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Hello Ridecampers,
Just returned from the WEC in Dubai and haven't really had time to see the
incredible response to the ride and all that happened over there, but I have
been told it is pretty excessive.  A friend sent me the below post and
obviously one of the extreme success stories has not been told.

DJB Wersus (who completed the full course barefooted) finished in 31st place
(obviously depending on final outcome).  He was ridden by Kanako Hayashi
from Japan who is also in the Central region standings on him.  Zues is
rated 37th in the World standings and completed four 100 mile rides in the
US this year before going to Dubai.  BAREFOOT he completed a rather hard and
somewhat rocky Bluebonnet in Texas in April, shod in Equiflex, he completed
Biltmore, Barefoot he completed the Canadian AHA Championship July 30, and
Barefoot in FEI Fairhill (which was an exceedingly rocky ride) in October.
Honestly I would have booted the last 10 miles of Fairhill if I had known
how rocky and impossible to find alternate footing on the last 10 miles it
was.  He had to back off the pace a bit, but did successfully finish in the
FEI top Ten.

That is the pleasant option that "barefooters" have.  On courses that have
various terrain, we can go barefooted and still use hoof protections
temporarily if we feel the need.  We don't ever want the horses to suffer on
a course they are not up to, but likewise I feel like there is an amount of
suffering implied when we nail shoes on.  I am delighted that there are now
increasing choices of boots available for those trails that merit them.

The choice to ride "barefooted" at WEC was not made easily and was a group
decision based on the rider, owner (myself), and the other grooms imput (who
had also competed on the horse).  Our biggest cheerleader was the local
official event farrier who examined his hooves and felt like it was a viable
goal.  He was conditioned lightly in Oklahoma the month before he left due
to the VS restrictions on shipping out of Texas, and of course had light
conditioning once he reached Dubai.  I personally continued to touch up his
"barefeet" during the training period in Dubai and he had daily water soaks
to insure hoof mechanism and pliability.

During the race I watched his feet carefully, (as did about a jillion other
folks  LOL) and even at about 75 miles back off his back toes a bit when I
thought there was a chance he might be overreaching a bit in the deep sand.

He finished brilliantly, with his best time of record, 9:23 minutes.  His
feet were examined and photographed by several ride vets at the end of the
ride as well.  He did have several fans in the vet line up that were quite
anxious to see him complete "barefoote" as they have become "barefooted"
fans as well.  One international rider immediately pulled her horse's shoes
after the ride and asked me to do a barefoot trim on her.

Regarding the below mentioned Ft. Howes ride, I was riding DJB Razzmatazz
(who was once diagnosed with severe laminitis and had really rotten feet
prior to "barefooting"), in the 100 miler there.  A good deal of the last
loop of that ride is on hard, sharp gravel road.  I had pretty well planned
from the beginning to boot on the last section of the ride and when I felt
like I was feeling the least bit of tenderness, did so.  

I am so very sorry there is the degree of animosity toward "barefooting"
that there is.  Personally, it is the greatest horsemanship discovery I have
made in my entire life.  As I have warned from the very beginning, it is not
as simple as just taking the shoes off, doing a farrier trim and going at
it.  It takes a skilled physiological trim, daily water exposure and natural
keeping or a lot of exercise.  Actually, time wise it doesn't save you a lot
more time than simply shoeing, but I feel we are definitely increasing the
longevity of the horse, our partner.

Naturally I observed lots of feet and talked to a few farriers while at the
WEC.  The majority of the problems are shoeing problems, all over the world.
The US team was faced with incredible "feet" problems during their last few
weeks and going on into the competition as well.  "Barefooting" may not
solve all the problems, but for me personally competing the number of horses
that I do, I cannot imagine doing any thing else.  If you would like to know
more about the science of "Barefooting" go to my web page
www.horseridingfun.com & to the barefoot page, and there are many links to
some great web sites.  I'm still trying to get an analysis done of all my
horses' "barefooting record"... it will be posted to my website in due time.

I wish I could share more with you, but geesh.... I'm too busy trimming and
riding.  So please address me anything personal to my home e mail as I just
can't keep up with ride camp.  The best success to everyone in 2005.

COMMENT FROM RIDECAMP:
Please Reply to: Dian Woodward dwcsarabs@xxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Why don't you ask Daralyn Butler-Dial regarding how successful she was at
Ft. Howes 100, a couple of years ago.  I do know that she had to put on
easyboots to complete the ride.  Why? Because her horses hooves were tender
and sore.  


Dare ....... to Be BARE  (Barefooted that is)

Darolyn Butler

21415 Cypresswood Dr.   Humble, TX 77338 (281) 446 7232 ** 
FAX (281) 446 0113  www.horseridingfun.com

Cypress Trails Adventure Rides & Horseman Video Showcase     
(Equine Instructional Videos)







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