...across the equestrian disciplines. it is due to a lack of horsemanship skills from their human counterpart. The ideal life conditions for a horse can vary a lot depending on where he is, but naturally involve many factors, like climate, ground, nutri- tion, social interaction (including horse to horse and human to horse relationships), and level of physical activity. This article will not go in detail about these matters that I usually cover in a horsemanship program. In order to best keep our horses we need to make a comprehensive evaluation of our own reality, and create any condition that can make it easier for the horse to live with us. I strongly suggest people to get informed, even if they delegate the care of their horse to professionals. No foot, no horse, no fun! It is stating the obvious, but it is very surprising to see how many people still do not take proper care of their horse’s hooves. Hooves are a very active part of the anatomy of the horse. Equine hooves grow continuously, allowing the horse to wear them out while moving; they help in the blood circulation; they function as shock absorbers for a horse’s limbs and do even more. It would take a long time to mention all the components of the barefoot hoof philosophy, and lot of literature is available on the subject, but one thing I have not seen very much practiced in hoof care, with or without shoes, is a good hygiene of the hoof. It is a practice that can make a real difference in the quality of life of any horse. The hygiene of the hoof is paramount, but in the sense of frequency rather than the think about, in terms of barefoot or shod horses! The barefoot horse can always wear a hoof boot as protection, if or when needed, and take it off when not needed, leaving the hoof free, and relaxing all of the other anatomical parts of the limbs. As already stated, horsemanship has its role in every moment spent with horses, and this includes the care of the hoof. This very important task requires daily attentions, whether the horse is shod or barefoot, because is a determinant factor to the wellbeing of the horse. I have seen behavioral problems arise during hoof care, and not being properly resolved, even when professional farriers or trimmers work with horses. I have even observed horses being sedated, to undergo shoeing or trimming, and believe www.EliteEquestrian.us 53 had no pads, and was travelling, on his “own chosen” path. Getting back to my recent ride with Aria, the Death Valley Encounter has a very long history, and the trail designed for the endurance event goes through many different kinds of terrain, from a flat easy trail in the desert sand, to a foot wide trace across a very rocky slope, with a steep climb. Watching from the saddle how Aria negotiated the terrain barefooted, and followed my lead was heartwarming, given that it was the most challenging trail we have been on. What I chose to manage in my horsemanship was the opposite of what I did in my experience with Eli the stallion. I was just taking care of staying on the path, and letting Aria have the control of the speed. The place we were going through really felt like the moon, and the view was breathtaking. Aria and I were alone most of the time, and the Slate Range trail did not point to base camp, so she had no motivation to speed up or slow down to join another horse, or to go back to camp, which are some of the things that often happen in endurance. The rocky terrain was making her walk slow, and very carefully, since she was barefoot. Being barefoot allows the horse to use the sense of feel in regards to the ground, and affects the horse’s behavior in the horsemanship. The choices people make about their horse’s hooves are based on personal preference, cultural matter, and traditions. Paradoxically, in my experience, I have seen that most horses ridden on a groomed terrain are still traditionally shod, while many endurance riders are exploring the barefoot option, and using hoof boots when riding in extreme situations. I took a special interest in the equine hoof while I was studying Veterinary Medicine in Milano, Italy, and edited and illustrated a book written by Professor Giulio Bassignana about lameness in horses. A large section of the book was dedicated to the problems of the hoof and corrective shoeing. At that time I was training and riding in flat races and loved watching the farriers shoeing. At that time, the idea of a barefoot horse was very far from my mind, but things changed dramatically when I experienced the benefits that can come from the barefoot state in a horse. Watching videos of wild horses climbing up a stonewall in the desert, or of young foals calmly walking across what looked like impossible ground for a horse can open our mind to this possibility, but things can change a lot when there is horsemanship involved, or when an individual is asked to do something by another one. A first hand experience is what really changed my mind about barefoot or shoes as a style of living for horses. I took the shoes off of one of my horses and watched the metamorphosis happen in her, instantly and forever. The way she walked went from a choppy gait to a long and relaxed one. What happened was actually an exception to the rule, given that, most of the time, before they can actually move comfortably barefoot, horses have to go through a transitional period, where the hoof changes its structure in response to the contact with the ground. We were on a grassy pasture, and the horse must have felt like we do when we take a pair of uncomfortable shoes off and put on our slippers to relax. Now, here is another thing to By Alessandra Deerinck
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