tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post4416907852691701659..comments2024-03-08T05:02:13.069-07:00Comments on Janie and Steve, Utah Trails: Going BarefootJaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06509431336916594990noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-59405376220223319182011-04-13T00:01:51.194-06:002011-04-13T00:01:51.194-06:00Hi Janie,
I have taken some photos but none rec...Hi Janie,<br /> I have taken some photos but none recently. We found a lion kill carcass of a mustang and cut off the hooves as examples of "the perfect natural hoof." They are smooth and rounded all over just like the photos in the natural hoof books. My current Peruvian paso was shod until age 11 when I got him two years ago. At first he was tender barefoot. He got gradually better but even after a year I needed to put boots on in the front to get the best ride over rocky trails. But this spring, and at the two year mark for being barefoot, he travels over even rocky terrain off trail without any hesitation or indication of soreness. I am delighed that his feet are beginning to look like those mustang hooves we collected and he seems as happy as a mustang with them, too. So, my new information is that the barefoot horse will continue to improve even after the entire hoof has grown out. It may have taken longer for this horse because he had a bad case of "mud fever" or "scratches" the winter before I bought him. In any case, every horse we have switched to barefoot has improved in soundness and comfort after the initial conditioning. (That has been about 10-12 horses.) I promoted the barefoot horse when I wrote for "The Trailrider" about ten years ago.<br />Best wishes! You will see in another post that my husband and I are travelling to Utah to ride in May. Happy trails to you! PaulaPaula Lenzhttp://dorosrider@sbcglobal.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-72518846826460833512011-04-09T11:05:00.749-06:002011-04-09T11:05:00.749-06:00Paula,
I'm glad to learn of other barefoot tr...Paula, <br />I'm glad to learn of other barefoot trail riders. How many miles do you ride per year and per average ride? Have you taken photos of your horses hooves once they're in shape for the year? I'd be very interested in seeing one. We've done a lot of studying on the subject, but we're still newbies at this compared to your 20 years of experience!Janiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06509431336916594990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-51547527968207475352011-04-08T22:57:36.932-06:002011-04-08T22:57:36.932-06:00We have kept our horses barefoot for over 20 years...We have kept our horses barefoot for over 20 years. It works and is the most healthy option. We do use easy boots when we go on unusually rocky trails for many miles.<br />Paula LenzPaula Lenzhttp://dorosrider@sbcglobal.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-1544684733052279652011-03-31T08:57:52.413-06:002011-03-31T08:57:52.413-06:00my boss converted all her horses to barefoot last ...my boss converted all her horses to barefoot last spring. we usually put the easyboot gloves on them when we do longer rides, though for the shorter ones we leave them bare. they all had a trim a week ago, and riding Jose yesterday he was tender... back to boots on the training rides for him till the feet toughen up again. I leave front shoes on my navicular horse. when he loses a shoe (rare) or when i've tried barefoot with him he's in quite a lot of pain, and I'm just not willing to keep him in pain till he 'toughens up' - and not sure he will.<br /> - <a href="http://theequestrianvagabond.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Equestrian Vagabond</a>The Equestrian Vagabondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15600011873327347121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-86142995094630611712011-03-29T20:17:21.854-06:002011-03-29T20:17:21.854-06:00Very possibly yet another area in which we have to...Very possibly yet another area in which we have to re-learn to trust nature, eh? Glad it's working out so well!tattytiarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408220720084181008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-66311363325266395702011-03-29T12:30:57.801-06:002011-03-29T12:30:57.801-06:00As long as they are content & safe is all that...As long as they are content & safe is all that matters ... I so love these beautiful creataures.<br /><br />Have a beautiful day, my friend ~<br />TTFN ~<br />MarydonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697196986038110683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-60301018123981996462011-03-28T10:59:28.846-06:002011-03-28T10:59:28.846-06:00I'm sure barefooting is much kinder to the hor...I'm sure barefooting is much kinder to the horses... Over here, Icelandic horses often go without shoes.LadyFihttp://ladyfi.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-54782724614466000222011-03-28T06:19:18.656-06:002011-03-28T06:19:18.656-06:00I'm reasonably certain the same principle woul...I'm reasonably certain the same principle would apply to humans over and extended period. Well maybe not in sub zerod artic conditions though. :)troutbirderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087811292280881959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-32710686355116113052011-03-28T06:19:17.981-06:002011-03-28T06:19:17.981-06:00I'm reasonably certain the same principle woul...I'm reasonably certain the same principle would apply to humans over and extended period. Well maybe not in sub zerod artic conditions though. :)troutbirderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087811292280881959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-51267061442527027482011-03-27T08:37:34.382-06:002011-03-27T08:37:34.382-06:00Great post Janie. We have to deal with more flarin...Great post Janie. We have to deal with more flaring here in the East in general because of moisture softening the feet but most of the time the horses' feet are fine.<br /><br />I have considered starting a blog about my horses. The whole subject has been a hot spot for me because of all of the bad farrier work I've seen here.sweetbayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248743114944736346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-28007290830904756382011-03-26T19:48:25.907-06:002011-03-26T19:48:25.907-06:00That's really interesting. It sounds like you...That's really interesting. It sounds like you've done your homework on it, and more than that, put it to practice. Sort of makes sense: my feet are soft as a baby's behind because I am always wearing shoes!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17989947946488835186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-86568320807758670412011-03-26T17:47:12.433-06:002011-03-26T17:47:12.433-06:00Fascinating! I'm glad that someone noticed wh...Fascinating! I'm glad that someone noticed what happens in nature and was willing to experiment (I hope carefully). I'm glad barefoot is working for you.EG CameraGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803759124643467711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-31267131268845580242011-03-26T07:51:44.692-06:002011-03-26T07:51:44.692-06:00Very interesting. I know nothing about horses let ...Very interesting. I know nothing about horses let hoofs but I grew up around people who had them and had the impression that horseshoes were an absolute necessity. What I couldn't figure out and people would look at me strange when I asked is what did horses do before there were shoes? The answer sounds like they did just fine.Yogi♪♪♪https://www.blogger.com/profile/00411274031147372579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-78848761590413549802011-03-25T23:57:15.971-06:002011-03-25T23:57:15.971-06:00Thanks Janie, I really enjoyed reading your post. ...Thanks Janie, I really enjoyed reading your post. What great information for horse owners (and even those of us who don't)kayerjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08479123027080062607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-8206315664604895292011-03-25T20:14:00.837-06:002011-03-25T20:14:00.837-06:00I didn't know that....that is cool...I like to...I didn't know that....that is cool...I like to be barefoot myself..Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11745604261113221887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-15647697520461425362011-03-25T20:04:05.163-06:002011-03-25T20:04:05.163-06:00This is very interesting. All of the horses I gre...This is very interesting. All of the horses I grew up around were shod, so I didn't even consider barefoot as a possibility. It sounds as if it is much better for the horses in many situations.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06923630536753873113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-74405886791246436442011-03-25T19:02:48.370-06:002011-03-25T19:02:48.370-06:00Just seems like the natural thing to do. Before hu...Just seems like the natural thing to do. Before humans horses didn't wear shoes.Gaelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05784162697113288888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-20198506811427529812011-03-25T18:53:28.513-06:002011-03-25T18:53:28.513-06:00Sounds good to me, Janie... Going 'natural...Sounds good to me, Janie... Going 'natural' in most everything in life is really the right way to do things --but we humans always think something else is better.... <br /><br />That's one reason I love the area where you all live. It's so natural!!!!!!<br />Hugs,<br />BetsyBetsy Banks Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16223591156634767330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-88797437916127841942011-03-25T16:43:05.248-06:002011-03-25T16:43:05.248-06:00Makes sense....seems like going back to natural wo...Makes sense....seems like going back to natural works best if you take the time to get back to nature.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774903259772280962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-81986129196547555442011-03-25T16:18:14.404-06:002011-03-25T16:18:14.404-06:00I have never heard of this either! Wow...going nat...I have never heard of this either! Wow...going natural is usually great in all aspects of life. :)Busy Bee Suzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115487928147732314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-47345612536145836682011-03-25T15:54:18.194-06:002011-03-25T15:54:18.194-06:00So interesting, Janie! Look at that rocky trail th...So interesting, Janie! Look at that rocky trail the horses navigate barefoot. Makes sense that it would work, but I just never knew you didn't wear shoes on them. Happy Trails!Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04984171407726520584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5953120750947919339.post-47091679724900463332011-03-25T14:24:34.259-06:002011-03-25T14:24:34.259-06:00I was just talking to a friend about this Exact th...I was just talking to a friend about this Exact thing! I completely agree...I think Horse Feet were created to be free:) <br />Horses used to get along without humans and "their shoes" just fine once upon a time;)Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07040738593336836064noreply@blogger.com