Today was the last day of a week-long clinic on barefoot horse care at Rancho de Caldera in Panama.  The advantages and benefits of barefoot horses, and the trimming and care of barefoot horses was the main topic.

Sponsored largely by Boquete Mountain Safaris and Rancho de Caldera, expert Dawn Willoughby from the USA, came to talk to local horse owners and horse caretakers.  She has been teaching on this subject for at least seven years and is well respected in the horse world.

Why in the world would anyone want to shoe their horse in the first place?   It is unnatural, and it is the cause of more lameness and undue stress on the horse’s legs and body.  It is amazing what was learned at this clinic.

A three hour presentation to horse owners, and stable or farm hands, demonstrated the benefits of removing shoes in favor of a more natural hoof.  Studies of wild horses, have shown that shoes are quite unnecessary.  In the USA, many horses have their shoes removed, the hooves trimmed, and then fitted with Easy Boots to be able to go off and ride, immediately.  In Panama, most horse owners cannot afford the Easy Boot, so the recommendation is to get out and ride right away, but allow the horse to feel the ground under him.  It may be necessary to go easy on stone initially.  But after a while, the horse’s hooves will become concave and hardened to glide over rough surfaces.   The more a horse exercises, the better off the hoof will be.   So, stabling, is not the best for horses. 

After the presentation, Dawn showed us how to trim the hooves and what to look out for.  She made it look so simple.  It doesn’t take much time and effort once you know how it’s done.  Hands-on trimming was practiced by every stable and farm hand who attended.  Even some of the owners made the effort to try.

I have been riding barefoot for the last two years and I do believe my horse is much happier.  His hooves are usually trimmed by a local horse expert who has now, successfully participated in this barefoot horse trimming clinic.  There were at least twenty local farm and stable hands who participated, and all of them found the hands-on exercise exciting and rather easy.  I can even do it if I decided to do it myself.  I don’t believe I will, but I have the knowledge to know how it should be done.

The “mustang roll” is a term used when trimming the hooves and this is a trim that allows for easy, natural movement over rough or soft surfaces.   The best advice for having healthy hooves is to exercise often, allow the horse to be foraging in pasture 24/7, and make sure the horse has a healthy diet consisting mainly of forage and little sugar (which is often in grains). 

Several case studies were presented to show before and after which were amazing.  Not everyone is convinced that barefoot is better, but those who refuse to learn about it are truly missing out on valuable lessons.  Horses with shoes, continue to suffer from pain and unnatural stress in their ligaments.

For more info:  www.4sweetfeet.com