In April of 2015, I met the Success with Horses team at the Red Deer Mane Event Expo. After attending their lecture and weekend workshop, I took my horse off stall board and put him at pasture 24/7. I also removed all feeds, carrots, flax, pellets, beet pulp... everything. This was in May of 2015.
In July, Vincent was moved to an even more natural pasture with rolling hills and very varied terrain, as well as natural grasses. There were even wild roses growing there.
Oct, 2015
Vincent embarked on his very first mountain ride. I brought boots for him, just incase but he did not need them at all. This guy's healthy barefoot hooves carried him over rocks, rivers, even a patch of ice and he never once took a bad, tender step or lost traction, on a variety of slopes and surfaces. There was one point where we had to cross a ledge of flat slate rock with a drop off to one side. I was more worried about it than he was. His feet carried us safely across with NO issues whatsoever.
He was happy, comfortable and really confident from the beginning to end.
We walked several miles on a dried up, rocky riverbed and he showed no pain or hesitation. I believed in the power of barefoot hooves before this ride, but to actually feel and experience it for myself was so powerful. We were anchored soundly to the earth, but also ready to fly at a moment's notice. We both really enjoyed ourselves because we were not worried about traction or tenderness.
Dec, 2015
Look at those beautiful feet! The deviations in the wall are almost all gone, save for a few at the very bottom which will be gone by his next trim.
I bought Vincent in Feb of 2015. He came to me with minimal handling, and I did what I believed to be best at the time: stall with processed feed. I worked two jobs just to pay for the costs.
Vincent was on a diet of SafeChoice Original, Beet Pulp, Farrier's Formula, and ground flax. I also basically shoved carrots and sugar cubes down his throat- most of which he HATED! I thought that it was so cruel- this horse had been ignored and he didn't even know how to eat treats! Looking back- I realize that everything I was doing must have been so strange. I thought I was doing what was best: but really I was doing what was best for me, not for him.
His feet looked too small and short: he had no farrier care at his old home. What I didn't know is that he hadn't needed it: his feet had been self trimming to a place where they needed to be. What I thought was "too short" was actually perfect. Our eyes become so used to deformity that they often do not perceive it. I had seen so many horses shod and left too long over the years that I did not even know what a healthy foot looked like.
These are Vincent's feet in Aug, 2015. It's very easy to see the difference in the strength of his feet.
The new growth (May-Aug, so 3-4 months. The average healthy barefoot hoof takes about 6-8 months to replace itself) was clearly visible on all four feet.