That Was Then, This Is Now

A Warm, Late September Morning

I pulled Redford’s shoes 14 weeks ago and I’m still trying to justify my hesitation in doing so. With shoes he had a tendency to demonstrate some tender footedness over rocky terrain, even with shoes, pads and EquiPak. I was not convinced he would be a good barefoot contender.


Redford just before his shoes were pulled.

His feet were dry and the hoof capsule was beginning to look tubular and much longer than it should have been. The arid Arizona summer conditions were already beginning to take their toll on the moisture content in the sole, and the hoof was breaking away. We fixed the breaking hoof wall by adding some hoof cement.

When I first pulled his shoes his feet were tender for a while, but that soon changed as the feet began to retrieve their natural shape.

Today feet are rounder and the length of the hoof capsule is shorter. His feet are not dry or flaky or brittle, and there is a concave shape showing in the quarters of his hooves. He stands more squarely now than he used to, and I no longer need to use interference boots on him.

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