[RC] what they DON'T always tell you about going barefoot - LTYearwood
Dear Group,
I suppose it was only a matter of time before I joined in this discussion,
as I am a big believer in the barefoot horse.
But bare with me while I make a few points about the failure, in my
opinion, of some of the barefoot "evangelists."
In a message dated 2/2/2005 7:17:39 AM Pacific Standard Time,
heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
One of
the problems with too many of the wonderful "success" stories (don't know
if it is true about Shari's or not) is that they rarely detail how much
work and conditioning it takes to GET a barefoot horse to the point of
being able to compete successfully without hurting himself--they instead
too often urge everyone to shed the shoes, and too many horses are
suffering a great deal as a result.
I think this is stated very well. One can not imagine, sometimes, the
rigor and committment it takes to go from shod to barefoot. (Especially in the
cases where the horses that were shod have a lot of damage in their
feet due to bad shoeing. Please don't get excited here, I didn't say all shoeing
is bad!)
I took Vashka's shoes off nearly a year and a half ago. I can't tell you
how many hours I have spent handwalking my horse to condition his feet (let's
just say months of handwalking). I have invested nearly $1,000 in learning how
to trim. I have invested more than a THOUSAND dollars on rocks in my paddock to
help condition his feet, and I have turned down many rides that were too rocky
to ride here in Oregon (while his feet were being conditioned.) Some of the
people I ride with think that means that going barefoot is a failure. I don't
agree. My horse's feet are now gorgeous and I know he has the hoof mechanism he
needs to be healthy and sound in the long run.
And I turn down a lot less rides than I used to --
because Vashka's feet are conditioned. I ride my horse anywhere from 35-50
miles a week. But I don't have any delussions of grandeur
about riding him down extremely rocky trails at a gallop whenever I want.
Not even horses in the WILD do that. There are films of horses (taken from
helicopters) that clearly show that barefoot wild horses, will pick the softer,
less rocky paths on their flight -- from the scary helicopters taking pictures
of them -- if they can. So it IS different, to get on your horse's back and make
demands of him and his feet.
I am willing to concede to my horse -- ride be damned. He gets to pick his
way through rocky areas. That may mean that he won't be able to ride some rides.
Or maybe we will finish a lot slower than some shod horses. He may
also do a lot better than some horses, as he has a great grip on slippery
ground, he is EXTREMELY sure footed and he is getting the cirulation he needs.
Honestly, I care about his health a lot more than I care about how he does on
any ride. And I believe that I have chosen the way that will benefit my
horse in the long run.
I have chosen the barefoot way and my horse is NOT going to suffer for it.
We will ride the rides we can ride.
I am SO frustrated with barefoot evangelists and trimmers who don't educate
their clients enough about the rigors and committment it takes to go
barefoot.
I see a lot of barefoot horses with REALLY crappy feet because their owners
don't trim correctly, or their owners don't condition correctly. There are bad
barefoot trimmers out there who will take on any client for the money. For
example, a horse that is de-shod and suddenly experiencing feeling in his foot
that he wans't experiencing previously due to contraction, needs 24 hour
turnout. Trimmers aren't SUPPOSED to treat horses who don't have 24 hour
turnout. Because a horse that suddenly has a lot of cirulation -- that
didn't before -- needs to move. If it doesn't move, BIG problems can
occur. But some trimmers trim anyway.
Going barefoot is not a magic bullet. But some people treat it like it
is. Going barefoot changes your horse's life and it changes your
life.
Some trimmers will tell you that your life will be much easier than it was
when your horse was shod. Bullshit. You may have fewer problems in some areas --
I personally, have had few lameness issues -- but you are going to have
different challenges to deal with. I.E., finding a way to have 24 hour turnout,
finding ways to condition the feet, finding ways to make sure your horse MOVES
the required amount of time/miles, ect. This is because the barefoot model
emmulates, as closely as possible, the wild horse model. BUT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE
THE NATURAL HORSE LIVING CONDITIONS. NOT AN EASY FEAT. POSSIBLE BUT NOT
EASY.
I wish more people would put their horses first. That includes people
with barefoot horses and people with shod hores.
For people for whom the RIDE comes first -- for those who don't
want to, are aren't willing to, are are unable to CONDITION THEIR HORSE'S
FEET -- then don't take their shoes off. There is often way too much damage
that has to heal and there is often way too much time that has to elapse to
think you can take a horse's shoes off one month and then ride him on a fairly
rigorous endurance ride the next month.
A trimmer with integrity will tell you this.
And this is going to make a lot of barefoot people mad. But those boots
everyone keeps talking about? I, personally, have never had any luck with
them. They(two different kinds) rubbed one of my horse's pasterns raw. My
other horse ripped the other pair in half on his first ride. I don't like boots
because I think they are extremeley unnatural. I'd rather condition for 5
minutes a day over river rocks -- or whater else it takes -- than put on the
boots. To date I have spent mroe than $300 on boots, and I'm very disappointed
in them.
