FireForge Professional Barefoot Trimmers

My gelding has great feet & will have had shoes off for about 18months once I finally get a chance to start riding again, I just need some advice as to how to properly condition his feet & an approximate time frame that it may take. I know that there are alot of variables that may mean it takes longer or shorter. Ill be doing the trimming myself as there arent any trimmers in this area, unless you feel like a 1000klm trip to show us all how to do it properly, I have had a fair bit of experience trimming & through my studies & endurance I have a handle on the fundimentals of doing a good, level & even job, just it takes me days to do all four feet (hes a big heavy leaning brute).

Most of the tracks around here & even the "arena" I use is gravel & rocky & my main concern is that Ill have to ride a "cat on a hot tin roof" for ages as his feet toughen up.

I know the first step is to leave the shoes off him & fit him with boots if necessary but its just going against so many years of having shoes on.

Also just quickly......... how the bloody hell do ya get a photo to come up?!!!!

Cassandra at 12:42AM on Aug 23, 2009

My gelding has great feet & will have had shoes off for about 18months once I finally get a chance to start riding again, I just need some advice as to how to properly condition his feet & an approximate time frame that it may take. I know that there are alot of variables that may mean it takes longer or shorter. Ill be doing the trimming myself as there arent any trimmers in this area, unless you feel like a 1000klm trip to show us all how to do it properly, I have had a fair bit of experience trimming & through my studies & endurance I have a handle on the fundimentals of doing a good, level & even job, just it takes me days to do all four feet (hes a big heavy leaning brute).

Most of the tracks around here & even the "arena" I use is gravel & rocky & my main concern is that Ill have to ride a "cat on a hot tin roof" for ages as his feet toughen up.

I know the first step is to leave the shoes off him & fit him with boots if necessary but its just going against so many years of having shoes on.

Also just quickly......... how the bloody hell do ya get a photo to come up?!!!!

You need to get your mind away from 'level' the horses hoof will tell you where it's ment to be.

Hi all, thought id let you know how my barefoot journey has panned out.

Eli has now been a booted barefoot since April & hell never see shoes again.

Hes gone from a bumble footed slob that bolted at the sight of a farrier or a saddle to being  sound as a bell, only stumbles when hes off with the fairies & even picks his feet up to be trimmed. His balance has improved & his general health seems to have evened out, hes less sour & happier to travel along.

The transition didnt take as long as I had thought mostly because he wasnt going staight from shoes to barefoot as he came from a long spell & I use boots on his fronts, he has little hessitation over rough ground & due to the way his feet no longer cause pain his stide has extended ALOT, I just hang on in amazmement.

Not bad considering hes not in a huge paddock but in a double house block & trimmed every 2 weeks so it proves anyone could give it a go.

Sorry to woffle on but Im converted & am passionate about barefoot, all my horsey friends are amazed at the fact that Eli goes where their shod horses go, but unfortunatley I cant seem to convert them, but Ill keep showing them the benefits each time I dont have to pay out $130 for a set of shoes.

Take care & keep on bareing all.

Cass