To Shoe or Not to Shoe...
Ricky Gache explains the benefits of horses going barefoot, but warns this isn't a decision to be taken lightly.
The whole idea of nailing shoes onto horses' feet seems to go against nature, but I wouldn't be a farrier if I thought shoeing was wrong. Shoeing is often essential, because the way horses have been breed over the centuries and the work we ask them to do.
But many horses, doing all sorts of jobs' are able to work barefoot, and a horse's feet are healthier without shoes. The circulatory system, assisted by the frog being in contact with the ground, is able to nourish and repair the foot better and the foot the foot will be able to absorb concussion better. The integrity of the horn is not abused, leaving the internal structures less exposed to infection.
An un shod horse will be less likely to slip and, unconfined by rigid metal shoes, the feet will spread naturally, giving a greater bearing surface to support his weight.
In fact, one of the remedies for horses with contracted feet is to remove the shoes. Pressure on the frog will then be transmitted to the hoof wall and the foot will expand naturally. But the whole issues ahs to be looked at sensibly. If a horse wears away foot quicker than he can grow it he will become sore.
Thoroughbred types can have flat, low soles, rather than nicely arched ones, and tend to suffer from bruising. And you will not be able to correct limb imbalances by corrective shoeing. Incorrect conformation causes horn to grow unevenly, as the horse's weight will be transmitted unevenly to the foot. A foot grows quicker when it carries less pressure.
A horse owner has to consider the barefoot option very carefully, because it's always a welfare issue. It is certainly not a cheap option.
The horse will need to be trimmed moiré frequently while the nail holes are growing out - ideally weekly -and it will take three months for the holes to have grown put completely, depending on the individual horse.
If such frequent trimming is not possible, it will take longer for the horse to benefit from the new regime. Changing over to bare feet requires patience but eventually the foot will become healthier, the horn stronger and the sole tougher.
The best time to consider going barefoot is when you have a youngster, before he is shod for the first time. His horn will be undamaged and, if his conformation is correct, nature will ensure that the horn wears evenly.
Also bear in mind that a horse who is going successfully barefoot may encounter difficulties if his work regime changes and the wear on the horn becomes greater - for example, if a horse that is used to working on relatively smooth surfaces has to go over stones a lot, is ridden more or there is a change to a rider who is less well balanced in the saddle.
I put shoes on horses because many of them have to be shod in the interests of their best welfare in the jobs they are asked to do. But I am convinced that the damage caused to their feet by nailing shoes onto them is one of the reasons why so many today suffer from white line disease and other foot problems.
And that is something I tend to discuss next time.
About Ricky:
Ricky Gache DipWCF is a farrier based near Lingfield, Surrey. Having competed at affiliated level in show jumping and eventing, he passed his Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) Diploma in 1992. Ricky trained with Howard Cooper MBE, whose clients include Pippa and William Funnell, and set up his own business in 1994. His charges have included international dressage horses, world driving champions and grand national winners, plus Spanish and Icelandic horses. He used various techniques including Natural Balance, Sigafoo and Imprint. He also supports horses going 'barefoot' where possible.
This article has been reproduced by kind permission of Ricky Gache and Horse Magazine
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Added on: 18/05/07.
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