I Took My OTTB Barefoot
I did the “impossible”, my OTTB is now barefoot.
(Well, about eight months ago now, but let’s talk about his transition)
Pilot a few days after arriving to my barn, post-bath and some loving.
Back when I had initially purchased Mutawasem (lovingly renamed Pilot), he was just your typical gangly thoroughbred donning a dull coat littered with scrapes and those stereotypical OTTB feet. Mind you, he was barefoot on the hinds, but man, those front feet gave me grief. On top of all of the chipping and cracking going on, he was losing shoes nearly biweekly. (If not weekly!)
Even despite my best efforts at the time, including diet change, adding supplements, etc., his hooves were completely unable to hold a nail. Frustrated and looking for answers, I had began asking the various professionals in my life as to why he could be barefoot in the back but not the front. I was met with stares that implied I was asking a question I should’ve already known the answer to and the usual answers, “he’s a thoroughbred, they just had bad feet”, “if you ever want to jump he needs to keep them on anyway” , usually prefaced with a scoff. I continued to lose hope for a chance of my horse having good feet until the farrier had suggested we use is regular shoes and add glue over the nails to give them that extra support and prevent the chipping. It made sense at the time, the hoof wall wouldn’t be able to chip if there is basically a glue block reinforcing it!
Well, you may not believe it, but Pilot actually did worse in these. His regular chipping was still occurring, only this time it would chip through the glue causing the glue to essentially rip off even larger chunks of hoof wall with it! I was appalled to say the very least. How could it have gotten even worse?!
After a fresh set of steel shoes, glued on.
It was at this point in my time with Pilot that I now consider to be the start of my own journey with the barefoot style of hoof care. While his journey wouldn’t begin for a couple more months, I dove head-first into researching everything I could hoof care related. I had always been aware of the seemingly ever-elusive term “barefoot horse”, but I had never believed that a riding horse, or an OTTB no less, could ever live that lifestyle. Yet, there were many articles, barefoot show-jumping professionals, and barefoot advocates on social media. And I was hooked.
After spending weeks, if not months, learning everything I could, my mind was made up. No more nailing metal into very obviously compromised hoof walls, no more weekly farm calls, it was time to fix this. And in October of 2021, I took the leap of faith. I contacted the only person I knew in my area that specialized in barefoot trimming, my now mentor, Jeannean Mecuri. She told me she was able to come the very next day to help me and Pilot officially begin our barefoot journey.
That night I had began questioned everything I had read and researched up until that point. “Am I making the right choice?”, “How long will it be until I can ride again?”, “What if he hates it and is in pain?”. Doubt flooded my mind, but determined to finally get an answer or fix for my horse’s terrible feet, I stuck with my choice. He was getting his shoes pulled the next day. Period.
Pilot landing heel first not 30 minutes after having his shoes removed!
Jeannean had spent hours with me on that very first day, pulling Pilot’s shoes, setting us up with new hoof boots, explaining what affects the hooves, answering my endless questions, comparing before and after photos and videos. Everything that I could think of. By the time she left, I no longer questioned if I was making the right decision, I just knew.
The following days I had expected the worst, and received the best! He was not foot sore, although a little body sore. Being stalled over night, and the lack of movement that goes along with it, did him no justice in getting used to his new (and proper!) hoof angles. But is slight discomfort would completely vanish after a few minutes of turnout and being able to move around. I was floored. All of my anxious thoughts were answered.
Would I hurt him by having him barefoot? No.
Will he hate it? No. I’ve never seen him stand so well for his hoof care.
When will I be able to ride again? Later that same week, I could’ve the next day if I had wanted to.
There were some things that were out of my control at the time that would have certainly made his transition easier, but as I mentioned, they were out of my control. Had he been in a 24/7 turnout situation, I believe it would have limited, if not completely eliminated, the slight body soreness. I might’ve seen more change even faster if he had been on the proper feeding regiment sooner. But other that those changes I wish I could’ve had control over (which I am happy to report I do now!) his transition had gone swimmingly and I couldn’t be happier that not only are we breaking the OTTB hoof stereotype, but Pilot is finally comfortable!
