Re: Barefoot? My Horse? Invite Comments!

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-08-14 16:59:37 EDT, suzieqc1cr@yahoo.com writes:

<< Author David Derringer, an outfitter from Quemado, New Mexico, says
 that it is NOT true that "to have a sound horse hoof requires horse
 shoes."  I have included several paraphrases and quotations to
 illustrate his point that horses, especially working breeds, are
 better off barefoot!>>

Just as the generalization that all horses must have shoes to be sound is not
true, neither is the generalization that no horses must have shoes to be
sound.  It all depends on the horse, the terrain, and what he is asked to do
in that terrain.  Horses evolved on grasslands, and their foot construction
and foot growth evolved to meet their needs for life under those conditions.
We sometimes subject horses to more harsh conditions than they would choose in
nature, require them to carry or pull weight, and ask that they do it longer
and faster and on a more consistent basis than they would do in nature.  We
also are guilty of sometimes breeding horses with a lesser standard for feet
than would survive in nature, so that there is also a tremendous difference
between individuals asked to do the same work in the same terrain.
 
 <<He contrasts the popular concept that 19th centure American cowboys,
 the U.S. Cavalry, wagoneers & travelers always shod their horses. 
 Whereas the Native American Indians did not shoe their horses, and as
 a result the Indians frequently out-ran the Cavalry "in terrain too
 steep and rugged for our cavalry to continue".  He further states that
 during the 19th century, shoeing was mostly done on an injured or
 damaged hoof until it healed.>>

As someone else also pointed out, the standard the Indians used to determine
that the horse could no longer go was death.  You're kidding yourself if you
think that horses used in war when attempting to escape with one's life are
necessarily sound.  And actually, on most sustained marches, the US Cavalry
did outride the Indians.  That's why you see names like Johnson and Jones on
the business signs downtown, instead of names like Geronimo.  The times that
the Indians almost made it (such as the Nez Perce run for the border) make
poignant history.
 
<< Derringer: "Any mustanger will tell you that most often the wild
 nustang will run away from the domistic shod horse in rugged country. 
 The shod horse simply can't keep up over rocks and steep slopes.>>

Of course he will.  He knows where he is going, is not carrying weight, and
has a good incentive (read adrenaline rush) to push him along.  Any good
mustanger will also tell you that if given time, the shod horse, despite
carrying the weight, etc., will eventually ride down the mustang.
 
 <<Derringer: " If you talk to the modern farrier, you will find a way of
 shoeing and trimming that is different today when compared to what was
 done when horses were the only means of transportation.  Has the
 farrier's art drastically improved with our modern technology?  Not
 really.  In fact, a lot of ideas currently taken as fact don't even
 make sense.">>

Some do, some don't.  Since one does not have to be a rocket scientist to hang
out one's shingle as a farrier, it is up to the horse owner to be sufficiently
educated to figure out if their farrier is sensible or not.
 
 <<Derringer: "What affect does the horse-shoeing process have in
 preserving the functionability of the horse's foot?  Putting shoes on
 the horse is mainly for one purpose.  This is to obtain the maximum
 possible wear on the lower part of the foot just as people use tough
 rubber soles on their shoes to get more life than going to work
 everyday ina thin pair of moccasins and to transfer the weight of the
 horse only to the hoof wall. The other parts of the horse's foot are
 ignored, and sadly, often cut away.  The modern farrier often cuts the
 frog well up into the sole, often trimming the bars cosmetically, so
 the frog and the sole no longer touch the ground.">>

Someone else already mentioned this, but the sort of shoeing mentioned here is
primarily done for cosmetics in the show ring.  Any farrier to perform this
sort of heresy on the feet most working horses (including endurance horses)
would be quickly shown the gate and not invited back.
 
<< "Worse yet, the outer hoof wall is damaged by the nails penetrating
 the outer layer into the sensitive areas of the foot, allowing
 dehydration and bacterial intrusion.  All of this for extra wear?">>

Excuse me??  Into the sensitive areas??  Only if a gross mistake is made, and
the horse will let you know by going lame.  Dehydration is a factor, but
bacterial intrusion?  In dead tissue?  What's it gonna do?  The dehydration is
minor compared to what occurs in a badly cracked or broken hoof, so even that
is a bit moot, and can be minimized by proper shoeing techniques and
subsequent dressing of the hoof.
 
 <<Derringer: "We are full-time year round outfitters and guides, having
 a herd of about 23 horses, all of which run barefoot at all times.  We
 work the most difficult slopes, rocky terrain and NEVER have a horse
 lame from a foot injury.">>

Never is a big word.  However, packing is done at a walk, and in all but the
worst of terrain, can generally be accomplished by a good-footed horse without
shoes.  Work horses in fields likewise.  Most pleasure saddle horses likewise.
 
<< "We find the barefoot horse is quiet, climbs bare rock better, does
 not tear up the trails or forest, and is cost efficient, requiring the
 proper trim every 3-6 months.  All o four horses have gone barefoot in
 this demanding business since 1981.">>

He is right about the bare rocks and the quiet.  The softer foot does provide
better traction on slabs of rock or pavement.  However, if the use is more
than occasional, the hoof wear will outstrip the growth rate.  As to tearing
up forest trails--as a ride manager of several very well attended rides, I can
attest to the fact that if one goes on most trails a few days after a hundred
or more horses have gone through, often at a moderate to high rate of speed
(up the number for repeat loops) one can often hardly tell anyone has gone
there at all.  Mother Nature is a tough old bird.   Cost effective??
Certainly, until you reach a point that you cannot use your horse, or worse
yet, have to pay vet bills.  Of course, packing may not cause him to reach
this threshhold, granted.
 
 <<On taking a horse back to barefoot, "After proper trimming, the hoof
 wall starts to grow and the hoof starts to become healthy.  Sometimes
 it takes 6 months to a year for the hoof to become fully sound, but
 the horse can be used during this period.">>

In my experience with horses with healthy feet, the feet were quite sound upon
removing the shoe and trimming--I have often kept right on riding lightly,
just not continued to ride endurance rides, chase cows in rocky mountains,
etc.
 
 <<"We ride our horses 9 or more hours a day.  They sometimes get tired,
 but they never get lame.  We raise some of our own herd that have
 never seen horse shoes (and never will).">>  

My broodmares may never see horse shoes, but they aren't out racking up
endurance miles, either.  I often take my mares out of the pasture to be pack
horses, and if they are not recently trimmed, I generally trim them before
taking them so they don't break their feet up, and they have no problems.  We
don't shoe our young horses that we are starting under saddle until we observe
that they need it.  This generally occurs about two months (depending on how
much we do with them) after starting them.
 
<< Derringer is suggesting that we who frequently ride our horses 9 hours
 a day over rocky terrain would be better off NOT SHOEING OUR HORSES,
 or putting pads on them, but simply trimming them properly.  My
 farrier appointments cost me $110 per, and I have always felt the
 money was well spent.>>

Just a note, but there are a lot less horses that need pads than that need
shoes.  I am not a fan of routine pads, but again, if the horse demonstrates a
need in order to get the job done and stay sound, then you have to do it.
Yes, I would concur that your money is well spent, although I am glad that the
rates in my area aren't quite that high yet.  (Or does that include pads?)
 
Heidi Smith, DVM--Sagehill Arabians (Oregon)