I have used a barefoot trimmer for the past two years and am a firm believer in it.  I have ridden my horse on 10 day camping trips over all kinds of terrain (though we don't have the kind of rocks in Fla that are in other areas) and never a problem.  Quite a few people in the trail riding club I'm in have switched and all approve of it.

     I do NOT advocate the Strasser method - that is way too harsh - but Pete Ramey's barefoot trim allows the foot to be natural, more like a mustang wears theirs down.

   One 17 year olds mare in the club developed navicular in 3 feet - she pulled the shoes, switched to the natural trim, does use boots on the front feet when she rides - the mare has been sound for the past couple of years and is ridden steadily.  she firmly believes the natural trim has allowed her to have a much better life. 

   anolder horse at the barn had foundered a couple years ago - had shoes, pads, etc and his feet still looked horrible - she switched to my farrier and the first trim made a dramatic difference - by the second trim all signs of the founder were gone. His stride has improved and he walks faster out on rides.

   Its competition for traditional farriers so of course they don't approve.  If you compare the frogs of a horse that is trimmed with a barefoot trim verses shoes - you will see an incrediable difference. 

Read more about the subject, be informed and make your own choice. 

Actually there was a thread on here of an indivdual that rides on really heavy duty rocks and all his horse's were barefoot. 

I have seen great results and will continue to have my horse's feet trimmed this way. I did use a "traditional farrier" at first and before I was even riding my horse, just on turnout in the pasture, his feet chipped, peeled, etc within a week of the trimming.  Now after 5 weeks of riding, his feet are smooth, no chips, cracks, etc. 

If I take my horse north to ride, I would bring boots, but I won't put shoes on. The barefoot trim is gaining popularity, it won't appeal to everyone, and that's fine.  There are a thousand opinions out there and in the end, we all have the right to choose what we feel works best for our horse and us.  I for one try to be open minded....

Hey Houndog - guess I'm hijacking the thread, but I noticed you breed SSH horses.  I just bought a 5 year old gelding to trail ride and camp and found out he's pretty nicely bred to boot. 

grandson of Alen's Lethal Weapon on the dam's side and Paint's Handshaker on the sire's side. 

I trim My own horses,barefoot.All I do is let nature take its course and I trim off any excess and a little rasp.My horses walk on rocks and ruff terrain and do just fine.If things get too baad I put Old Macs on and away we go.

we just got into horse's about 4 years ago. Our first horse was diagnosed with Navicular about a year and a half ago. we first tried the corrective shoe's, 3 different types and no lasting results. then we heard about the natural hoof trim and had a natural hoof farrier trim him. I then took a course on it and now do all 3 horse's myself. The horse with Navicular is coming around slowly. I think this is in part because I was leaving the heal to high. I now am being more aggresive with the heal and he seems to be improving. He no longer points his toe and keeps both legs straight under him. I have been doing some light riding on him and he doesn't show any sign of lameness when we are finished. Not for everyone but I think it is becoming more popular, I would give it a try but you have to be patient, it will take sometime to see any results. And if you mean by a Mustang roll to really roll the front toe I have been doing that on all my horse's with no ill effects. Never had any problems with the health guys and the Navicular horse doesn't show any sign of pain. Since I am pretty new to keeping horse's I alway try and use the common sense approach, horse weren't born with shoes so I can't image they need them. It's just the way we keep them that give them problems.Hope this helps but on this subject there are two deverse schools of thought so you just have to see for yourself and see what works for you. As for nerveing I coundn't bring myself to do that to a horse, but that's just me of course. good luck

Hounddog, Two people in my family beat cancer...so can you!

I remember back when we just called it shod or barefoot.  I think "natural/corrective trimming" is a pile of crap.  You trim a to return balance to the hoof, then either slap a shoe on it or drop it back in the dirt to run barefoot.  A good trim job is a good trim job shoes or not!

I've got a natural way to trim the hoof.  Tie all your horses to the bumper of your truck and drive out to a nice flat surface road.  Speed-up to around 15 MPH then throw a plastic bag out of the window and pull your foot off the accelerator.  Allowing the horses to slam on the brakes and wear their hooves down exactly level with how they use them sounds pretty natural to me...

*If you angrily respond to this scenario you should know it's a sign you need a margarita and a vacation*

Cool!

Houndog,

Very sorry to hear about your illness, you'll be in my prayers.

Beth

I;m in Utah and I ride a lot in Wyoming. I took my horses barefoot last year. So they have not had shoes since November of 2005.  My farrier (who's been shoeing for 25 years) suggested I give it a try.  My horses back feet are all doing great.  I still need to "Boot" front feet on serious trail rides in rocks.

None of my horses had any hoof problems prior to to going barefoot. So I'm not doing this because I'm trying to correct navicular or founder.Just trying to see if it offers the horse a healthier way.

It will depend a lot on the type of rocks/terrain you ride. Arena horses should be fine riding in sand. Unless you are trying to do some sliding stops that need a sliding shoe.

Hard rock, granite, slate with lots of cobble and you will need boots.

Sandstone I seem to do just fine with out the boots.

Last may I rode this black colt 13 miles on Friday and 22 miles on Saturday with out any boots in the above sandstone and his hooves looked great. He kept up with all the rest of the horses and showed no sign of being sore.

Rode for two days last March putting ribbons up for a CTR ride. Took 4 horses  with my daughters.  The lady we were helping put the ribbons up for, said no way your horses will make through one day let alone two days of riding barefoot.  She trains foxtrotters and was amazed that mine didn't miss a beat.

But their are trails where my horses slow right down and spend so much time watching where they put their feet, if I don't boot them, that it's no fun to ride. It just depends on the type of rock, how sharp the edges are and the size of the cobble laying in the trail.

I can go anywhere if I put boots on the front hooves.  So why do it?  It has not saved me any money. I trim every 4 weeks instead of shoe every 8 weeks. I pay $25 for a trim vs $60 for a shoe job.  Any savings on farrier visits and a lot more gets spent on Easy Boots. I have to spend an extra 5 minutes putting boots on prior to hard trail rides. My horses feet look better now than they ever have. My farrier just raves about how good looking they are.

I may or may not stay barefoot next summer.  We see how the horses do on the first few hard trail rides next year when they have been barefoot the magically two years.

I spent this past weekend Big Horn Sheep hunting in Southern Utah. I saw lots of wild mustangs running across some awful rough stuff. And they are all barefoot.

Well buyyourself a bargin plane ticket and come ride one of my horses. I got a couple foxtrotters that need a good lesson in gaiting.

I'll gladly take you for several rides as trade for a lesson or two.

Sorry to hear your ill.  My cousin had lukemia and did well on the treatments. 

Were pulling for ya.