Low NSC pature for movement
4. Get rid of the hoof infections.......most people don't recognize the signs of thrush, and few people appreciate how painful it can be. A successful transition depends on eliminating frog infections.
Going barefoot can require a leap of faith, and the initial results may be alarming for some riders. Keep an open mind, think positive, and expect great things from your horse's transition.
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