barefoot vs shoes

[abi]

trolling is trying to cause arguments in general, be considerate of other peoples opinions.

in no way is it cruel if done properly, sox competes regularly and hacks between one and five times a week on roads barefoot fine, this is what my farrier advised us to do, as she has very strong cob feet, which tend to grow at the same rate as theyre worn away, and the farrier trims them regularly to keep her in balance.

if barefoot horse owners had problems and needed shoes, im sure we would all put shoes on. we go barefoot because we can, it is often more natural and theres no reason not to in a lot of cases x

[libbylover]

Well I didn want't to cause an argument I just thought you go on forums to have opinions.
Folks can do what they like to theyre horses, i think i'll stick with the shoes.
Sorry again x x

[rebanna]

roo has never had shoes on only once she hated them she even raced bare foot we hacked out 5 times a week and never had any problems, all horses are individuals and what works for one want for another. libbylover u r entitled to Ur opinion but calling ppl cruel for doing thing's different is harsh

[flash7]

I have been reading this thread with great interest and as a result have learnt a lot about bare foot trimming and boots etc. Thank you all for educating me. As for my horse he has shoes on when he is doing lots of road work but he has been barefoot for 6 months as he has had a long holiday and has barefoot periods in winter to give his feet a break.

[brigadier]

Libbylover
You are so right- forums are for you to express your opinion, but please make sure your opinion is worth something before you express it. To say something is cruel and not back it up is worthless. Cruelty is causing unnecessary suffering and can be done intentionally or in ignorance. Are you ignorant of the FACT that horses without shoes almost never get navicular disease? Or in fact are less likely to get cast?

Please do not abuse the hospitality on this forum by expressing your ignorance. We are happy to welcome you here but I take great offence by being called cruel whether intentionally or otherwise. Your apology is accepted this time!
brig

[jack]

well im certainly not being crule by going barefoot its the best thing i have done for my horse and i am offended that someone would call me crule

[popsicle]

OOhh descisions, descisions. Don't think Lolly could manage without shoes, as she only manages to keep hers on for around 4/5 weeks as her horn is quite poor. But Poppy, her hooves are black and never chip or split. MMMmmmmm

[brigadier]

Its a big decision popsicle- took me a few months to take the plunge- the advice on this forum is excellent and I think Basil really likes his shoes, he was full of it when I put them on- only using them as a transition I hope but at least I can now do stuff with him!
brig

[joandlad]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But an informed opinion is always best. I think the following quote by KC La Pierre (founder of the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry) is very fitting here:

"Shoeing is not the necessary evil. It is the lack of knowledge that makes shoeing a necessity that is the true evil."

[slinky]

You lot don't know how lucky you are >:(I have attempted to ditch shoes, but my poor old girl can't take it. Damned TB's
On the plus side my baby's have only got fronts and it would be good if I can keep them that way.

[ceej]

Libby, yes opionions are vital - thats how we all learn and bounce off each other. However, opionions need to be expressed in a way so as not to offend unless you are really concerned.

For instance You have a 4 year old Arab and you say she jumps really high. In my opinion you shoudl be very careful jumping a 4 year old, particularly height wise, as their bones have not fully developed and they often have not developed the correct back muscles to support themselves (and you) in that way etc. Now if I expressed that to you by saying 'I think its cruel that you jump your mare' without backing it up in any way, you would probably take offence and rightly so...

[finefilly]

i have Dazzle barefoot as he is retired. Beauty couldnt cope without shoes as she is so footsore barefoot and it wouldnt be in her best interests to have her barefoot. and i have made the decision never to shoe Emir. i have known endurance horses who do gruelling rides over different terrain without a problem. as for wild horses.... they are not just on nice soft grass, they move about over quite difficult terrains which are rocky and stony without any problem.

[ceej]

finefilly, I think you are right, Arabs are particularly capable of being shoeless. My arab mare had never had a shoe near her foot...she had lovely little feet, really strong and so footsure.

[Blonde Donkey]

savvy had to have her shoes removed or i think she would have killed our farrier but brax needs front shoes on because she digs and it wears her feet away but the daints and sunshine are barefoot as well and we have had no problems. it is the horse that you have and knowing what is best for them

[finefilly]

if you think about it, putting shoes on a horse is the most un-natural thing to do to a horse. if horses were left unshod from birth they wouldnt have as many problems with their feet as they do with shoes. i am not saying shoeing is wrong as we have Beauty shod and i had Dazzle shod when he was in work just saying that horses werent designed to have shoes in the first place. If the Farrier told me that Emir wouldnt be able to cope without shoes i would shoe him but the Farrier said that if i want to keep him barefoot i have to stick to it and not change my mind. he says keeping them barefoot from the beginning is the best way to go with barefoot. Dazzle was a bit footsore for about 1 week when he had his shoes off and i felt a bit guilty but after that he was fine. i dont do much work with him but he does come out for walks down the road with Beauty and OH

[libbylover]

well u hav cobs and i hav an arab, i fink mayb its coz my mare needs shoes n uv gkt cobbs. if u hav a warmblood u need shoes!

[Blonde Donkey]

not really my mate has a warmblood never been shod hacks and jumps and never had any problems

[libbylover]

well am nt saying it's cruel as i got told off last time proper show jumpers use shoes av you not ever seen badminton?

[Blonde Donkey]

badmintons an event not showjumping and one of my mate events without shoes as her pony can't keep them on

[Maes Seren]

Jun 26, 2008 19:49:12 GMT libbylover said:

well u hav cobs and i hav an arab, i fink mayb its coz my mare needs shoes n uv gkt cobbs. if u hav a warmblood u need shoes!

Ouch thats abit biased isnt it?
My tbx (yes, Thoroughbred cross) mare was unshod until recently. She was hacking, jumping, and doing dressage and was worked on a daily basis on artificial ground without problems.

My cob needs shoes.

Now come on, offend us all some more tell me im wrong.

Oh and by the way, please dont use text speak, theres some people on here whos first language may not be English. And those of us who are English would still struggle to understand your letters here there and everywhere. It doesnt take any longer to spell things out correctly, so please, for the benefit of the readers, please do!!! ;D

[rebanna]

well i have a TB and a Arab they don't need shoes and finefilly has Arab's and hers don't you might try reading the post's before you start slagging us all off!!

[finefilly]

i took her message as saying that as you've all got 'cobs' they can go barefoot and arabs cant. or, as you say, she hasnt read the messages properly. Beauty is a cob and she has to have shoes as horses with wider feet tend to be hard to keep barefoot. i know a few show jumpers whose horses are barefoot without problems.

[abi]

what difference does it make if a showjumper has shoes or not? mine jumps perfectly well without.

most top eventers have shoes becuase they do a lot of work to keep as fit as they are, and even working in a rubber school wears feet down, shoes prevent this.

i think i smell a troll x

[Blonde Donkey]

if my mates cob was ridden without shoes he would be very very lame but savvy is happy and so am i and so is the farrier now she isn't jumping on him when he tries to put the nails in

[finefilly]

Jun 26, 2008 20:36:18 GMT abi said:

what difference does it make if a showjumper has shoes or not? mine jumps perfectly well without.

most top eventers have shoes becuase they do a lot of work to keep as fit as they are, and even working in a rubber school wears feet down, shoes prevent this.

i think i smell a troll x

and also, eventers need a lot of traction on the grass do XC and a lot of studs in to prevent slipping and give extra grip