Going Barefoot

Here at Paint the Summit Farm we have been barefoot, but we have been a farrier barefoot or pasture trim. For many year I thought there can't be a difference and in those many years had many problems like white line, hole, cracks, flaring, and lameness. So less than six months ago I personal started studying the Natural Barefoot Trim. Boy have I learned a lot. Like how important the heel and frog are to a healthy foot. Truthfully I though my horses feet were pretty healthy but I was so wrong they were thrush infested and hardly any frog and the heel wasn't being used correctly and long toe low heel syndrome, contracted heels, and one mare had foundered. WOW...... what was I doing to these animals I loved so much.

Here is a picture of a front left hoof taken in October 2010 it was very wet then too. You can see holes is the sole and all that black is thrush, no frog.

The first thing I started with was treating the thrush and started with natural barefoot trim bring the heels back and cutting the toe back.

Here is the same hoof Feb 2011. Check out the frog look how much plumper it looks and it feels like a car tire, the heels have widen the sole has healed up and the thrush is gone. we are well on our way to a better hoof and a healthier horse.

I wish I took more before and after pictures but I didn't. My fillies feet are looking pretty awesome too. White hoof is a two year old Goddess of Chocolate. Dark or red hoof is a three year old Strawberry Rose Wine. I would recomend a good barefoot trimmer to any one. Have a great day and just check out barefoot trimming for yourself.