Spring 2011
When I became a Farrier (Barefoot) was the term we used for horses only being trimmed they didn’t need hoof protection because they were on a lighter riding schedule, off for the season, just a pasture horse etc.. A few years later along came a clip on boot that would fit over the horse’s foot in the event of a lost shoe and you still had a long way to go. It was a lot easier than carrying the tools you would need to replace a shoe. This became an excellent spare tire. I have used this method a number of times to complete a ride. But now we have reached a new stage (new, roughly ten years) where barefoot means something entirely different. There are four possibly five different barefoot philosophies each have an intensely loyal following, almost a religious zeal.
April brought the first Endurance ride of the season to Southwest Idaho, the (Tough Sucker ride) it proved many have waited too long between hoof care appointments. Our personal horses run true barefoot five months of the year we ride year around, Nance’s horse “The Mighty Quinn” has some of the best hooves I’ve ever seen, if any horse could go barefoot its Quinn. We train in the mountains between Boise and Idaho city the ground here is made up largely of decomposing Granite and we usually have moderate snow fall 2’ to 3’. Many do not realize snow is very abrasive to horse hooves, so is the ground whether its mud or dust. During the Endurance ride season our horses must have hoof protection to prevent excess wear, prior to the Tough Sucker ride I did little more than flatten the bottom Quinns hooves with my rasp and pare just enough sole to prevent sole contact. Quinn performed at his usual 100%.
I was called by a client just days before this ride to shoe a horse just purchased. The horses hoof care was performed by the individual boarding the horse and practicing (Barefoot hoof care) for the winter. This horse was so badly unbalanced I could not return the horse to complete balance in one trim, but I set the shoes as careful as possible and the horse performed admirably through a twenty five mile ride.
On Friday of the Tough Sucker ride, watching horses “Vetting in” I saw one horse during the trot out that couldn’t actually limp because all four hooves hurt so bad, the rider had 30 min to attempt to resolve the problem, booted the horse for the trot out and was able to continue.
On Saturday I left the ride sight to attend an informal “Hammer in” Farrier competition at the Idaho center Horse Expo. During the course of the day a beautiful Shire Draft weighing in at probably 1700lbs was brought in, the owner asked us to look at the feet explaining she had been practicing “Natural hoof care” and trimming the feet herself but might be interested in paying someone instead. As I approached the horse the first thing I noticed, the horse appeared to have three toes on each front foot because of two deep vertical cracks on each running clear to the hairline at about where the first nail hole would be located if the horse was shod. Picking up the foot I saw a badly distorted untrimmed frog, overgrown sole and feet badly out of balance. Following a short discussion (mainly price) she decided to continue her own “Natural hoof care”.
On Sunday I received a call from a client (somewhat frantic) hoping I could trim and shoe her horse last minutes. She is documenting the life style of Southwest Idaho Buckaroos and was asked to accompany them as they ride above Silver City to gather cattle for Branding. She explained she had recently purchased the horse and brought it home just days ago; once again the former owner practices “Natural Hoof care”. These hooves had poor growth and bad distortion from long term inattention.
All of this and more in just one week.
Folks be honest with yourselves if you aren’t or can’t care for the hooves please a call a professional, a (Farrier) we are the studied professionals. We can provide all hoof care from Barefoot to your choice of hoof protection. Your horse is worth it.
