The Equinist: Articles and Commentary by Susan Kauffmann

QUESTION: I've been trying to transition my horse from being shod to going barefoot for over a year now, and I'm wondering if I should just give up. I have a professional barefoot trimmer coming every six weeks, she keeps the heels low and the toes short, says his angles are all at the measurements they should be, and she trims away excess sole to improve concavity. I soak the horse's feet for an hour every day, as she recommends. I'm trying to do everything right, but my horse keeps getting abscesses and seems more sore now than when I first took him out of shoes. I don't know what else to do and am thinking of putting his shoes back on. We never had these problems when he was shod, and I'm starting to believe that maybe he just can't go barefoot. I know you have a special interest in barefoot hoof care, so I would like to get your thoughts on this. Thank you. Lori G. in TX ANSWER: I'm sorry you are having such difficulty, Lori, as you are obvio...

This article was first published in EQUUS magazine. A group of researchers, farriers and other experts argue that restoring basic hoof function and getting a horse moving again are the best ways of addressing navicular problems.  Joey, a handsome sorrel Quarter Horse, was a standout in the Houston Police Mounted Patrol unit. “We’d had Joey since 1996 and he was the very best horse we had,  able to go into any dangerous, high stress situation and lead other horses in tactical formations,” says O fficer Greg Sokoloski, who trains the patrol mounts.  Four years ago, however, the gelding’s place on the force was in jeopardy. After initially showing soreness in his left front foot, Joey began to move like a horse in pain, taking progressively shorter strides and landing toe first. Rest and medication had no effect, and, finally, x-rays confirmed bone changes consistent with the chronic heel pain known as navicular disease. Joey was outfitted with a wedge shoe t...