Well, this is quite a long topic and I admit I didn't get a chance to read them all but intend to go back and do that soon. All my horses are barefoot and unfortunately, no precision trimmed. The horses that are halter broke (we rescue horses and this can be a process). We file down in between "very hard to find" farrier visits. The rest are very nature and will be regularly filed once they finish their tying training. In the meantime, they break off and some quite naturally. We have very rocky terrain. My horse didn't go lame until I had her shod. She got a rock caught between the shoe and the sole. I tried it for two rounds and both times by the time the farrier came back out they had lost one or both shoes. I finally said, forget it. And they have not been lame since. However 1 of the 7 did get an abcess and he resolved that with an epsom salt soak in about three days. They live on the rocky pasture but we ride mostly in the hay fields or arena. However I have taken them on trail rides which is slightly rocky without their shoes. "Making Natural Hoof Care Work for you" by Pete Ramey.

There is a Yahoo goup, for which you have to sign up, called "barefoothorsecare". Many posts everyday. I have had great success using Keratex hoof hardener.

Well, I am glad that I started such an interesting topic. Got a lot of good ideas. Have decided to go barefoot for awhile and see what happens. Have been on a couple of rides already where it was both rocky and easy going. Had no problems. I will keep a set of easy boots just in case. Have used them before and like them. I want to thank every one for there input. As long as yall write I will read. Thank you!

one i luv yer reply to tha barefooted stuff,wiff what ya said I din't have to be a magiction

After years of riding with my horse sometimes shod, sometimes barefoot, sometimes 'naturally trimmed,' sometimes 'four-point trimmed,' sometimes 'booted', and sometimes 'hocus-pocused' ... I found the perfect solution. I attached wings to him and we simply fly from place to place --over rocks, concrete, grass, oceans, mountains, skyscrapers, etc. and his hoofs remain fine, no expensive ferrier bills, and his gait has become smooth as silk. Of course, low flying airplanes are a problem ... especially if he spooks!

Trail and Filly I rep fer hoof-it if you would like to have a clinic on these products let me know and we will see what we can do, Trail I have one of the foot stands and works great. Ole Hoss

thats a great site .. lots of information on them to

Thanks for the feedback on plastic shoes. I checked out the hoof-it web site. Those shoes are a little different from the ones I had. They look a little easier to nail, so I may be able to convince my farrier to try them. By the way, their hoof stand looks pretty nice.

Plastic shoes you bet I use alot of them, nav horses love the 4 degree wedge, some police dept use them, some carrage co's to.They don't stay on to good in the mud,will open up contracted heels in 4 to 5 cycels.Go to www.hoof-it.com for more info. These folks are working on all kinds of new products. Hoss

trailrider I actually have used them and my horses loved them . except in the wet months, they didnt have enough support and the hoof started spreading and so I removed them . I am not sure if they are the same thing ( rubber and plastic ) but they are clear in color. gave them alot of cadence to in the arena ..