I have a TWH that I took barefoot in September 2004.
I was worried about losing his gait and had in fact had a gait-losing experience before going barefoot with him.
I had a new shoer try to do the New Balance shoes on him. I was worried about his long toes and hoped the new shoer, a
Natural Balance trained farrier, could "meld" the walking horse needs with a more natural foot. It was a disaster
(he began trotting like a-son-of-a-gun!), and I spent $1000 on re-training and horrible, heavy, weighted shoes to get his
gait back. It came back, but through it all his coronet bands swelled up, and he became more and more
contracted. I had begun reading about barefooting and decided I had to do something fast or my boy was going to
founder. I made the decision to pull his shoes even though he might begin trotting again, and just resigned myself
to brushing up on my posting skills!
The most incredible thing happened! Not only did he NOT lose his gait,
but he actually gained one! I had never been able to get him to canter at all--he would just gait
faster and faster until he got his legs all tangled up, and I would have to pull him back and try again.
After he went barefoot, all I have to do is sit back, or cluck to him,
or say "Canter" and he effortlessly goes into a very smooth canter! He loves to canter now, and so do I!
Oh, and one other thing I noticed...ever since I had owned him, he was what I called "ticklish"
over his loins and back whenever I would brush him there, even very gently and with a soft brush. Since it even
happened when I didn't ride him, I just thought it was a peculiarity of his. But as soon as the shoes came off...no
more wincing whenever his back was touched! I can't begin to say what this performance barefoot movement has meant
to me, but I am a true believer! I am telling everyone who will listen, but I am surprised at how many people don't
even want to hear about it.
Tell your friends that whatever gait their horse has before going barefoot will still be
there afterwards. Barefoot is the only option if you want your horse to have added years of pain-free living and
soundness. Good luck!
~ Alice and Jubilee
