Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Please Reply to: Olin K. Balch, DVM, MS, PhD obalch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or 
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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I am an equine veterinarian and a PhD (equine biomechanics and locomotion) with 
a long-term interest in hoof care.  I additionaly have vetted many endurance 
rides and also competed in 50 and 75 mile endurance races.  I have been asked 
to write/edit a chapter in an upcoming veterinary textbook that addresses 
(among other topics) the issue of barefooted (unshod) horses as athletes. As a 
long-term horse enthusiast and a "retired" farrier, I suspect that barefooted 
horses could be successful athletes if the following conditions were true:  1) 
the hoof capsule (wall, sole, and frog) is inherently thick and durable or is 
conditioned to be so; 2) the horse undergoes a conditioning program of many 
months (if not years) to toughen the hoof capsule; 3) optimal competitive 
events for the horse are those where the footing is well prepared and free of 
sharp objects but the event does not involve abrupt changes of direction at 
high speed (i.e. barrel racing); and 4) periodic use of temporary hoof covers 
(i.e. Easy Boots or Old Mac's Boots) provides supplemental protection when the 
footing is particularly abrasive.

I am very interested in first-hand accounts of barefooted horses as athletes.  
I would also appreciate first-hand accounts of efforts to use barefooted horses 
as athletes that were not successful, or just partially successful, or needed 
the supplemental use of Easy Boots or Old Mac's Boots.

To be optimally useful, please include (if appropriate) details such as 1) 
breed, 2) age, 3) foot shape or conformation (including thickness of the wall, 
frog, and sole), 4) conditioning program, 5) trimming protocol and frequency, 
6) general nutritional program, 7) use of oral hoof supplements or external 
hoof conditioners, 8) athletic activity/competition and length of time 
competing, 9) success as a competitor, and 10) use of any supplemental hoof 
protection such as Easy Boots or Old Mac's Boots.

Thank you in advance for your help.  Please feel free to contact me directly at

Olin K. Balch, DVM, MS, PhD
obalch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

===========================================================If you treat an Arab 
like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter
horse.
~  Libby Llop

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