Shoes Or No Shoes?

[Pasogirlz]

The great debate........

What is your opinion?

[ErinC]

I do not , unless I have too.
I love the hoof on a Paso, and they do so well without them.
I ride everywhere too, ST, woods, beach, rocks, trees, etc.
I never have a problem, if I do I treat it,
a chip I come home and file it, a brusie I use sore no more, and well I have never had any other problems.

[PASOFAN]

I stopped shoeing last fall.. Boys seem perfectly fine w/out... I like not shoeing, saves me $$..lol :D

[Jasfino]

no shoes :D

[Tami Pinell]

If one ever need to harden the hoof sole and walls for riding in hard rocky ground or if your horse wears too quickly, try a product call Keratex hoof hardener.... do not get it on the hair line.... it is what I use. It will make the hoof hard as concrete...

[SandyMM]

Thanks Tami re: Keratex info - I have some but haven't tried it yet... guess I will now!

[Trail Rider]

I think you need another option in your survey. I believe that if the hoof is conditioned then you can ride in rocky terrain without shoes. I do not think it a good idea to take a horse that is used to sandy soil and go to an area that is rocky and expect not to have problems with soreness.

When I go to the mountains I shoe my horses and also use pads between the shoe and sole. I have had no problem doing this.

So maybe you need an option such as "When going to more severe riding area".

[Trail Rider]

delete

[Pasogirlz]

I added it. :lol:

[pasofantasy]

We have only used shoes for very long parades. In December, we have a long one on Saturday with a smaller one the following day in a neighboring city. If we just do the smaller one, we don't shoe them.

[Heidi]

All of my horses have been barefoot, with the exception of an Appy gelding I had for a short time. His hooves were thin-walled and required shoes for the type of terrain we rode or he would get lamed.

I prefer barefoot. It is natural for the hoof and I feel the hoof functions best as nature intended. I'd like to see more barefoot horses but I also see the need for shoes at appropriate times, terrain, corrective, protective et cetera...
Heidi

[GeorgeGuns]

I hate shoes, duh, lol.

A horse's hooves will only be as tough as the environment they LIVE in. If one's priority is hoof health over a lifetime, vs ... can't think of a nice way to put it... just about any reason folks use to put shoes on... then barefoot is best and boots are a responsibility.

Agree with the keratex - this stuff is like magic! It also seems to prevernt thrush some if applied to the whole bottom including the frog.

Um - when they say don't get any (Keratex) on ya, they aren't kidding. I got some Keratex on my finger the other day and now I feel like its going to explode! The nail is tough as ... nails (sheesh) but it HURTS right to the bone.

[DebbieS]

Um - when they say don't get any (Keratex) on ya, they aren't kidding. I got some Keratex on my finger the other day and now I feel like its going to explode! The nail is tough as ... nails (sheesh) but it HURTS right to the bone.

So, why doesn't it hurt the horse? Is it safe to get it on the frog - I thought the frog was very sensitive so they can 'feel' where their feet are.

I don't use shoes on Listo either. He is in grass all day/dirt corral at night but when we ride, the terrain can be rocky at times. He's never shown any lameness but this Karatex sounds pretty good. Do you have aharder time with trimming if you use it?

[GeorgeGuns]

So, why doesn't it hurt the horse? Is it safe to get it on the frog - I thought the frog was very sensitive so they can 'feel' where their feet are.

Debbie that is an excellent question. The sensativity of the frog is not in the tissue we see on the outside, but internal. Think of the frog as a callous on steroids. But underneath, in/near the lateral cartilages is nerve cells called proprioceptors, that recieve information about pressures and via these messages, the hoof can maintain proper cell renewal and growth to keep up with what wears away. If the frog was so senstive of itself that something like keratex would hurt, they would not be able to walk at all. If a frog IS that sensative, there is a problem, usually thrush or way too much moisture.
Getting these substances ON the frog is not harmful as its not that kind of tissue (compared to the skin at out fingernails) Keratex is not supposed to get on horse skin either, including the coronary band.