175. Barefoot Transition - 6 months

Today Spice had her 7th Barefoot Trim. It is now 6 months since she was de-shod and 8 months since she was last shod. I have been hacking out for up to an hour at a time 2-3 times a week with boots on her front hooves and nothing on her hinds and so far so good. :) She hasn't got foot sore at all and her hind hooves in particular are looking great. The white line gets tighter with each trim and the barefoot trimmer said her frogs are looking brilliant. Her front left hoof is still chipping a little at the bottom - nothing more than 5mm but it would suggest that the horn she is growing is still not that strong so i anticipate that these will take alot longer to fully transition (if ever). Whether she will ever be able to hack out barefoot on her front hooves all year round is debatable but on days when she isn't comfortable i can just slip her hoof boots on.

I haven't actually used my Renagade hoof boots yet apart from trying them on her in the arena. I have been using the easy care glove boots which are actually quite good providing you get exactly the right fit. I have them in two sizes one pair are for the beginning of the trimming cycle and the other pair are for the end. So far they have stayed on in walk and trot up hills and down hills but i must admit i haven't yet been brave enough to canter in them. I might use my Renegades for cantering as they have a better reputation for riding over rough terrain than the gloves do.

So far, i am still happy that i decided to go down the barefoot route and i am even prouder of deciding to do it with a horse that most people (including myself at times) would have thought too 'finely bred'. Whether i succeed in having a fully barefoot horse is still an unknown but what i do know is that with each trim that goes by Spices hooves become healthier and to me that is a success.