Keeping and working horses barefoot has been around since humans decided that horses looked useful. From hard working cavalry horses to the pony your folks couldn't afford to put shoes on, there have been horses throughout history that have managed without shoes. Over time though, we have lost the knowledge we once had about what horses really need to keep healthy and sound barefoot, and their lives have become secondary to the way we want to keep and use them.
Over the last twenty years or so, many horse people have been questioning accepted 'knowledge' about horse keeping, and have been gaining a better understanding through research of what horses need. |
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Many people have been dedicated to the work, including farriers, vets, horse owners, riders and competitors. All this thought means we now have a better knowledge of the function of the hoof, what shoeing does to horses, barefoot performance, and what different horses need in different environments, than ever before.
There is a lot still to learn, but shared experience is helping barefoot trimmers and owners successfully support horses in performance across the disciplines and to rehabilitate from pathologies.
