The barefoot fantasy

[barnesthenoble]

I’d suggest glue ons (the easycare octos go on with only superglue, although they do require you to have the right size) or booting while he’s uncomfortable if you want to keep trying for barefoot. It’s worth seeing if he’s comfy in the stonedust lot, but I think some sort of protection would be worthwhile while he transitions. Unless a horse is really remarkably comfy, I do prefer to use boots pretty liberally during the transition.

On the flip side, while I am a huge advocate for barefoot, and failing that, boots or composite shoes, I don’t think it would be a terrible thing to keep an old retiree in regular steel shoes if that’s what he says is comfy. Hoof rehab is important and rewarding, but you also do really need to weigh quality of life and how much improvement you can expect when they’re getting up there in age.

[Salty]

I have an old horse and she’s earned the right to have whatever she wants. One of the main things she wants is to be as free from pain as possible. If shoes help to achieve that, shoes she shall have. She doesn’t care about any barefoot vs shod debate. She only wants to be comfortable.

[sascha]

@Salty

She doesn’t care about any barefoot vs shod debate

Exactly! The whole reason mine got them in the first place was the footing was wearing down her rock-hard little feet faster than she could grow them. FF to founder and then a much reduced workload during and after recovery and I wanted to try again because I knew she had a history of rock-hard little feet and causing herself fewer injuries while barefoot (she toes out and occasionally whacks herself). If the second try at barefoot hadn’t worked, the princess would be in shoes until her dying day.

[jvanrens]

My mare will be 30 on St Patrick’s day, she wears shoes because the alternative is a bruised foot horse. I don’t have the time to go to the barn and put on and take off boots. Shoe the poor thing until the footing stabilizes and try again.

ETA not aimed at you Salty!

[kaya842]

Lots of good thoughts here already. I’m of two minds, having tried (both successfully and not) to take my horses (3) barefoot. 2 of 3 did fine bare, but also showed improvement (bigger movement that wasn’t there before) when I eventually put shoes on for my convenience (I ride on roads occasionally and wanted grip for that - the proper word has fallen out of my brain). The last one has gone back and forth between barefoot and not and has a long complicated hoof history. The relevant part is that she is finally gaining sole depth, concavity, and better frog quality while in shoes. Her frogs always improved barefoot but her soles did not. IIWM with your horse, I’d try to improve the frog and sole quality with shoes (likely using a composite shoe from Easy Shoe, or a 3D frog pad or pour in) and once his foot stabilized then try barefoot again. I likely won’t do this with my own horse as her hooves have been a nightmare to get any improvement/ consistency so I don’t want to mess with what is working (which is a totally valid option for you as well!).

I think a lot of people, myself included, try to fix a foot by going barefoot but honestly I think you and horse will have a better time making all improvement that can be had in shoes before taking them off.

[outerbanks77]

With the history of laminitis, maybe he won’t be able to go without shoes.

However, I just wanted to pipe in here and mention that the trim is important as well, and I haven’t seen anyone mention that. A proper barefoot trim that encourages the hoof to develop is critical, and not a given, whether you’re working with a farrier or a barefoot trimmer.

If you can keep it in, some Sole-Guard might be worth a try. Hoof Armor can also help; it doesn’t provide cushion, but does protect from thrush and reduce wear.