We have 35 - 40 horses here at any given time, sometimes more.  There are only 2 of us, volunteering our time 24 x 7.  Needless to say, there is simply not enough time to pick hooves every day.  As a rule they are picked about every 3-4 months when we update their natural barefoot trim.  The horses run on 240 acres, covered with rocks (millions and millions of them, both small and bolder sized) including hillsides and valleys, across wet weather creeks, through natural spring seeps.  Our horses are not provided any grain products unless they are geriatric or are on a refeeding program due to neglect.  They do well on native pasture grasses during the growing season and free choice prairie hay in the winter

 

Our Results - no lameness, no abscesses unless we have an incredibly wet spring (and then only the new horses have problems), no thrush, no white line disease, no........you get my drift.  Healthy hooves, happy horses.

 

I think you have to maintain horses in an environment which resembles the way they have evolved to get the very best hoof health.  If horses are kept in 12 x 12 stalls with limited access to turn out, the very best of the horse cannot shine through.

 

So, bottom line, "it depends".

 

 

Karen Everhart MEd
Co-founder and Executive Director
Rainbow Meadows Rescue and Retirement, Inc.
Serving the equine companions who have so loyally served us...
www.rainbowmeadowsranch.com
620-725-3402

 

Owner/Operator Horse Calls - Equine Management Solutions
Centered Riding Instructor
Distance Horse Conditioning and Training
www.horsecalls.com
316-648-5082