Barefoot maintenance?

SKL · 10-06-2005, 06:20 PM

I may be buying a large pony who is 6 yo and barefoot. He's hunter-jumper at the moment, and I'm intending to ride him dressage, mostly, though I'm looking forward to trying fences again

He'll also be hacked around the municipal park.

I've never had a barefoot horse before, and am wondering how often he will need to be trimmed, etc? Is it the same as with a shod horse (I've always trimmed & shod every 5-6 weeks)?

Thanks,
Sarah

MyBabyTex · 10-06-2005, 06:29 PM

In short, yes. Lol.

You just want to make sure his feet are well maintained. If your farrier suggests any oils or pastes, you may want to pursue that.

Good luck with the new pony! How exciting!

Lindsayanne · 10-06-2005, 06:38 PM

Regal gets trimmed every six to eight weeks, just depending on when he looks like he needs it. They're all different. A barefoot horse starts "self trimming"- chipping and such- when they need to be trimmed.

Regal's never been shod in his life. It's so nice not having to fuss with shoes, buying shoes, losing shoes, etc!

Dre55 · 10-06-2005, 06:48 PM

The horses that i have that are barefoot get trimmed about ever six weeks or so just depending on how there feet look. Some horses can go longer I think that i just depends on the individual horse.

NiftyJ88 · 10-06-2005, 06:53 PM

Just keep an eye on their hooves. You'll know when they're getting long or when they are breaking apart, and that you ought to call out a trimmer. My one horse gets trimmed about once a year. He lives out and is retired, but wears his hooves down enough that he doesn't need trims. My 5 year old mare, gets trimmed about every 16 weeks. She also wears her feet down really nicely. I had a barefoot specialist trimmer out in April after going since October without a trim, and she said her feet were great. She hardly filed them at all, no snipping. So it depends, just make sure you keep an eye on the growth.

Avishay · 10-06-2005, 06:54 PM

All of my horses are barefoot right now. Some need to be trimmed every 6 weeks, but the ones in the larger pastures, or those who are ridden on trail more frequently can easily go 8 weeks between trimmings. Woodrow, my main riding horse, is actually happiest and healthiest going 10 weeks because his feet grow slowly. So what I'm saying is, just keep an eye on your pony's feet and watch the angles. If you see the toe getting long or if he's starting to have little cracks around the edges, then he's due to be trimmed. It will take a few months to see how often he needs to be done when in the work you're doing.

DangerRanch · 10-07-2005, 10:09 AM

As everybody else said, It depends on the horse. I had on that didn't get trimmed all winter (he was out 24/7 on rough terrain) and I have one right now that needs a trim every two weeks, arghh! At least I trim myself.

I would recommend finding a farrier that understands how to maintain a barefoot horse. There are some differences in the trim. Make sure that he/she is rounding the edges of the hoof wall and keeping the bars off the ground. It also makes a difference how he is kept, it is much harder to maintain healthy hooves on a stalled horse. I think it's great that you are going to keep him barefoot. All 10 of mine are barefoot (9 never shod) and I love it.

Blistering Winds · 10-07-2005, 10:17 AM

I call my farrier about 4 weeks to schedule the next trimming cause he is very busy. My farrier comes out to care for the flares, since my horse flares sideways before he grows outward much at all.

He can usually go to 6 weeks before chipping begins, but if you can get a horse trimmed before they start chipping, you have less problems and better hoof health overall.

DangerRanch · 10-07-2005, 04:10 PM

As an example of a barefoot trim on a sound, healthy hoof here are some pictures I took of my 2 y.o. gelding during his trim today. He is on a 4 week trim. He does not show chipping when he is do but he starts to get off balance and pidgen toe.

Before trim:

Half dome for comparison:

Heels have been trimmed down to widest part of frog, bars are off the ground, wall is rasped flat to level of the sole:

Frog is trimmed to ground level and mustang roll is applied to half of the hoof:

The finished hoof. The wall has been rounded in a mustang roll so that the main weight bearing surface is the iner (white) layer of the wall.

Hope that helps.

DangerRanch · 10-08-2005, 11:33 AM

Bars, before and after trim:

10-06-2005, 06:20 PM	#1
SKL Full Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	Barefoot maintenance? I may be buying a large pony who is 6 yo and barefoot. He's hunter-jumper at the moment, and I'm intending to ride him dressage, mostly, though I'm looking forward to trying fences again He'll also be hacked around the municipal park. I've never had a barefoot horse before, and am wondering how often he will need to be trimmed, etc? Is it the same as with a shod horse (I've always trimmed & shod every 5-6 weeks)? Thanks, Sarah

10-06-2005, 06:38 PM	#3
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 9,855 Images: 399	Regal gets trimmed every six to eight weeks, just depending on when he looks like he needs it. They're all different. A barefoot horse starts "self trimming"- chipping and such- when they need to be trimmed. Regal's never been shod in his life. It's so nice not having to fuss with shoes, buying shoes, losing shoes, etc! __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child *NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse

10-07-2005, 10:17 AM	#8
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,979 Images: 831 Blog Entries: 17	I call my farrier about 4 weeks to schedule the next trimming cause he is very busy. My farrier comes out to care for the flares, since my horse flares sideways before he grows outward much at all. He can usually go to 6 weeks before chipping begins, but if you can get a horse trimmed before they start chipping, you have less problems and better hoof health overall. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

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10-06-2005, 06:29 PM	#2
MyBabyTex Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 3,194 Images: 66	In short, yes. Lol. You just want to make sure his feet are well maintained. If your farrier suggests any oils or pastes, you may want to pursue that. Good luck with the new pony! How exciting!

10-06-2005, 06:48 PM	#4
Dre55 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cordele, Georgia Posts: 537 Images: 26	The horses that i have that are barefoot get trimmed about ever six weeks or so just depending on how there feet look. Some horses can go longer I think that i just depends on the individual horse.

10-06-2005, 06:53 PM	#5
NiftyJ88 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 199 Images: 1	Just keep an eye on their hooves. You'll know when they're getting long or when they are breaking apart, and that you ought to call out a trimmer. My one horse gets trimmed about once a year. He lives out and is retired, but wears his hooves down enough that he doesn't need trims. My 5 year old mare, gets trimmed about every 16 weeks. She also wears her feet down really nicely. I had a barefoot specialist trimmer out in April after going since October without a trim, and she said her feet were great. She hardly filed them at all, no snipping. So it depends, just make sure you keep an eye on the growth.

10-07-2005, 10:09 AM	#7
DangerRanch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahama Posts: 346 Images: 147	As everybody else said, It depends on the horse. I had on that didn't get trimmed all winter (he was out 24/7 on rough terrain) and I have one right now that needs a trim every two weeks, arghh! At least I trim myself. I would recommend finding a farrier that understands how to maintain a barefoot horse. There are some differences in the trim. Make sure that he/she is rounding the edges of the hoof wall and keeping the bars off the ground. It also makes a difference how he is kept, it is much harder to maintain healthy hooves on a stalled horse. I think it's great that you are going to keep him barefoot. All 10 of mine are barefoot (9 never shod) and I love it.

10-07-2005, 04:10 PM	#9
DangerRanch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahama Posts: 346 Images: 147	As an example of a barefoot trim on a sound, healthy hoof here are some pictures I took of my 2 y.o. gelding during his trim today. He is on a 4 week trim. He does not show chipping when he is do but he starts to get off balance and pidgen toe. Before trim: Half dome for comparison: Heels have been trimmed down to widest part of frog, bars are off the ground, wall is rasped flat to level of the sole: Frog is trimmed to ground level and mustang roll is applied to half of the hoof: The finished hoof. The wall has been rounded in a mustang roll so that the main weight bearing surface is the iner (white) layer of the wall. Hope that helps.

10-08-2005, 11:33 AM	#10
DangerRanch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oklahama Posts: 346 Images: 147	Bars, before and after trim: