FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am interested in taking my horse barefoot. What do I need to do?
Some background
reading and research of your
own before making the decision (see Resources) can be helpful. Going barefoot
is rarely as simple as just removing the shoes and continuing as normal,
we recommend professional barefoot trimming support for horses coming out
of shoes.
Things to think about:
Your
horse will need regular trims - five to six weekly,
or more regularly depending on your horse's health
You
may need to change your horses’ diet
You
will need to be very diligent about hoof hygiene and care
Your
horse may need hoof boots and pads for a while,
some horses permanently
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Barefoot
trimming is not a way to save money
You
may need to change your horses living environment and exercise regime
Your
horse may go through lots of changes, physically and mentally where
s/he will need extra support and planning from you
You
may have your decision challenged by people around
you
Going
barefoot can be an emotional rollercoaster!
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What training do barefoot trimmers have?
As yet there is no formally recognised training route for barefoot trimmers in the UK and farriers are not formally trained in barefoot performance trimming. When looking for a trimmer use recommendation and ask for references.
For information on a UK certificated training programme, visit www.uknhcp.org
What is the difference between the different schools of thought
on trimming? How do I know which is the best for my horse?
In reality, the differences between different trimming philosophies are small
and are often overemphasised by professionals! In fact each trimmer
will have their own style (as in farriery), with some people being more experienced in
certain
areas. The UKNHCP has the aim of improving the consistency of trimming training
as a recognised qualification, and it is mandatory for its students to undertake
mentorships with many different field practitioners.
The best trimming for
your horse will
be the trim that allows it to perform to the best of its ability, and will
probably come from the person who has the most tools (in terms of potential
solutions) in their toolkit of knowledge and experience. Ask questions! -
the best results occur when there is a partnership between the horse owner
and
trimmer.
Can I ride my horse in the same way when s/he's barefoot?
Absolutely and probably more! The aim of barefoot trimming is performance! There are no limitations to what you should aim to do with your horse, although they may require support and rehabilitation for a while when their shoes are removed. You can ride on the roads, (in fact it's good for them!), you can jump, do endurance, dressage, whatever your aim is, there will be horses across the world doing it now, barefoot!
I have seen that some barefoot horses wear hoof boots. Will my horse need them?
Hoof boots and pads give more protection to the hoof than any shoe can, but give
you the advantage of allowing your horse to be barefoot when you're not riding.
Over time we have found that using hoof boots for horses newly out of shoes
dramatically reduces the time it takes for them to adjust to being barefoot,
and it gives us the advantage of protecting the foot but keeping the horse
in work, maintaining health and fitness.
Movement and stimulation has a massive
part to play in hoof health. Where recently barefoot horses have poor hoof
condition and function, hoof boots and pads help us enable horses to safely
keep horses moving, optimising their rehabilitation.
There are a number
of different designs on the market. Our trimmers can advise
and fit boots for you and may carry second hand boots for sale.
With certain hoof
formations
you can expect your horse to change hoof shape and move through different
boot sizes. Hoof boots are also useful for applying medication to the hoof
and supporting
through illness, should it occur.
