Bare hoof trim

The bare hoof horse

What is a bare hoof horse? A horse without shoes? Yes, but more than that, a bare hoof horse is a way of living, a new approach to horses.

Why a bare hoof horse?

A bare hoof horse is able to use its feet as nature intended. Meaning that a bare hoof horse can develop a more functional hoof. Without shoes, the feet are able, on ground impact, to work like shock absorbers and dissipate the energy correctly. Blood circulation is also able to flow correctly in the hoof capsule.

The bare hoof trim

A good bare hoof trim is one that respects the conformation and the anatomy of each individual horse . A good bare hoof trim is one that will enable the hooves to restructure properly and build stronger internal and external structures thus reinforcing the hooves and making them more functional. The trim will bring the hooves into proper balance. By doing this, the weight of the horse will be spread uniformly across the hooves, thus allowing them to restructure and to reinforce themselves with each step that the horse takes. We are looking at giving each horse the best hoof possible in accordance with its conformation and the bony alignment. Trimming your horse regularly will keep the hooves in balance and functional.

Trim your horse, how often ?

To keep your horse's hooves in balance, it is important to have him trimmed every 6 weeks depending on the amount of work of the horse does. If the horse doesn't have regular trimmings, the hooves will be unbalanced, forcing the horse to move in an unnatural way and putting too much stress on the hoof structures and may cause lameness in the long term. To determine the interval between trimmings, you have to consider many different factors, such as the distance your horse is doing, the ground on which he is working and living, his conformation etc.

What's the function of the hoof ?

The hooves carry the entire weight of the horse, absorb shocks, help to dissipate energy, help in traction, propulsion and braking, play an important function in blood circulation and much more! A good quality of horn and strong internal and external structures are essential for a bare hoof horse.

What are the advantages ?

There are many advantages in having a bare hoof horse. By allowing the horse to live with natural hooves, you will allow your horse to live a healthier life! Indeed, a well balanced, strong and functional hoof will better absorb shocks and concussion, thus preserving the articulation of the limb. The frog will function properly and have a better ground contact, allowing a better blood circulation.

Why shoes ?

When speaking about our modern and domestic horses, we have to keep in mind that all horses cannot necessarily go without shoes. Some have just so poor quality of feet that some times, it is better to have them in shoes. Bare hoof horses demand at least at the beginning more hoof care and a different approach, (wearing boots during the transition, rehabilitating the hooves etc). So some horse owners prefer to have the convenience of hoof shoes. But there is another alternative, such as fitting the horse with boots and leaving the horse bare hoof the rest of the time. So going bare hoof should be a important decision to make !

Bare hoof horses, for every one ?

The question that arise often is to know if all horses can go barefoot. As previously mentionned, not all horses are good candidates for bare hoof. But it is possible to help them all  go bare hoof and we can help them  go through the transition period from shoes to bare hoof. To be successfully in having a horse bare hoof, we have also to offer them a good environment, lots of exercise and care. Going through the transition period will be more comfortable for the horse and owner by using boots. Building strong hooves for your horse will be achieved by good trimmings, exercise and comfort by using boots during the transition period or whenever the horse needs them. Don't forget that the horse will adapt its feet to the environment he is living and working in the most. A feral horse walks approximatively 30 km per day. So it is important to allow our domestic horses to move a lot and to use their feet as nature intended ! Doing so, our horses will be able to build strong and functional hooves.

What is the transition period ?

We often hear about the transition period, but what actually is it? The transition period is the period of time when we unshod the horse until he is comfortable barefooted. It usually takes one year to rehabilitate the hooves as this is the time required for the horn to grow back entirely. It is during this time that we will bring the hooves back into balance and build strong internal structures. The best way to do it is by using boots and pads so the horse will be able to land heels first, as the hooves are intended to do. By doing this comfortably, with the help of boots at the beginning, the horse will be able to build back strong internal structures (digital cushion, lateral cartilage) ! then, the boots will probably not be needed any more.

Some pictures:

shoes off please!

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