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Re: [RC] Dare to go bare! - Mike & Kathy KellyHi, How long has your horse had his shoes off? One factor in hoof wear is how healthy/strong the walls are. I found with my 2 horses (one previously shod, one never shod but still didn't have the healthies hooves when I got him) that with good trimming for correct hoof form, nutrition and time their hoof walls have thickened and strengthened considerably. I've seen their hooves get 1/4in wider, and I think its all in wall thickness (I take alot of photos of their hooves so I can compare them over time). I haven't done 50s barefoot, but I have done 2 25 mile rides with one of my horses with his hinds bare. One of these was very rocky and included alot of cantering and hills. He didn't show any wear on his hinds after those rides, but I'm sure they wouldn't wear as much as fronts would. I have been doing all my training rides barefoot the past few months, and my horses hooves haven't worn too far, but I haven't had to do much trimming, either. Also, its been wet and snowy so the ground isn't as abrasive. I couldn't ride this horse barefoot when I got him last summer, tho, his hooves were contracted, heels were high, and he had to have boots on front. Question for you bare-hoofers out there: do you ever have problems with the hoof wearing down too much? I have to do a fair amount of riding on paved roads. When I had my horse shod, he wore a set of steel shoes down to nothing in just 4 weeks, and this was with fairly light riding. Since then I have kept him barefoot. If I ride 1 - 2 times a week, he wears his feet enough that I can go months without a trin (fortunately, he travels stright, so they wear evenly). But If I were training for endurance, he'd wear his feet to nothing and be walking on his soles (would the soles wear through eventually?) I doubt you'd ever get to the point that the sole would wear thru, I think a horse just walking on sole would be too sore to go enough to wear the sole. How do you preven excessive wear? For me the biggest thing is doing everything I can to get their hooves in great shape (correct trimming, exercise, nutrition - I have my hay tested and get a custom supplement to balance the mins.) It takes time, but I've seen good results over a few months. I use boots when I need to, and although I haven't had too much wear yet, the minute I got close to that point I'd boot. Kathy Kelly Parks AZ ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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