How do we turn a soft ( and mostly deformed and dysfunctional ) domestic foot into a rock-hard, fully functioning foot……
……which really is nothing more than it's meant to be anyway?
Achieving barefoot performance is simple enough, but there is more to it than just pulling the shoes off, then jumping on and galloping off into the sunset! No sunset on a cloudy day!!
Repeat - it is not just about the trim.
1. Heal the damage
1.1 Establish correct form
The first step is to return the feet to the correct parameters and keep them within a functional framework.
This facilitates correct movement and resting posture.
So what does this mythical healthy foot look like?
Unfortunately we can't put up one picture that says it all because there is not one size that fits all. There is a huge amount of variation between breeds, environments, equestrian disciplines etc. In summary though, a functional foot is mostly related to the following parameters:
. The landing gear (back half of the frog and heel platforms) is well developed.
. Weight bearing surface consists of the inner wall, some sole and the majority of frog.
. Outer wall and quarters and bars remain "passive" when standing on hard surfaces.
. Three dimensional balance is dictated by sole plane.
. Functional sole plane is left intact to protect internal structures.
. Functional frog is left intact to protect internal structures.
. Breakover balance is short with a third or less of weight bearing foot surface in front of the point of frog.
Trims aint trims !
The question is always being asked: what's the difference between a farrier trim and a barefoot trim?
This gets asked enough times to warrant a good answer!
Firstly, we need to sort out some names.
Barefoot trimming seems to stick because the aim is to ride the horses barefoot.
Some people call it natural trimming or natural hoofcare, but the thing is there "aint nothing natural" about people riding horses and, besides, we don't want to be blindly following nature, we're only borrowing the good bits.
As for 'farrier' trims, or 'pasture' trims, they're probably best grouped under the heading of traditional trimming.
What's the difference?
There shouldn't be a difference. A trim is either right or it is wrong.
However, traditional trimming does not really consider the function of horses' feet. Balance yes, but function no. It is simply concerned with cutting a long foot short which translates to "standing up" the feet by leaving a bit of heel on and shortening the toe through the sole plane. As a consequence, a traditionally trimmed foot mostly has difficulty when asked to work unshod on rough ground.
Please note that "bad" feet cant necessarily be immediately cut back to a physiologically correct form. They may need to be grown back.
1.2 Establish correct movement
Use hoof boots
Hoof boots are fast becoming the first choice for equine footwear. When used in conjunction with concussion pads, boots provide immediate comfort and therefore confidence, so a horse returns to correct heel first landing.
The best thing about hoof boots is when a rider has finished with them, they are removed and the horse is able to be turned out barefoot with all the benefits of a barefoot lifestyle (and you don't need to get a new pair every six weeks!)
Kill infections
It is quite common to have thrush infections in the frog due to dysfunctional, unhealthy feet, lack of movement and/or unsuitable living environment. A horse will not voluntarily impact painful thrushy frogs, but rather will incorrectly walk on its toes.
Thrush infections need to be killed if present. This must not be overlooked.
Use body work
If a horse has a history of bad movement and bad posture, its muscles are most likely going to need some assistance to return to their form and function. A good equine body therapist may need to be on your payroll.
2. Condition the feet
Conditioning is the missing link between domestic feet and wild feet.
Conditioning is best done in the paddock, using time as leverage. This is achieved by providing a horse with an environment and lifestyle that is as close to 'natural' parameters as practical.
Diet
Feed a horse a horse's diet!
Horses' evolved in a tough environment with poor quality herbage so their digestive systems are designed to extract the maximum amount of nutrition from their feed. Agricultural grasses and concentrated feeds are too rich for horses.
It was never nature's intention to have horses mud fat all year round.
Movement
Horses are designed to move. Not only do they need as much space as possible, but they also need the desire to move, so - if possible - they should be kept together in herds.
Paddock layout can be used to great effect in small areas - especially when using endless laneway systems or "donuts".
Terrain
Horses are generally adapted to hard, dry, tough country. If practical, they should have some exposure to these surfaces in their living quarters, especially in highly trafficked areas such as gateways and around shelters and watering points.
The terrain on which a horse lives is the crux of conditioning. Terrain can provide constant exposure.
If possible, a horse's living quarters should resemble the surfaces that you wish to ride on. If you want to ride your horse on soft surfaces, terrain in the living quarters is not vital, but if you want a horse with all- terrain feet so it can be ridden on tough ground, its living quarters should include some rough ground.
To ride on rocks……a horse needs to live on rocks!
Hoof maintenance
Successful conditioning relies upon the feet receiving the correct stimulus. For this to occur, they need to be trimmed regularly enough to mimic the regime that they evolved in; that is a small trim regularly, about every 2 weeks. This is the secret to healthy feet because it keeps them fully functional at all times.
Horse owners can learn the simple but very effective skill of hoof maintenance at one of our popular workshops.
To sum up conditioning…
don't make life too easy for your horses!
Be a 'noble'horseman !
Much like it is with humans, there is an intangible, yet undeniable link between the health of a horse's body and its mindset. Those horsemen who are foremost thinking, understand that it doesn't matter what you do to encourage health, if your horse is braced like the 'top rail of the cattle yards' whenever your are near or on it, it just cant move as it should.
This is probably getting a bit abstract and leafy, but if you want to complete the circle and achieve the pinnacle of good health for your horse, whenever you set out for a good day in the saddle, your horse needs to have a good day out too!
HOW DO WE CREATE ALL-TERRAIN BAREFEET?
