The Sole: A Guide for Natural Trimming

As Pete Ramey, the natural trimming guru, says, "the sole of the foot is the most abused and misunderstood part of the domestic horse (with the possible exception of its digestive system)."  I have come to see the truth in this. 

I watched many a farrier pare out the soles of my horses' feet over the years and thought nothing of it-- paring the sole is common practice in order to prepare the hoof for the shoe.  In all actuality, the paring of the sole is one of the many common practices used by traditional farriers that keep the horse in need of the shoe.  Cutting into live sole makes the horse sore and increases the risk for solar abcesses.

Natural trimming uses the sole as a central guideline for trimming the hoof.  Many barefoot experts agree that he sole should share in weightbearing along with the hoof wall.  In fact, the only way a horse's sole can toughen and become callused is for it to be allowed to share in the horse's weightbearing.  This is done by keeping the walls trimmed just barely above the sole. And by leaving the live sole alone, you can allow it to build up and thicken--this, too, is critical for barefoot success.

Of course, when the shoes are first pulled, it can be difficult to determine just what is live and what is dead sole.  By using a hoof pick or hoof knive, you can usually scrape away the dead sole fairly easily (unless the hoof is extremely dry).  I've found that dead sole tends to build up in the seats of corn (the little 'v' on each side of the back of the hoof).  It usually looks white and crumbly when it's coming out. If the bars are extremely overgrown, they can fold over and cover up the sole, too.  When this happens, the folded-over bars need to go.   If you're ever in doubt, just leave things alone though.  Better to do too little than too much.  

If the walls and the heels are kept in check, the sole will share in the horses's weightbearing and will eventually toughen and move upward.  Of course diet, exercis,e and environment play a critical role in creating a callused sole as well.  If the horse's diet is out of whack and he only stands on soft, green grass all day, the sole will never toughen.  A balanced diet, movement, and access to varied terrain (pea gravel is great for this) are all necessary for a tough hoof.

For anyone interested in learning more about the sole or natural trimming in general, I recommend you start at Pete Ramey's website.  This article is specifically about the sole.

Ta-ta!

Hoof Boots

If you're making the transition from shoes to barefoot with your horses, hoof boots are a must--that is if you plan on riding your horse during the transition!  Why is this?  Well, there are several reasons. 

Genetically, our domestic horses' hooves aren't any different from those of wild horses, but the environment and housing conditions we've created for our horses usually aren't ideal for supporting a tough and thick-soled hoof.  Not that it can't be done--it will just take some ingenuity.  In the mean time, you'll need some form of protection for those hooves, and this is where hoof boots come into play.

I was already familiar with hoof boots when I began the transition to barefoot with my horses a few years ago.  My mother always kept a hoof boot with her on endurance rides in case she lost a shoe.  It was a pretty simple boot that was meant for short-time use.  Well, boots have changed a lot in recent years, and there are quite a few options out there now.  I would venture to say they make a boot for every horse and just about every need now. 

I'm embarassed to admit, when I ordered my first boot, I only ordered one, thinking they came as a pair.  That one boot cost about $80, and I even complained to the customer service lady that I thought that was too expensive.  She said, "Well, compare that to the cost of shoes, which you have to replace every 6 weeks."  Touché!  If fitted correctly, boots can last for years. 

I now own five pairs of boots--enough to fit all my horses.  I have one old mare I always use them with if I'm not riding in the arena.  She had been in shoes for nearly twenty years until she came to my place last year.  She does great with her Easy boot Epics though. 

If you're looking into boots for your horse, I suggest checking out the EasyCare page.  They have a wide variety of boots, plus helpful information for sizing.  Once you figure out which boot you want, you can price shop on E-bay or another site.  I found a Boot Swap page where you can buy and sell used boots as well.

Of course, the goal with going barefoot is to eventually get to just that--barefoot.  With the correct trim, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, your horse should get there.  In the meantime, or with horses that have foundered, use the boots.  They've made all the difference for my horses.

Ta-ta!