Barefoot

Is it good or bad for a horse to be barefoot? I am buying a horse soon and it is currently barefoot. Will that make a diffrence in anything? Also what are shoes used for?
Thanks

            

If he/she is barefoot now, I would stick with that. Shoes are only needed if horses experience hoof related issues or they are used heavily for competition.

I would not waste your money. The average barefoot trim is about $30. Shoeing runs +$100 in my area depending on the type and number of shoes.

If you decide to shoe you may not have the option to go back to barefoot, as it tends to ruin the hoof walls.

Hope this helps.

            

If it's not broke, don't fix it. However, sometimes something is "broke" and not noticed. <sigh> Always learning...

It is not true that you can not return to barefoot after shoeing. There are people that shoe their horses for part of the year and have them barefoot the rest of the year. Yes, shoeing does damage the hoofwall -- I mean, we're sticking nails into it, so of course there is damage. But that doesn't necessarily mean that all shod horses are worse off than barefoot, nor that all barefoots are better off than shod.

For more information, spend a few hours on this board -- search "barefoot" and just see what discussions you will find! THere is a lot of information on the internet as well. The difficulty is sometimes in determining if the information you are reading is well-supported with knowledge and experience. But, I have found that the more you read, the easier it is to sift the chaff and rot away from the good seed.

            

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the horse is fine on all surfaces without shoes, just leave it that way.

            

Horses need shoes if the wear on the hooves is greater than the growth. Properly applied shoes do NOT tend to ruin the hoof walls. I would say that $30 barefoot trims ruin more hooves than shoes ever will.

            

            

Obviously opinions vary greatly when it comes to shoeing vs. barefoot.

One of the many things in the horse world that people have very "strong" opinions on.

Good luck
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[QUOTE=AmazinCaucasian;1347867]Yiiiipppeeeee! Here we go again on the ongoing barefoot debate!

Here we get 60 to shoe. The barefoot trimmers charge 50. How much sense does that make? Ok, that's it! I'm going to have to get in on this barefoot scheme. Loosie, Trinity, hook me up, what do I have to do?[/QUOTE]

Get kicked in the head and forget everything you know!

            

[quote=kevinshorses;1347879]When the mustang trimmers see this, they're going to have some words for me and you mister. Swedish hoof school might get called, there ain't no tellin what.

            

If any of them would like to bring thier horses they can come for a ride with me. Of course they'll have to lead thier horse back!