|
To put it very simply
- barefoot trimming is about simulating and stimulating. First
we are simulating the wear horses' feet would get if they were free
to get all the exercise they needed to keep their feet self-trimmed.
Secondly we are trimming the foot to stimulate it to grow healthy
and in the proper form for each individual foot.
In other words we are
helping nature - key word "helping". We are not trying to
impose our idea of perfect form on the foot. On the contrary,
we read each foot to see what IT is trying to tell us it needs.
Is
a Natural Barefoot Trim different than just leaving my horse
barefoot, or having a normal farrier trim?
Absolutely! The
exception would be if your horse lives on the type of terrain and gets adequate exercise
to facilitate self-trimming. (And some horses do!). Most horses do not
get enough exercise to wear their hooves sufficiently to
give them the short, tight feet they would have in the wild.
The hoof wall grows
continually. If growth exceeds wear (this is the most common
scenario) then the feet become too long and the hoof capsule starts
to deform. Our goal is to keep the feet at the optimal length
for each horse. And that length may well change as the horse's
foot becomes more healthy. There is no perfect length. A barefoot horse left
untrimmed can be just as bad off as a horse with shoes on, or a
horse who is trimmed badly.
In addition to
keeping the length under control, we also use a "mustang roll" to
keep the toes from running away ( a common problem)
and the
breakover
where it belongs.
If you have seen horses with shoes, then you've probably noticed
that the shoes have been worn in such a way that the front is
rounded. This is how horses try to wear their feet. The
roll is important, it not only saves the horse the work of doing it
themselves, it keeps the foot from chipping.
Before
After second trim. Note that
the hoof wall has not been
rasped to remove the flare.
Changes have been the result
of a correct trim stimulating
healthy growth.
How often should my horse be
trimmed?
The best thing is to
trim every 5-6 weeks. In some cases, due to hoof problems, more
frequent trimming may be necessary. After being trimmed a few
times the feet may begin to self regulate. That means that the
growth will start to balance with the wear. When this happens
many horses can go 8 weeks or longer between trims.
My horse normally goes 8 weeks
(or more) between shoeing/trims. Why should he be trimmed more
often?
The goal with natural
trimming is to encourage and maintain hoof health, and to have the
horse be able to be ridden comfortably over all terrain. If we
allow the foot to go too long between trims the hoof capsule deforms
and the hoof is never allowed to stabilize at its optimum form and
length. Basically, if the horse is not trimmed often enough
the hoof is always in some stage of deformity and we are fighting a
constant battle - two steps forward and one step back.
Regular, frequent trimming is necessary to correct and maintain
proper hoof form.
What are the benefits of a horse
being barefoot?
With the proper
barefoot trim horses can actually live longer, healthier lives.
A great many problems that appear to be from aging (stiffness,
arthritis, grumpiness, etc.) are actually
caused by poor hoof health - be it due to shoeing, poor trimming, or
neglect. Conditions such as Navicular are not only curable by
going barefoot, but will most likely not even occur if the barefoot
lifestyle is started early.
Not only the horse's
health is affected - the following is a partial list of the benefits
of barefoot:
There is less
chance of missing out on a ride or competition due to shoe loss.
There are no shoes to lose!
Injuries from
kicks (to horses and people) are much less severe when horses
are not wearing shoes. Think of shoes as brass knuckles.
Horses have
better traction (especially on concrete and asphalt) without
shoes on.
What goes on
inside the hoof during motion is important to the circulation of
blood in the horse. It has been proven that shoes reduce
that circulation. A natural barefoot horse has warm legs
(the same temperature as the rest of the body). A shod
horse will have cold legs. A clear sign of impaired
circulation.
Trimming is
cheaper than shoes. Cost of shoes at 8 week intervals is a
minimum of $600 and probably a good bit more. Cost of
trimming your horse every 6 weeks at $40 is $360.
Why is my horse ouchy on rocks
and gravel?
Being ouchy is a sign
that the internal structures of the hoof are not healthy. Most
commonly the horse will toe walk on those surfaces, indicating heel
pain. The origin of that heel pain is frequently the digital
cushion and lateral cartilages. Years of neglect or shoeing - and even lack of
exercise - cause the digital cushion and lateral cartilages to lose mass and become weak.
When that happens, as the horse puts weight on the back part of the
foot, there is not enough support and they will feel pain.
This is similar to you walking barefoot on gravel when you don't
normally do it.
Over time, with
sufficient exercise, the digital cushion and lateral cartilages rehabilitate and grow
strong and tough. Just as your feet will callous and become
tough if you go barefoot regularly.
How long will it take for the
digital cushion/lateral cartilages to rehabilitate?
It depends.
There is no hard and fast rule. It depends on the individual
horse - and even the individual feet on each horse. On how
weak the digital cushion is, and on how much exercise the horse
gets. The more the better. But keep the horse
comfortable. While the digital cushion is weak ride in boots
when the terrain warrants it.
I tried to go barefoot but my horse was ouchy. He was fine as
soon as his shoes were put back on. Doesn't that mean he needs
shoes?
Absolutely not!!!
What it means is that your horse is not sound and damage is
occurring inside the foot. The reason shoes appear - and the
key word is APPEAR - to make the horse go sound the minute they're
put on is simple. The shoe prevents the full weight of the
horse from coming down on the digital cushion - so he doesn't feel
pain when shod. The digital cushion is still unhealthy, and
eventually this will result in the horse being off even with shoes
on. The diagnosis will most likely be "navicular syndrome".
Let me explain what's
happening. When the horse moves he's supported by the bony
column (his leg). As the leg is loaded the pastern flexes to
absorb some of the shock. But inside the foot the coffin bone
descends and presses on the digital cushion. That action
presses down on the frog and the back of the hoof actually spreads
outward under the weight. As the hoof comes off the ground,
the weight is relieved and the hoof contracts the amount that it
spread when weighted as the coffin bone moves up again. That action
- in a barefoot horse - is what keeps the digital cushion tough and
healthy. In a shod horse, the shoe is placed on the foot while
it's in it's contracted phase. Due to the strength and
rigidity of the shoe, when the horse's leg is loaded during motion,
the hoof cannot spread and the digital cushion never bears the
amount of weight it should. Since in nature the rule is "use
it or lose it" the digital cushion begins to lose mass and become
weak
Now, if you take the
shoes off, the horse's foot can function normally again. But
since it's gotten soft and has shrunk, the digital cushion doesn't offer
the thick pad of support it should. When the horse's weight
comes down on it, he feels pain in varying degrees - depending on
much it has deteriorated. The good news is that
the digital cushion will rehabilitate and become healthy.
You might ask - why
not put shoes on then? The answer is that shoes only mask the
problem. Over time the digital cushion will continue to weaken
and eventually the shoes will no longer mask the problem. Now
the horse will be diagnosed with "navicular". He will be put
in "therapeutic" shoes which will mask the problem again - but do
nothing to reverse or prevent further damage. At that point
the horse will continue to go downhill and become unrideable and
unhappy. Well before his time. Instead of remaining
active and young into his 30's, he will be old at 20.
Correct barefoot
trimming will interrupt that cycle and restore the digital cushion
to health, allowing the horse to be happy and healthy much longer.
The really good news?
Navicular is curable. A good barefoot trim and proper
lifestyle can reverse the effects. Your horse can again become
pain free.
Where can I find out more about
barefoot?
Go to our
Links
page.
|
