Is barefoot a better choice for your horse?

There are many benefits in keeping your horse barefoot — the main one being that your horse’s hoof is able to function as nature intended. A barefoot hoof is able to absorb concussion, correctly utilise the frog and soft tissues of the hoof, and spread weight-bearing load over the wall, edge of the sole, heel and frog. A horse’s hoof is also a great reflection of their overall health. Issues such as inflammatory responses and chronic metabolic diseases can be picked up in the feet before any other signs are present.

The benefits of keeping horses barefoot have long been known yet commonly overlooked when it comes to hoof care. However, a horse that slips less when hacking on a wet road or never comes in from the field minus a shoe (because there aren’t any to lose) is a major selling point — and optional barefoot horse boots can help to make the transition easier.

Latest research

A 2022 study by Prof Lars Roepstorff and his team from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found that when barefoot the movement of a horse’s hoof widens over the heel, and there is contraction at the heel during the breakover. (Breakover is when the very last part of the hoof, the toe, leaves the ground.) There was also more vertical independent movement in a barefoot hoof, which could contribute to increased blood flow to the leg — important when recovering from an injury.

Prof Lars Roepstorff, working with Swedish showjumper Peder Fredricson and vet Staffan Lidbeck, set out to gain knowledge about when and how it is appropriate to ride horses with shoes or barefoot. Peder has trained and competed at the highest level, including the Tokyo Olympics, with horses who are unshod and has had positive experiences.

In fact, barefoot horses carried Swedish riders to team and individual gold in showjumping at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Denmark. “I’ve found that [by keeping them] barefoot, the horses are healthier and have fewer injuries, so I think it will be very interesting to show why this is,” said Peder.

Could your horse be barefoot?

So far only preliminary results of the Swedish study have been shared. This first analysis phase was conducted with funding from equine insurer Agria and more results will be announced when they have been analysed. With these early findings being so positive, many owners will be considering whether their own horse could go barefoot — but is barefoot right for every horse?

“There are many advantages to going barefoot,” says Liz Angus, a member of Barefootworks, the UK’s first barefoot trimming practice. “These range from improving the health, shape and quality of your horse’s feet, to less obvious benefits, such as endurance riders noting improved heart rates and recovery times in their barefoot horses, as well as fewer leg injuries caused by concussion.

“Many owners whose horses have struggled with poor hoof health for years often see their horse’s feet change beyond belief when they venture down the barefoot route,” continues Liz. “As an owner, you’ll probably also find you get much more involved in your horse’s hoof care routine when they are barefoot, noticing things about their hooves that you’ve never considered before, so it can be a great learning curve.

Advantages of horses wearing shoes

The pros of horses being shod include:

1. Shoes can counteract the effects of poor conformation and help to keep some horses sound.
2. Remedial farriery can assist in managing injuries and conditions such as laminitis and navicular.
3. Shoes prevent the horse’s hoof wearing down too quickly when working regularly on hard surfaces.
4. Being shod helps to protect the horse’s soles from bruising.
5. Shoes enable horses to wear studs for extra grip on wet and slippery ground.
6. Horses wearing shoes generally have better grip when ridden on grass (even without studs) compared to one that is barefoot.

Advantages of a barefoot horse

The pros of keeping a horse barefoot include:

1. It is more natural for the hoof, which is able to function as nature intended.
2. Barefoot allows the hoof to work in a way nature intended.
3. The hoof isn’t damaged by nails from shoeing.
4. A kick from an unshod horse is less damaging than one from a shod horse.
5. It could save money as trimming is generally cheaper than shoeing.
6. No more lost shoes!

Transitioning a horse to barefoot

When deciding whether your horse should go barefoot, you need to consider whether you have the time to invest in the first few weeks or months of transitioning, and the time it takes varies depending on the individual horse. Some horses may need barefoot horse boots to provide extra protection during exercise initially.

It’s important that you follow their advice to give your horse the best chance of making a successful transition,” says Emma. “Introducing different surfaces gradually will condition your horse’s feet to new surfaces gently and avoid any foot soreness or bruising, which doesn’t have to happen when transitioning to barefoot.”