Barefoot Horses
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I kept this picture large for a reason, so you could easily see the Swiss horse boots that Midnight is wearing on his front feet. Midnight and my other 3 horses have been barefoot since September of '08. Midnight did great in these boots but I have only had to use them on a few rides since pulling his shoes. Since Novemeber I have ridden him barefoot and he is doing great. I have the boots tied to my saddle just in case he needs them. But I have ridden him over some pretty rough terrain and his feet have become so tough that it doesn't bother him, at all!
I prefer the Swiss boots because you can custom them to fit your horse. You need a trained professional to do this. I haven't had any problem with these boots coming off. They didn't rub and create any sore spots. You see more information about hoof care on this page. Just scroll down!
I prefer the Swiss boots because you can custom them to fit your horse. You need a trained professional to do this. I haven't had any problem with these boots coming off. They didn't rub and create any sore spots. You see more information about hoof care on this page. Just scroll down!
Jay is riding Prince our Paso Fino and I am on Midnight. This was taken on a ride from Margaret White to Skull rock.
Both horses have Swiss boots on front feet. This picture was taken in November of '08.
Prince is not able to go barefoot yet. He develped thrush so bad that his frogs were almost eaten away. I believe this was due to him having shoes, crud building up and the shoes holding it in and keeping it packed. Even though I would clean his feet and he would get new shoes every 6-8 weeks. I treated the problem but it would never get better, until I took the shoes OFF! He still has a long way to get new frogs but they are much better!
Both horses have Swiss boots on front feet. This picture was taken in November of '08.
Prince is not able to go barefoot yet. He develped thrush so bad that his frogs were almost eaten away. I believe this was due to him having shoes, crud building up and the shoes holding it in and keeping it packed. Even though I would clean his feet and he would get new shoes every 6-8 weeks. I treated the problem but it would never get better, until I took the shoes OFF! He still has a long way to get new frogs but they are much better!
Gumbo and Max, Haflinger geldings owned by Pam and Larkin Floyd from Eureka Springs, AR
Guest comments:
Marci, We just wanted to say thanks again for our wonderful stay at the Gates Cabin. Thanks for your warm hospitality and for introducing us to the beautiful trails of the middle Buffalo. Larkin and I had another good ride on your place before we left this morning. It was hard to return home to our workaday world, but what great memories we have! Larkin and Pam October 2008
Marci, We just wanted to say thanks again for our wonderful stay at the Gates Cabin. Thanks for your warm hospitality and for introducing us to the beautiful trails of the middle Buffalo. Larkin and I had another good ride on your place before we left this morning. It was hard to return home to our workaday world, but what great memories we have! Larkin and Pam October 2008
Hi Marci,
I am still revelling in the wonderful time I had at the cabin and riding on the Buffalo. Your sense of hospitality and care in the furnishings and well stocked cabin was amazing. I'm glad you we able to come ride with us and will certainly give you a call when we are in your neck of the woods on the Upper Buffalo. Keep up the effort with your young filly, never give up, slow and steady makes a good saddle horse!
Reba Potee October 2008
I am still revelling in the wonderful time I had at the cabin and riding on the Buffalo. Your sense of hospitality and care in the furnishings and well stocked cabin was amazing. I'm glad you we able to come ride with us and will certainly give you a call when we are in your neck of the woods on the Upper Buffalo. Keep up the effort with your young filly, never give up, slow and steady makes a good saddle horse!
Reba Potee October 2008
Pam and
Larkin
Floyd on
their
Haflingers
Gumbo
and Max.
Gumbo
and Max
are wearing
Swiss
boots.
Larkin
Floyd on
their
Haflingers
Gumbo
and Max.
Gumbo
and Max
are wearing
Swiss
boots.
Reba Potee
from Eureka
Springs, AR.
on her quarter
horse, Rowdy.
Rowdy is
wearing
Swiss
boots.
from Eureka
Springs, AR.
on her quarter
horse, Rowdy.
Rowdy is
wearing
Swiss
boots.
Riding Midnight my Missouri
Fox Trotter. He is barefoot! He
is wearing shin guards and bell boots., that is what you see in
the picture. Picture taken January 9, 2009 Also in the picture is my faithful Blue Heeler, Harley.
Fox Trotter. He is barefoot! He
is wearing shin guards and bell boots., that is what you see in
the picture. Picture taken January 9, 2009 Also in the picture is my faithful Blue Heeler, Harley.
Larkin and Pam Floyd and Reba Potee posing under the Rock House overhang
|| Middle River Trails || Facilities || Cabins for Horsemen || Horsemen's Gallery || Barefoot Horses || Barefoot Horses pg. 2 ||
|| Ozark Scenes || Home ||
|| Ozark Scenes || Home ||
I thought I would share a little about why I got interested in natural hoof (horse) care. This will probably be boring to most riders but I HIGHLY recommend a look, especially if your horse has "issues".
I bought a Missouri Fox Trotter in 2006 and from the first time I rode him on the trails he tripped, a lot. So much that he would fall down on his knees. It got to the point that I was afraid to ride him, I didn't want either one of us to get hurt. Our best friend who is actually the vice president of the AANHCP (Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices) suggested that this problem might be related to Midnight being shod. If I would take the shoes off, it might cure the problem. Since Richard is our best friend and being the VP of this organization which was officially established in 2003, you might wonder why I didn't try this sooner. Well, that is a long story and I don't want to get into it here. I kick myself for not doing it sooner.
Anyway, about this time, having dealt with Midnight falling for 2 years, and after Richard suggesting I toss the shoes, he also invited us to attend a symposium being held at PFI western store in Springfield, MO. The symposium was held by Bruce Nock, Ph.D. and Ann Corso, CP (Certified Practitioner). I knew I would have Midnight's shoes pulled and also my other 3 horses but I decided to present my situation to Bruce during a break. He said 3 words, "Pull the shoes". Well, the symposium was VERY interesting, including talks on hay and nutrition, horse care management which included information on how to manage the area where you keep your horse, based on a book by Jaime Jackson called Paddock Paradise.
You won't believe much of what I am telling you but I am a firm believer now that I have actually gone "barefoot" with my horses. I had the Swiss Boots fitted to 2 of my horses that I ride a lot, the other 2 were young and "green broke" so I figured with the rocky terrain where I keep them that they would toughen up and I wouldn't have to use boots. Since they are just "green broke" and with my busy schedule I knew they would have time to adjust and acclimate to being barefoot. Some horses will take longer than others to "toughen" up but I know the horses and their owners will be happier!
So I rode Midnight the first few rides with his boots (picture at top of page) and we have some very rough terrain here in the Ozark mountains. Then I decided one day that I would try a ride without the boots, I carried them on the saddle. Well, Midnight did pretty good on the trail. What bothered him was the gravel roads, he was still tender. So I put the boots back on when we got on the road.
I referred to horse "management" earlier. This is quite interesting. I always thought I wanted my horses on nice green pastures. They look so pretty on nice green pasture and it would be good for them. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Fortunately, for my horses, we grow our own hay so I was never able to really keep them on pasture all the time, although back in 1998 I did have a horse that FOUNDERED on pasture and I didn't even know it. Friends recognized the symptoms on a trail ride. Little did I realize back then, that is the worst thing that you can do to your horse., keeping them on pasture. They can founder (I'll refer here to a fascinating book: Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way by Jaime Jackson) very easily and it may not even be noticeable, when in actuality there is a lot going on in their hooves, changes you would be amazed is happening. Here is the meaning of FOUNDER~1. To stumble, break down, or go lame. 2. To cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis, to plunge to the bottom.
I know there are many, many horses on pasture 24/7, I drive by them everyday. (I cringe!) And the situation may be that the owners just don't have any other way to manage them. If they were aware I would hope that they would try to change the horses environment. I refer again to a great book called PADDOCK PARADISE by Jaime Jackson. I have been fortunate (and didn't know it) in having the perfect Paddock Paradise for my horses. They have about a 2 acre "paddock" with little or no grass, lots of rocks, a little hilly (more hilly would be better) enclosed in 3 strands of electric wire. I FINALLY got rid of the wicked barb wire! This year we switched to feeding round bales and I do this in a horse safe round bale feeder. There are 2 drawbacks to this. One, the horses don't MOVE as much and two, neither do I. I don't have to go out 2 or 3 times a day and feed so I am not getting my exercise that I have been getting for the past 12 years! So I have the feeder as far away as I can get it from the barn and I also have water in 3 different areas (a pond, a Ritchie Fountain and a 300 gallon tub where our well water overflows into) so they have to "move" to get water and go to shelter. Getting them to move as much as possible is important as this is how they exercise when you're not riding them. A pond is a great place for horses to get water and keep their hooves conditioned and clean. "It's not only good for the hooves, it's necessary for optimal hoof function. The (hoof) mechanism functions at its best if the hooves are "lubed" with water and mud daily". --an excerpt taken from Jaime Jackson's book, Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way.
Jaime suggests that if you don't have a pond another thing you can do is when you water your horses let the water run over the top to create a muddy area.
It has been 4 months since Richard pulled all the shoes. I rode Midnight on a 5 hour trail ride on January 9, 2009, I had the boots tied to my saddle but never had to use them. Midnights feet are so tough and hard (his frogs still have a ways to go) that I can barely trim them, they are so hard I can't even use the hoof knife on his soles, not that they need it. All I really have to do is clean them out and use the file. Sometimes there is a little trimming on the heels but that's only if I haven't trimmed in a couple months! ( I know of many people who do their own trimming, they have their horses in a "natural" environment and on large acreage and they only have to trim ONCE a year!) Sounds incredible but it's true. Yes, I trim my own horses. You can do it yourself by just learning from all the books and reading material but I opted to go through the training which I am still going through. Takes about 18 months, give or take a few! I can tell you this from experience now, my horses are happier and healthier, Midnight doesn't trip and fall to his knees anymore (great relief) I thought there was something seriously wrong with him. Just pulling his shoes solved the problem! I am one HAPPY rider and I can tell he is happier too. He just goes better! I will NEVER put another nail in my horses hooves!
I can't believe how ignorant I was about caring for my horses, giving them the BEST care. We don't see a lot of what goes on on the surface but the potential for pathology can be significant. I have heard so many testimonies of people who had a horse and they just couldn't figure out what was wrong. They spent small
(and sometimes large) fortunes trying to get their horses better working with their farriers and vets. To the point that their farrier and vet said there was nothing more they could do except put the horse down! I don't know about you but I would be devastated if I was told that. I know Richard personally, he is a close friend and he has literally saved horses from that fate, the owners were desperate at this point and somehow learned about "natural horse care" and turned to people like Richard and Jaime Jackson who got to the horse in time and brought it back to compete soundness and being able to be ridden again! I am not saying that all pathology (illness) comes from the hooves but you would be shocked at how much does. The hoof is a marvelous "mechanism" with living breathing tissue. It is very complex and I believe strongly now that keeping the feet in their "natural" form and "natural" environment is critical to good horse health.
As I mentioned above, I am in the training program of the AANHCP. I still have 2 strings of mentorship where I go out and trim with a CP (Certified Practitioner) there is an independent study in between before I take my final exam. I am very excited about being able to trim my own horses. I hope to finish the course and get certified but I don't plan to take on clients, I just really want to be informed so I can share with fellow horse lovers about this incredible................from the beginning of creation really........natural and safe way to care for their horses. If they are interested!
As you have gathered from reading this, if you have read this far, I will suggest to any horse owner (if they show an interest) that they pull the shoes off their horses. This should be done by a professional, either their current farrier or they should locate a certified practitioner of the AANHCP. For a complete list of CP's in the country you can go to www.aanhcp.net . With a CP they (the owners) can immediately, after the shoes are pulled, have their horses feet trimmed to the right angles and degrees, this is critical for getting the horses hooves in balance. Your horses feet will most likely be tender and sore after the shoes are pulled. Did you know that a horse will grow a whole new healthy hoof in about a year! Even if your horses hooves are so bad he cannot stand. But don't wait. Time is of the essence! So if you have a horse that has "issues" with his feet, there is hope. Pull the shoes and have them trimmed to the right angles and degrees and watch a whole new healthy hoof grow! Oh, I forgot to tell you.........Midnight also had very flat feet, really no concavity at all. His feet are now growing at a whole new, better, straighter degree keeping the heels low. They look so good!
Did you know that organizations like the Houston Police Department have all their horses barefoot? Talk about wear and tear on hooves!! Yep, they came to learn from Richard and took the information back to the department, the rest is history! I'm sure they would be happy to share their stories with you!
The books that I have referred to can be purchased from www.star-ridge.com.
For more information on Natural Horse Care Practices you can visit www.aanhcp.net. I hope you will check it out........for your horses sake! Also, for information on the Swiss Boots and also on "natural" trimming you can contact Richard Drewry at bootngo@ritternet.com. His web site is www.swissboots.net
I bought a Missouri Fox Trotter in 2006 and from the first time I rode him on the trails he tripped, a lot. So much that he would fall down on his knees. It got to the point that I was afraid to ride him, I didn't want either one of us to get hurt. Our best friend who is actually the vice president of the AANHCP (Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices) suggested that this problem might be related to Midnight being shod. If I would take the shoes off, it might cure the problem. Since Richard is our best friend and being the VP of this organization which was officially established in 2003, you might wonder why I didn't try this sooner. Well, that is a long story and I don't want to get into it here. I kick myself for not doing it sooner.
Anyway, about this time, having dealt with Midnight falling for 2 years, and after Richard suggesting I toss the shoes, he also invited us to attend a symposium being held at PFI western store in Springfield, MO. The symposium was held by Bruce Nock, Ph.D. and Ann Corso, CP (Certified Practitioner). I knew I would have Midnight's shoes pulled and also my other 3 horses but I decided to present my situation to Bruce during a break. He said 3 words, "Pull the shoes". Well, the symposium was VERY interesting, including talks on hay and nutrition, horse care management which included information on how to manage the area where you keep your horse, based on a book by Jaime Jackson called Paddock Paradise.
You won't believe much of what I am telling you but I am a firm believer now that I have actually gone "barefoot" with my horses. I had the Swiss Boots fitted to 2 of my horses that I ride a lot, the other 2 were young and "green broke" so I figured with the rocky terrain where I keep them that they would toughen up and I wouldn't have to use boots. Since they are just "green broke" and with my busy schedule I knew they would have time to adjust and acclimate to being barefoot. Some horses will take longer than others to "toughen" up but I know the horses and their owners will be happier!
So I rode Midnight the first few rides with his boots (picture at top of page) and we have some very rough terrain here in the Ozark mountains. Then I decided one day that I would try a ride without the boots, I carried them on the saddle. Well, Midnight did pretty good on the trail. What bothered him was the gravel roads, he was still tender. So I put the boots back on when we got on the road.
I referred to horse "management" earlier. This is quite interesting. I always thought I wanted my horses on nice green pastures. They look so pretty on nice green pasture and it would be good for them. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Fortunately, for my horses, we grow our own hay so I was never able to really keep them on pasture all the time, although back in 1998 I did have a horse that FOUNDERED on pasture and I didn't even know it. Friends recognized the symptoms on a trail ride. Little did I realize back then, that is the worst thing that you can do to your horse., keeping them on pasture. They can founder (I'll refer here to a fascinating book: Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way by Jaime Jackson) very easily and it may not even be noticeable, when in actuality there is a lot going on in their hooves, changes you would be amazed is happening. Here is the meaning of FOUNDER~1. To stumble, break down, or go lame. 2. To cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis, to plunge to the bottom.
I know there are many, many horses on pasture 24/7, I drive by them everyday. (I cringe!) And the situation may be that the owners just don't have any other way to manage them. If they were aware I would hope that they would try to change the horses environment. I refer again to a great book called PADDOCK PARADISE by Jaime Jackson. I have been fortunate (and didn't know it) in having the perfect Paddock Paradise for my horses. They have about a 2 acre "paddock" with little or no grass, lots of rocks, a little hilly (more hilly would be better) enclosed in 3 strands of electric wire. I FINALLY got rid of the wicked barb wire! This year we switched to feeding round bales and I do this in a horse safe round bale feeder. There are 2 drawbacks to this. One, the horses don't MOVE as much and two, neither do I. I don't have to go out 2 or 3 times a day and feed so I am not getting my exercise that I have been getting for the past 12 years! So I have the feeder as far away as I can get it from the barn and I also have water in 3 different areas (a pond, a Ritchie Fountain and a 300 gallon tub where our well water overflows into) so they have to "move" to get water and go to shelter. Getting them to move as much as possible is important as this is how they exercise when you're not riding them. A pond is a great place for horses to get water and keep their hooves conditioned and clean. "It's not only good for the hooves, it's necessary for optimal hoof function. The (hoof) mechanism functions at its best if the hooves are "lubed" with water and mud daily". --an excerpt taken from Jaime Jackson's book, Founder: Prevention and Cure the Natural Way.
Jaime suggests that if you don't have a pond another thing you can do is when you water your horses let the water run over the top to create a muddy area.
It has been 4 months since Richard pulled all the shoes. I rode Midnight on a 5 hour trail ride on January 9, 2009, I had the boots tied to my saddle but never had to use them. Midnights feet are so tough and hard (his frogs still have a ways to go) that I can barely trim them, they are so hard I can't even use the hoof knife on his soles, not that they need it. All I really have to do is clean them out and use the file. Sometimes there is a little trimming on the heels but that's only if I haven't trimmed in a couple months! ( I know of many people who do their own trimming, they have their horses in a "natural" environment and on large acreage and they only have to trim ONCE a year!) Sounds incredible but it's true. Yes, I trim my own horses. You can do it yourself by just learning from all the books and reading material but I opted to go through the training which I am still going through. Takes about 18 months, give or take a few! I can tell you this from experience now, my horses are happier and healthier, Midnight doesn't trip and fall to his knees anymore (great relief) I thought there was something seriously wrong with him. Just pulling his shoes solved the problem! I am one HAPPY rider and I can tell he is happier too. He just goes better! I will NEVER put another nail in my horses hooves!
I can't believe how ignorant I was about caring for my horses, giving them the BEST care. We don't see a lot of what goes on on the surface but the potential for pathology can be significant. I have heard so many testimonies of people who had a horse and they just couldn't figure out what was wrong. They spent small
(and sometimes large) fortunes trying to get their horses better working with their farriers and vets. To the point that their farrier and vet said there was nothing more they could do except put the horse down! I don't know about you but I would be devastated if I was told that. I know Richard personally, he is a close friend and he has literally saved horses from that fate, the owners were desperate at this point and somehow learned about "natural horse care" and turned to people like Richard and Jaime Jackson who got to the horse in time and brought it back to compete soundness and being able to be ridden again! I am not saying that all pathology (illness) comes from the hooves but you would be shocked at how much does. The hoof is a marvelous "mechanism" with living breathing tissue. It is very complex and I believe strongly now that keeping the feet in their "natural" form and "natural" environment is critical to good horse health.
As I mentioned above, I am in the training program of the AANHCP. I still have 2 strings of mentorship where I go out and trim with a CP (Certified Practitioner) there is an independent study in between before I take my final exam. I am very excited about being able to trim my own horses. I hope to finish the course and get certified but I don't plan to take on clients, I just really want to be informed so I can share with fellow horse lovers about this incredible................from the beginning of creation really........natural and safe way to care for their horses. If they are interested!
As you have gathered from reading this, if you have read this far, I will suggest to any horse owner (if they show an interest) that they pull the shoes off their horses. This should be done by a professional, either their current farrier or they should locate a certified practitioner of the AANHCP. For a complete list of CP's in the country you can go to www.aanhcp.net . With a CP they (the owners) can immediately, after the shoes are pulled, have their horses feet trimmed to the right angles and degrees, this is critical for getting the horses hooves in balance. Your horses feet will most likely be tender and sore after the shoes are pulled. Did you know that a horse will grow a whole new healthy hoof in about a year! Even if your horses hooves are so bad he cannot stand. But don't wait. Time is of the essence! So if you have a horse that has "issues" with his feet, there is hope. Pull the shoes and have them trimmed to the right angles and degrees and watch a whole new healthy hoof grow! Oh, I forgot to tell you.........Midnight also had very flat feet, really no concavity at all. His feet are now growing at a whole new, better, straighter degree keeping the heels low. They look so good!
Did you know that organizations like the Houston Police Department have all their horses barefoot? Talk about wear and tear on hooves!! Yep, they came to learn from Richard and took the information back to the department, the rest is history! I'm sure they would be happy to share their stories with you!
The books that I have referred to can be purchased from www.star-ridge.com.
For more information on Natural Horse Care Practices you can visit www.aanhcp.net. I hope you will check it out........for your horses sake! Also, for information on the Swiss Boots and also on "natural" trimming you can contact Richard Drewry at bootngo@ritternet.com. His web site is www.swissboots.net
Midnight's hooves just before Richard pulls the shoes!
Richard trimming excess hoof wall from Midnight's hooves. He is taking off about 1/2 inch. This was the "initial" trim so there was a lot to take off. I now only have to do a little filing!
Richard, measuring Midnight's healing angle.
This is the area from the coronet band down about 1 to 2 cm. This is NEW growth that is growing from the coronet band. This IS the healing angle that we measure and the angle in which the hoof will grow all the way to the ground, if left to grow in it's natural environment. No shoes and a "paddock paradise" environment!
This is the area from the coronet band down about 1 to 2 cm. This is NEW growth that is growing from the coronet band. This IS the healing angle that we measure and the angle in which the hoof will grow all the way to the ground, if left to grow in it's natural environment. No shoes and a "paddock paradise" environment!
Midnight's finished hoof after pulling shoes and trimming to healing angle.
So much better!
So much better!
Prince's hooves just after Richard pulled shoes and just before "initial" trim. Unfortunately, I didn't get any finished hoof pictures. (See pix below) Too busy watching! Trust me, they were beautiful after Richard finished!
Checking for balance, a critical step. Can you see that Prince has "run under" or "contracted" heels? This was caused by the shoes preventing the hoof mechanism from working properly and allowing the heel and frog to spread naturally as Prince put weight on his hooves.
I left this picture a bit larger so you could see where the nails penetrated the white line.
This picture taken of Prince's hooves after I trimmed them on Jan. 22, '09. Not too bad for a beginner trimmer! A definate improvement over the pix taken after shoes were pulled, above!
Prince's hoof after I finished sanding his hoof wall, Jan. 22, '09!
Here is a before and after picture of Dixie's hooves after Richard pulled the shoes. The after picture is BEFORE Richard shaped the "mustang roll" .Dixie is my 5 year old TW filly.
After Richard cleaned and trimmed Dixie's sole and frog. This is a better picture where you can see the 1/2 circles where the nails came into and through the white line.
Midnight, riding barefoot for about 3 hours in the rough terrain of the Ozarks. Still another 3 hours back!
Susan House (left), Evelyn Mills (right) and April Herrin (back). All riding barefoot horses in boots!
"Cause no harm......respect the healing powers of nature."
July 29-30, 2008
We came looking for a slice of serenity and we found it! Thank you for sharing your cabin w/others. Feel blessed to have had the experience. Billy Stallap-Clara Gondreau Texas
We came looking for a slice of serenity and we found it! Thank you for sharing your cabin w/others. Feel blessed to have had the experience. Billy Stallap-Clara Gondreau Texas
Sept. 12-14, 2008
Wow! What a magical & enchanting place! Adored the cabin and had a wonderful stay even with the storm and losing electricity. We're leaving with smiles on our face:) & a ring on her finger! Many Blessings, Mike & Karen
Wow! What a magical & enchanting place! Adored the cabin and had a wonderful stay even with the storm and losing electricity. We're leaving with smiles on our face:) & a ring on her finger! Many Blessings, Mike & Karen