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30 July 2010

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Barefoot trimming: Dare to go bare?

Barefoot trimming has become a contentious issue, and contradictory information abounds. But who should you listen if you want your horse to go au naturel? Kathy Carter investigates

Our news feature on foot trimming, ‘DIY time bomb?’, in the February 2006 issue of HORSE, prompted much debate. Are a minority of owners self-trimming their horses’ feet and causing dreadful harm? Do self-trimmers choose this option as a last resort, because of a poorly-skilled farrier? And is the self-trimming issue clouding the fact that barefoot is becoming more popular and well respected?

Benefits of barefoot

Why do barefoot enthusiasts revere this approach? Horseshoes were initially introduced to protect feet of working horses in order to make the animals more useful to their riders, and nailed horseshoes were first identified in Roman times. However, barefoot followers claim that there are various benefits to removing what is essentially a product of domestication.

According to British farrier Martin Deacon FWCF in his book No Foot, No Horse: Foot Balance: the Key to Soundness and Performance, feral horses wear down their hooves in a way that provides optimal balance for their individual limb-loading requirements. He maintains that shoeing alters the natural function of the hoof wall.

American farrier Jaime Jackson, author of The Natural Horse: Lesson from the Wild for Domestic Horse Care, has noted that lameness and other conditions associated with certain shoeing practices are virtually non-existent in wild horses. In his publication, The Natural Horsecare Advisor, Jackson states: “I use the wild horse hoof as my model because these are healthy, sound hooves at their optimum.”

UK holistic vet Nick Thomson says barefoot management can even help prevent diseases such as laminitis, splints, arthritis, ringbone and navicular syndrome when combined with essential environmental changes.

The barefoot phenomenon took hold in the UK following foreign research, notably in the USA, into how hooves function and perform. UK horseowners learnt of these new techniques predominantly via the internet, and many tried the barefoot approach as a last resort, following repeated problems with their horses’ feet.

“Pioneers of the barefoot method have largely succeeded with unshod approaches and have reaped the benefits in terms of horse health and performance. Now, many owners choose barefoot through informed choice, rather than as a last resort,” says UK-based equine podiatrist Richard Vialls.

‘Radical’ self-trimming

Self-trimming recently hit the headlines in Britain after welfare organisations joined forces to warn against radical trims, in particular those given by Strasser followers. This trimming method, one of the first barefoot approaches to be used in the UK, was developed by German vet Dr Hiltrud Strasser. She advocates that the foot should be trimmed in accordance with an angled formula, with the base of the coffin bone parallel to the ground.

The veterinary and farriery professions and mainstream barefoot communities have gone to great lengths to educate owners on problems associated with the Strasser method and it appears that Strasser-trimmed animals now represent a minority of barefoot horses in the UK.

However, equine chiropractor Dorothy Marks acknowledges that while mistakes have been made using Strasser, many sound performance horses, including her own, have been trimmed successfully using this approach. “Some owners were trimming horses without adequate supervision, but lessons have been learned; and without the Strasser technique, many other barefoot approaches would not have been developed,” she says.

With so many advocates of the barefoot method in the UK today, it certainly seems unfair to tar all barefoot trimmers with the same brush because of bad publicity surrounding individual cases.

The Farriers’ Registration Council’s view

The Farriers’ Registration Council (FRC) has taken a firm stand on ‘radical trims’, saying in a joint statement with eight organisations, including the British Equine Veterinary Association, the British Horse Society and the International League for the Protection of Horses: “The preparation of a horse’s foot to receive a shoe is regulated and restricted primarily to registered farriers by the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975. Simple trimming and rasping of horses’ feet is allowed by lay persons under the Act to permit maintenance of foals’ and other unshod horses’ feet.

“Where more radical trimming and reshaping of horses’ feet is contemplated, there is the potential for creating severe lameness. Both the practice of radical foot trimming by lay persons resulting in significant lameness, and/or failure to provide veterinary attention under these circumstances, may engender suffering and consequent criminal proceedings.”

So-called radical trimming is clearly the key issue of concern, which is why many welfare organisations are keen to see self-trimmers follow quality training courses, something many professional trimmers also support. “I believe that the only courses in the UK that fit the bill are those provided by KC LaPierre,” says Richard Vialls [see ‘What are the main types of barefoot trim?’ below]. “These are proving popular with owner-trimmers, but there’s still a need for such courses to be given a stamp of approval by an appropriate authority, so owners can feel confident they’re receiving good training.”

What are the main types of barefoot trim?

As well as the services your farrier offers, there are various ‘professional trimming’ methods available:

The Strasser method is used by ‘Strasser hoofcare professionals’ who aim to lower the heels and align the solar margin of the coffin bone to the ground, basically trimming the foot to the shape of the coffin bone.

The High Performance Trim (HPT) method was devised by American farrier KC LaPierre. “Qualified equine podiatrists use a scientific model of how the hoof functions for trimming and also to guide any necessary changes in the horse's environment,” says Richard Vialls.

US farrier Jaime Jackson’s method aims to replicate naturally shaped hooves as seen in the wild. Jackson is Director of Operations of the American Association of Natural Hoofcare Practitioners. The UK Natural Hoof Care Practitioners’ Association is affiliated to the US organisation.

Natural Balance Hoofcare was pioneered by American farrier Gene Ovnicek. He supports shoeing, but his guidelines for barefoot trimming are often used by farriers.

Other barefoot advocates include US farrier and Strasser graduate Martha Olivo, who devised The Whole Horse Trim; American farrier Lyle Bergeleen, who launched ‘HoofTalk, Inc’, and whose methods are based on wild horses, and UK-based US farrier Dan Guerrera, who performs the BareHoof Trim.

Which leading riders’ horses have ‘gone barefoot’?

German-based British dressage rider Emma Hindle is a barefoot advocate after working with her farrier to remove Diamond Hit and Wie Weltmeyer’s shoes in 2005. “The suppleness with which Hindle's horses moved in Saumur [the international CDIO in France in 2005] was remarkable,” reported the website www.eurodresage.com . “The secret to this power and rhythm in her horses is the fact that they wear no shoes.”

Endurance rider Les Spark, who uses his own ‘force-balance’ hoof trimming technique, has been riding and competing his horses barefoot for five years. “Our main horse, Magica's Minstrel, has done more barefoot distance at speed, over varied terrain, in all weather conditions than any other horse in the UK and has never been retired or vetted out for reasons of lameness,” says Les.

Trainer Simon Earle is renowned for managing his racehorses without shoes. “We believe the horse's foot is a miracle of natural engineering. By removing shoes and allowing the foot to function as it was meant to, there is significant improvement in our horses' performance, in particular with increased stride length,” he says.

Dressage trainer and breeder Lucinda McAlpine will never go back to shoeing her horses, having removed her Grand Prix dressage horse Panduc’s shoes more than 10 years ago. “Horses do not have problem feet: shoes cause problems to horses’ feet due to reduced circulation and increased concussion,” she says.

Can your horse cope barefoot?

Opinion differs here, with some vets maintaining that few horses can cope with hard work on abrasive or hard surfaces without shoes. However, Richard Vialls maintains that, in his experience, at least 50 per cent of working horses can work in their discipline without shoes and that with the use of removable hoof boots for more demanding work, that figure becomes nearer 100 per cent.

Many barefoot developments took place in America, which has a different climate to Britain. “The British climate is not as well suited to the horse's hoof; some breeds cope with it OK, others less so,” acknowledges Richard. “Most professional trimmers are not suggesting that all horses should work without shoes, but are providing an alternative approach.”

Choosing someone to trim your horse’s feet

Even the FRC, whose registrants earn money through the application of shoes, are not dead-set against horses going barefoot, and they advocate that shoes should not be fitted to horses and ponies that do not need them. Their issue is with treatment given by people not properly trained to attend to horses’ feet.

Vat Karen Coumbe recommends first talking to your farrier about foot trimming.

“If you have a decent farrier, they will trim and balance a horse's feet properly, both with and without shoes, and in my view they are the only correct people to do it,” she says.

“We know that shoeing can improve the biomechanics of the foot, and in my experience, with a good farrier, shoeing helps most horses. I would trust a good farrier who has done years of training and has a recognised qualification to look after my horse's feet, rather than any barefoot trimmer.”

Miles Williamson-Noble, FRC secretary, re-iterates the importance of distinguishing between horses going unshod and owners or third parties carrying out DIY trimming. “If the work that a horse is doing does not necessitate it being shod, any good farrier will be happy to trim it for barefoot work. But this is a skilled task and in my opinion, a so-called foot trimmer who has attended only a few days training is unlikely to have the knowledge or skill to carry out a good job.”

Richard Vialls, however, recommends tracking down a reputable, professional trimmer. “There are many benefits to removing your horse’s shoes, from improved traction on roads to better gaits. Get help from someone with professional experience in all these areas, and if you choose a professional trimmer, look for someone with a proven track record who is qualified with one of the major schools that doesn't advocate invasive practices.”

To conclude, the best advice HORSE can give if you are considering the barefoot approach is to research all the evidence available and make an informed choice based on your horse's conformation, level of work, chosen discipline and individual circumstances. Bear in mind that owners considering the barefoot approach must also look at environmental factors such as turnout, feeding and stabling arrangements, exposure to water and infection control.

Top tips for keeping feet, barefoot or shod, in good condition

Pick out feet regularly and clean with a fine bristled brush.

Use a topical, breathable, non-toxic disinfectant with antifungal and antibacterial properties to treat persistent horn defects and eliminate bacteria.

Feed a quality, high-fibre, balanced diet.

Not all hoof problems are diet-related, but if you think your horse needs a supplement, ask your farrier or vet for their recommendation. “Check to see if the following minerals and vitamins are present; biotin, at least 15mg per daily dose; zinc and methionine, in an easily absorbed form, and calcium – the latter is usually present as calcium carbonate,” says independent nutritionist Christine Smy.

Case study

Kay Hambrook from Surrey has owned 16-year-old Arab gelding Mazen for two years. The horse has been barefoot since before Kay bought him, and she decided to keep his shoes off as his feet were in such good condition; her farrier Steve Golding told Kay the horse had such good feet, it would be a shame to put nails in them. Steve trims Mazen's hooves every six to eight weeks and Kay competes in dressage. "We mainly school on sand but we also hack locally on roads and tracks," Kay says. "Mazen copes very well with barefoot trimming. Steve is very good - he watches how Mazen moves, and makes sure the trim is correct and balanced for him.”