Barefoot Hoof Care

Though tradition says horses must be shod to perform, Mother Nature has proven otherwise. Wild horses all over the world live and thrive barefoot in much harsher and strenuous conditions than any domestic horse, and yet incidents of lameness, founder and colic are almost unheard of among wild populations. Many of these wild horses are still agile and healthy well into their 20’s, a rare occurrence in domestic horses. Why do domestic horses suffer so many more health and lameness problems than horses who must get by without Man’s “help”?

 

Enter “performance barefoot” trimming. This method models hoof care after Mother Nature, including a low carb/high fiber diet, 24/7 turnout, and trimming which mimics the wear and tear that shapes wild horse hooves. These methods, used with a holistic approach to horsekeeping, have helped thousands of horse owners rehabilitate horses traditional vets and farriers said could never be sound. It has also improved the soundness and performance of horses in all areas of use and competition.

 

Robin South, our resident certified trimmer, knows first hand the effectiveness of this method, having successfully transitioned her own competitive trail/endurance horses, as well as dozens of shod and neglected horses, to barefoot soundness. She has dealt with severe and mild founder cases, navicular syndrome, white line disease, over-reaching, stumbling, and other gait-related problems with consistent success. Robin has completed her apprenticeship and received her certification through Charles Hall, one of the founding members of AANHCP and the barefoot movement.

 

Though we don’t see shoes as the complete evil that some in the barefoot movement do, we do believe the large majority of horses wearing them are suffering more harm than good as a result. And while we do not forbid the shoeing of horses at Bridlewood, we’ve had a clientele that has always been open to trying this method, especially after riding our rugged trails with some of Robin’s fully transitioned clients and realizing that horses can perform well without metal shoes. As a result, most of our boarding clients are barefoot, and their owners are happy with the reduction in expense (barefoot is less expensive than shoes) and the improved movement and comfort of their equine partners. Because we believe that performance barefoot trimming, paired with a proper diet and exercise program, enhances our horses’ comfort and performance, we strive to spread the word of the benefits of barefoot hoof care. 

 

If you’re interested in more information regarding conversion to performance barefoot or would like to schedule an appointment to have your horse trimmed, please contact Robin. She offers her services offsite and within a generous traveling distance from our Birmingham, Alabama facility.

High Performance Hoof Care

Mother Nature’s design for soundness and performance