Take a look at this great little article posted on Dawn Willoughby's website www.4sweetfeet.com.
| Why My Horse is Back in Boots |
Until I heard Dr. Bowker’s presentation on his latest research and insight into the workings of the horse hoof, I was riding my thoroughbred barefoot and darn proud of it!
I had started riding him in July of 2006 in Epics, then Bare boots on the front. Our area is a combination of earth and rocks. The earth varies from hard ground, soft terrain, mud and iced ground depending on the season. I aspired to riding a “rock cruncher”. I hand walked Sunny over rough terrain to encourage the conditioning process.
By September, I decided to remove the padded boots and let him trail out barefoot. He seemed to pick his way along and get surer of his footing as the months progressed. I began trotting on some of the trails with varied success. Let’s say my seat improved as I was never sure where Sunny’s back might be at any step. Kidding aside, he improved over time and I was well on my way to joining that elusive group, the Rock Crunchers’ Club (certified by RCC!)
Then
I heard Dr. Bowker discuss an experiment (detailed in “Key Points from
Bowker and Ramey” under Articles) where he measured blood flow with a
Doppler while horses were standing in shoes, barefoot on cement and
wood. Results on blood flow with the same horses standing on soft
ground and padded boots were compiled. If shod or standing on cement and wood, the blood flowed down the leg through the arteries, made a U-turn at the pastern and returned up the leg.
Sunny and Sunrise still in boots after a ride.
When the horse was put on soft ground or in a padded boot, the blood flowed into the hoof, filling all the tiny vessels embedded in the soft tissue at the back of the foot. Bowker’s other research has proven that the vessels dissipate energy.
Conclusion: When the hoof is highly resistant, blood can not flow from the large arteries into the tiny vessels of the hoof. Without this blood flow the foot looses the critical function of dissipating energy. (see Dr. Bowker's further comments at a recent clinic.)
However
when the foot offers little resistance, as in padded boots, blood
easily flowed into the foot and the foot mechanism worked as it should.
Feral horses have all the natural structure they need but most of
domestics don't.
Here is an easy litmus test:
If your horse has been barefoot for a while she probably has a lovely
trot in her pasture where she appears to float over the ground. If she
does that under saddle, then your horse has enough structure for your
area. If however she doesn’t float or you decide to trailer out to
harder or rockier areas, than give her the protection of padded boots.
She’ll float like a mustang.
Whether
to boot the rear is a judgment call as the hind feet are almost always
in better condition than the front. Variables to consider: expense,
terrain, your horse’s hind hooves, overall balance. I now boot all
around.
Here are some insights from Karen Chaton who is one of the top endurance riders in the country. She now works for EasyCare however, I have met Karen and know that she would always do what's best for her beautiful Arabs.
"I like to use four boots on my horses for several reasons:
- Mainly because I think it keeps them feeling confident over any terrain at any speed.
- Secondly, it evens them out. If I just boot the fronts, then I have just slowed down the breakover on the front but not the hinds. My horses all travel close enough that they are much better off being evened out with four boots on. Riders and vets alike tend to have a very difficult time detecting hind end soreness or lameness. Many don't realize that their horses are sore back there.
- One of the most important things I have learned from riding so much is that if my horse is off on the front it doesn't mean that is where it originated from. Many times I have seen horses off in the front but the cause was the hind end and adding boots (even over shoes) can help that quite a bit."
Hope this helps you, help your horse. Boot N’ Boogie!
Comments