My new chiropractor really wants me to change my horses angle a bit and pull the shoes. She thinks his angle is way too high. (I posted about this before.) I do agree he is set up pretty high. I agreed to try a farrier she recommends, she told me if it does not work she will pay for the shoes to be put back on and two resets, so I figure I will try it. My quesiton is, does anybody here have horses that run barefoot or run better without shoes? I used to not use back shoes on my horse and he did fine, but I always have had front shoes on since he has a club foot, but I guess they don't need shoes just because of that? The other issue I am worried about it he paws quite a bit sometimes and I don't want him to like square off his toe or something. 

I think I would consult with my vet before I pulled shoes... but that's just me... e

Have you ever had xrays?

Hmm, I don't think my vet would tell me if he should have shoes or not. And no.

I have one that runs better without shoes, definitely give it a shot & good luck! 

yes my horse got 1/2 second faster.  I tried alot of different shoers to get him comfortable.  He would lay in the pasture alot! I will tell you tho that not everyone can trim for barefoot and it takes a good year or longer in my experience with my horses and friends.  as far as pawing my horse paws and it doesnt effect it.  in fact his feet pretty strong I dont hardly ever have chipping or cracks.  It all depends on your horses feet.  The frogs tell you alot.  you cant just look at the outside of the foot you gotta look on the underside of it too.

Ive had vets and other people tell me how good my horses feet look but not pick up the foot to look underneath.  My 2nd horse his feet looked good but when you picked his feet up his frogs was as thin as pencil.  I just got him at that time.  I pulled shoes and it has taken me a little over a year and his frogs look normal now. 

Good luck can be very frustrating!!!!

Can you post pictures of your horse's feet?

Ultimately, it depends on the individual horse. Does the horse have any lameness problems that require shoes? (thin soles? heel pain? etc)

And it depends where you are running. If you only go to well-groomed jackpots and only ride on soft surfaces, a horse probably has no need for shoes. But if you rodeo, have to warm up on gravel or a parking lot, well, then shoes might be the better option.

As far as front shoes only vs all four feet, again, depends on the horse. Some need that traction in back or they will slip. Some do fine barefoot in back.

Keep in mind that if your horse has a true club foot, you cannot (and should not) fix it via trimming. You can't change the horse's natural conformation they were given. But, there's a "right away" and a "wrong way" to manage a club foot and the opposing foot.

Hard to recommend what you should do, when we have not seen your horse or at least good pictures.

LOL 

I don't think my chiro would either... but I dang sure would trust my vets opinion on shoeing and trimming

i would have xrays done and consult with a vet.

i was running one barefoot who sored up after a year or so.  Xrays revealed that the slightest of slight club foot had some remodeling of P3 and that he was sore in the toe.  He was also very upright naturally and the barefoot trimmer I was using wanted to drop his heels down.  Once we shod mine correctly he was great! And he didn't pull shoes all the time which is why we went barefoot initially to begin with.

So what you're having suggested makes me nervous without an internal look.  Especially when you say club foot.

I will try to later, but I do not run rodeo. Most of the arenas are pretty well groomed and have a nice warm up arena. I used to run without back shoes and he did fine, but then I added back shoes and there really isn't a difference. If anything he is running worse now actually, but as from my other posts I was having issues with him so I really can't say that is because of the shoes. However, last weekend I did not have any gate issues, but still not firing from the rear like I want, but I guess that is another topic. My chiro is more concerned about the angle than the shoes itself, but she does not think he needs shoes anyways because like you said, I run in nice arenas. I just never had not had front shoes on so I'm a little nervous. No known issues besides the club foot

LOL

She has rehabbed many horses with very serious feet problems. That's why I am considering her opinion. My vet hasn't said crap about his feet.

Thank you!

I couldn't fix Zan's club foot WITH shoes. I'd say he gained .10 at first without, then dropped .10 to .25 after his first 10 or so runs barefoot. His best year ever was barefoot.

I'm headed to a top clinic in January with Zan to check out some ongoing issues. One vet had me put eggbars on his rears for suspensory support and then injected his hocks, but he is fighting so hard with the farrier that I think there is more hurting him than hocks. Going to check it all out and get a second opinion on those eggbars. 

I did not get to make a competition run with the eggbars on - my FIL passed away on Thanksgiving a day before we were to run at the supershow in NC. He practiced great on the Wednesday before TDay, but practice isn't competition.

I would probably get xrays first, and then after every 2-3 trims if you pull the shoes. Horses generally adjust to barefoot (or don't) fairly quickly, imo and experience. Most changes will happen in the first 6 months for good or not good. 

My DTF mare healed her contracted heels and the rolled sidewall in 6 months, but her sole never started toughening up so I put shoes back on after 8 months of barefoot. She would NOT run a pattern barefoot. Put the shoes back on and she placed in the 2D her first out. 

If your farrier will work with your vet that is best case scenario. I love me a farrier that will call my vet and discuss my horses needs in detail!

Personally & I love my chiro, but if she suggested me removing my horses shoes, I would probably be looking for a new chiro unless said chiro was real knowledgeable regarding feet. I trust my vet to help make that decision. Trying a farrier she recommends makes me wonder about her. My chiro would never recommend a farrier. She is a equine chiropractor not a hoof expert. Wanted to add that there is nothing wrong with running barefoot as long as your horse has the feet for it. 

In some states, you must be a DVM to practice equine chiropractic.

If my chirp recommends a farrier, vet, treatment I am going to look into it and do my research. I would do the same if my vet recommended a treatment or a chiropractor or farrier. I am not going to blindly do what someone tells me I should do. I always appreciate any advice I get, but it is my responsibility to my horse to learn as much as I can about whatever problems he may have so I can make an informed decision. 

The reason why I am listening to her is because she has a lot of experience rehabbing feet. She showed me multiple pictures of what she has done, and it was quite impressive actually. She isn't a basic chiro, it's just easier to refer to her as that. She rehabbed a horses foot that the vet recommended be put down, and turned it into a perfectly sound cow horse that does not need shoes. The reason I made this post is because I wanted to see how many people ran barefoot, but I did not keep in mind a lot of people run in rodeo pens, which I do not do. The pens I run in are pretty well groomed. 

I feel a chiropractor worth their salt should be about to look at the big picture of the horse and trace chiropractic issues in the direction of their source - and part of that is knowing what a balanced foot looks like - so many issues derive from unbalanced feet.

im lucky my chiropractor is married to a darn good farrier, but any professional I let work on my horses I would trust that they aren't making a recommendation for no reason and look into it further with professionals in that area.

I have a very competitive 1 d horse tht is 19 and has never had a shoe in his life. I personally would never shoe a horse but have educated myslf also and trim all my own and have for 16 years.Have even had very highly respected vet tell me my horse woud never have stayed sound had he been shod. First of all it is not as simple as pulling shoes and trimming. It takes a commitment to do what is best for the horse in feeding,terrain and educating yourself.There are many great resourses out there and lots of research. in fact lots of scientific evidence that shoes and improper shoeing cause navicular syndrome.unfortunately the education of veterinarians is geared toward shoing only. Check out Pete ramey www.hoofrehab .com . Dr Thomas Teskey has tons of info.

I always recommend xrays and an internal look before making any drastic changes. You chiro may be on the right path but having an inside look can benefit your vet, your farrier, your chiro, and even yourself. Professionals should be able to work together and put their heads together. 

Has your farrier suggested going barefoot ever? I would talk to him about what your chiro said and ask his opinion on it. I had a situation where my vet felt like the feet needed something done that my farrier didnt agree with and he showed me why by explaining my horses hoof structure and why it would do more damage than good. I got xrays done and the vet changed their mind after seeing the xrays. My farrier was right. 

The best thing you can do, is take all suggestions and talk to your vet and farrier about your chiro's suggestions and go from there.

I had a mare I ran barefoot and she did fine, but walking on gravel from the trailer to the arena was sometimes bad on her. It really depends on how tenderfooted your horse is. There will always be rough ground and gravel on your way to a well groomed arena. And some barefoot horses do worse stalled on concrete no matter how deep you bed them at away shows. 

Just my experience. My mare ran amazingly barefoot but would get sore because she'd find that ONE rock in the whole pasture.

Etbaur's horses run barefoot. My mare I sometimes run barefoot and sometimes run her in front shoes.Worth a shot,but make sure noone tries to change your horse's feet. " shoe/trim them the way they stand"