Using Hoof Boots
What are the key points to a sucessful barefoot horse?
Down my google rabbit hole I went… what should I keep in mind, what did I need to prepare, how can I make sure this goes as smoothly as possible…
I found a significant lack of information for competing horses barefoot at any kind of serious level – understandable, as it’s not really too common once you jump above 1.10m
However there was mountains of knowledge I could use to compile a list that would be relevent to me and my jumping horses!
So – here’s a list of what I worked out:
**If I took no thing else from my research this would be the most useful & important**
- DIET IS KEY – Now I am in a very lucky sitaution on this step. I co-own a suplement company called Hi Form. We specialise in making sure the horses diet is suitable for the species, and all encompasing – using only natural ingredients. So I know, my horses diets are the best they could possibly be (I’ll do a full post about their diet later!)
- BE PATIENT – It will take some time for my horse to readjust to his new naked feet. He may well get some infections from the nail holes, and some cracks in his feet. He will most likely get some very scruffy looking feet while they grow though and toughen up
- HAVE A GOOD FARRIER – and have a good relationship with them! Luckily, my farrier is a great guy – and is also a keen showjumper – and even better, like me is intrigued by the whole barefoot showjumping trend!
- GET A GOOD SET OF HOOF BOOTS – a whole new area of research for me, who knew there were so many different ones, styles, fits and brands! Now I do!
So it’s a fairly simple list! And I’m fourtunate enough to be in a great position to have most of them checked off! It’s just the boots to decide now – find out in the next post why I made my choice!
