Barefoot vs. Shoes

^^ Even with shoes on, my horse still got a bruised in Virginia! I hate rocky rides!


The way my season is looking, I'm going to have one rocky ride every 10-ish weeks. Which means shoes on all the time. All year. For a handful of rides. Not happening. I think I'm going for boots. My first rocky ride is going to be at Uwharrie Forest, which is a kicker. I'm a little scared. I desperately don't want to have a booting crisis up there!

Brighteyes, call the boot company you are interested in getting boots from and try very hard to find a professional fitter/dealer in your area. You will be very, VERY glad you did. I am setting up an appointment with a woman 4 hours away from me for my mare, so I know it stinks, but it's better than the rubbing, losing boots, and all the other crud that can and will go wrong. Make sure your barefoot trimmer is certified ... a pasture trim isn't the same and won't fit a boot like a Renegade properly.

But if this doesn't work for me, I am going back to shoes and not looking back. Not against either one. My mare has issues and is probably better off barefoot, but in terms of where we ride, she needs something, and if the something is shoes, fine.

I'm leaning towards Renagades, because I've ridden horses that use easy boots. Those things are a royal pain in the butt to get on and off. You also have to rasp between trims to keep them fitting, which I don't trust myself to do.

I just started using a certified barefoot trimmer. In fact, today was my mare's second trimming with him. I'm already seeing an improvement. No more cracking, she moves better, and she's already walking on hard surfaces without pain.

I guess I need to find a Renagade fitter. I'm in central Georgia, the land of nothing at all. Hopefully they have a listing on their site...

For horses that are slightly tender on rides, I prefer boots.

If horses are tender in the pasture even with proper trimming, I would shoe.
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Thats why I feel it is important to use a foot care farrier with a full tool box, that isnt caught up in one technique, shoe type or boot type. That way you can get decent objective advice on what is best for your horse and situation. My farrier will just as quickly come help you measure and put on boots, as he will Keg shod, NB shoe, or tell you to stay barefoot. BASED on the horse and its use, not on any bias or prejudice.

Renegades fit like a glove. They do need a freshly rasped foot or at least a highly maintained one. LOVE the product, though - best of all boots I've tried. A looser fit could be found in the G1 Old Macs. The G2s came out and were completely the wrong shape for a healthy bare foot, imo. Maybe some horses always have that high, contracted-herl block o wood look, but none of mine ever did. ^shrug^

Good luck!
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I have used all kinds of boots and nothing works better than my horses being shod. With shoes I do not have to worry about my horses getting a rub or losing a boot. Sure you can still lose shoes, but not as often as I have lost a boot. And I think if your farrier knows what they are doing then shoes are not bad for a horse. But that is just my opinion and I know there is a lot of people out there with their own opinion.

Thanks!

That's not what I've heard! Everyone I know with Renegades has their horses on a four week trim cycle (like I do), never have to rasp in between, and actually say they would rather the boot be a little loose than tight. The heel captivator is what keeps in on. So I've been told.

And apparently, they aren't any reps in Georgia. I might have to go it alone. I can send pictures, but that will only do so much for the right fit.

I was glad to see this thread! I have been on the fence, trying to decide whether to try boots or shoes the past few weeks. At this point I am leaning towards getting my boy shod. The best place[s] we have to condition around here are gravel roads. I also feel like he would be a nightmare to fit as far as boots go. Since he is a pony he has small feet but they are quite round (almost like draft feet) :)

Phantomhorse13 - wow that is crazy terrain! Does Dream have pads too?

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I've had horses almost 35 years. In all that time, I've only had one who needed shoes. He has them.

Why is this always such a rabid debate? You do what's best for the HORSE. Period. All the rest is just hyperbole, opinion, and trying to shove personal ideologies down each others' throats.