207. Spices 10th Barefoot Trim...

It has now been 9 months since Spices shoes were removed and barring half a cm or so she now has now grown a whole new hoof horn. Spices hooves haven't chipped at all this month and have managed to keep their shape really well. They don't seem to be wearing down too much and haven't flared at all. When i compare Spices hooves to what they looked like in the first few months after de-shodding her the difference is amazing. The walls of her hooves are so much stronger. Anyone who thinks that shoes are not damaging the integrity of their horses hooves is seriously mistaken - that's a fact and the funny thing is people generally believe that metal shoes are protecting their horses hooves but really they're doing the exact opposite. However, i guess you could argue 'that as long as you have a good set of metal shoes why do you need a good set of hooves?' and to be honest that's a valid point. I'm not sure what ill effects metal shoes really have apart from to the hoof for i never saw or at least was aware of any whilst Spice was shod which begs the question...why did i decide to go barefoot? And to be honest i don't have a clear answer to that apart from to say that i wanted to see who was right...some or most people i spoke to including those who had worked with horses their whole lives never believed Spice could be sound barefoot due to being 'too finely bred' and yet others on the internet claimed they had barefoot thoroughbreds that were more than happy being shoeless. Ultimately i think i wanted to see who was right and my conclusion is i think they both are...

I still wouldn't feel comfortable riding Spice out without hoof boots on her front hooves 5 times a week over rough terrain even though they are as healthy as can be because i fear she may become sore. However, her hind hooves are always left barefoot and she has not once become lame/sore on them. I therefore believe that given my experience with a 'finely bred horse' like Spice that if she is capable of being barefoot on her hinds then almost all horses barring those with some kind of hoof deformity are capable and if you need more of a reason to keep shoes off your horses hind hooves think about the savings you'll make! 4 shoes are twice the price of 2 so if you want to cut your farrier bill in half go for it. And if all goes well you could even attempt to go barefoot on the fronts and simply invest in a good pair of hoof boots. My barefoot trimmer has now recommended that Spice only have her hooves trimmed once every 6 weeks rather than once every 4 simply to maintain them so at a cost of just £30's per trim i'm now saving £30's every 6 weeks and can be assured that i have done 'the best for Spice.'