Want to transition your horse to barefoot?
Most horse owners now understand that having barefoot horses has a lot of benefits for the horse's wellbeing - as well as costing their owner substantially less than getting a great farrier in every 4-5 weeks does!
But you've probably heard various stories of people who tried to take a horse barefoot and failed, deciding the horse just "needs metal shoes, and that's all there is to it". We've all heard people say things like:
- 'Thoroughbred hooves cant go barefoot' or
- 'he needed correctional shoeing to keep him sound' or
- 'she's just too sensitive to ever go barefoot' or
- 'his sole is too thin for barefoot' or the real kicker...
- 'I took his shoes off for two months but he was tender so we put them back on'.
Taking your horse barefoot can be a lot easier than you expect
One of our Creators @nzmares rescued an ex racer and despite the stereotypes about thoroughbred hooves, her feet were tough and the horse had absolutely no issue going straight to barefoot. She said "I literally trimmed her and off we went. She had great hard hooves, not very concave but very sound and she never had a stone bruise or showed tenderness on gravel."
Not all barefoot transition stories are as short and sweet as this one, so we've gathered together the advice to help ensure that your horse adapts to barefoot hooves as easily as possible.
Prepare for the barefoot transition and avoid the pitfalls
Planning is key. Here are some things to think about before pulling your horses metal horseshoes.
Time of year / hardness of the ground / competition season.
If you live somewhere warm and dry why not pull shoes at the end of summer and avoid your horse dealing with hard ground in the field. Or maybe you're competing - wait until the end of competition season so your horse is training less and has fewer demands on them.
Find your ideal trimmer.
Not every farrier is a barefoot trimmer, and vice versa. Often hoofcare providers specialize in either shod horses or unshod horses. It's a common misconception that the trim required to place a shoe is the same as a trim for barefoot hoof. They are NOT the same thing, and the hoof needs to be shaped very differently to function with a shoe than it should be for ideal barefoot function. If your current farrier says they are happy to do barefoot trimming, go along and look at the trim they do on another clients horse, and ask about the reasons for how they have trimmed it.
A good understanding of barefoot function (breakover point, weight bearing points, mustang roll, care of frogs and bars) is central to a good barefoot transition and sound movement with barefoot hooves. Educate yourself about good barefoot trimming as much as you can. You may even wish to take a course and become knowledgeable enough to trim your own horses, or even just enough to do 'tidy ups' between your trimmers visits.
Good barefoot trimming deeply affects the growth and function of your horse's hoof structures, which in turn improves their way of going, and lowers tension levels in the body, decreasing stressors and strains on the horse's entire body.
Focus on nutrition for healthy hooves.
A diet low in sugar, high in forage and supporting great gut health is a game-changer for healthy hoof growth. One of the key vitamins for strong hooves is biotin and horses manufacture biotin in their gut so good gut health almost invariably results in good hoof wall health. Hoof care supplements can also be useful to support any gaps in your horses natural nutrition.
Hoof hygiene for barefoot hooves.
Horses hooves benefit from standing on dry in winter and getting wet in summer. Horse owners often invest in dry-pads for horses to stand on in wet months and may create hoof baths to prevent excessive dryness in hot dry months. Regardless, regular hoof picking and control of thrush are a must for all horse owners.
You were waiting for it...
... Get hoof boots for your barefoot horse as soon as you can.
A horse who has just had their metal shoes pulled after years of use may have quite distorted hoof structures (narrow heels, over long toes, thin soles) - so you may be tempted to wait until their hoof capsule grows down into a more natural shape before buying their perfect hoof boot size.
However, a lot of horse owners find that it's worth buying a set of hoof boots right away as they provide a lot of relief for a newly barefoot horse if that horse is feeling their hooves.
So, you may decide to buy a set of hoof boots and sell them on if your horses hooves end up a different size (Renegade hoof boots have great resale value) or you may buy a second hand pair first then invest in your dream set once your horses hooves are fully adjusted to barefoot life. As horses carry more weight on their front legs, you may decide to buy hoof boots for just the two front hooves first.
Hoof boots provide relief to horses transitioning to barefoot in four key ways:
- A hoof boot like Renegades which is made of polyurethane dissipates much of the impact force of the horse's hoof landing by lengthening the duration of the shock wave - rather than increasing impact force concussion like metal shoes do.
- A polyurethane hoof boot can flex and stretch and allows the hoof to flex naturally, helping it absorb impact and spread the forces over a wider area.
- This natural expansion of the hoof enhances blood flow and the frog in particular acts as a pump, helping circulate deoxygenated blood back up the horses legs, and this increased circulation helps boost cellular repair and lessens the likelihood of injury.
- At the simplest level, a horse transitioning to barefoot who is given hoof boots to wear will not be hurt by stepping on a sharp stone with hooves un-used to direct contact with the ground.
The ideal time to measure your horse for hoof boots is right after their first trim after having their metal shoes removed. Follow our guide to taking photos and upload them to get free sizing advice (and a size-swap guarantee).
We often get asked if you can leave hoof boots on sensitive horses in the field. Although Renegade hoof boots were not designed for use in turnout, many owners do choose to support their horses in this way. It is essential that you are able to regularly check your horse throughout the day and ensure that the field is free from anything a boot could catch on (logs, tough shrubs, loose wires on fences etc). This form of use must be at your discretion.
The guide to a barefoot transition is simple
Set your horse up for success barefoot by preparing all the steps above. This way you're giving them Physical hoof boot support, Nutritional support, Structural barefoot trimmer support and minimizing the impact of the Environment they are in.
Your horse will be growing healthy hoof wall, having their hooves rehabbed by a professional barefoot trimmer to allow them to grow optimum hoof structures, and protected from impact damage or discomfort.
Your horse will be able to move naturally, with less impact forces acting on their body, and better circulation. They can enjoy more whole-horse wellbeing through optimum movement and you may see changes in a wide range of areas as your horse becomes more comfortable and confident.
Remember - A full barefoot transition takes time.
A full hoof capsule takes 8-10 months to grow fully in, so that's the minimum time until your horse is fully transitioned to barefoot and making full use of the improved hoof structure and feeling the full benefit of natural movement through the rest of their body.
However; most horses will be comfortable with barefoot hooves within 2-3 months and from there you can expect their hooves to start toughening up and becoming more resilient on different terrain.
Most barefoot horses will still benefit from hoof boots on rough terrain throughout their lives, as even if they are comfortable going over rough ground, the hoof boots prevent wear and tear on the hooves.
