Step Out of the Box. Go Natural!

Step 1. Preparation.

Your Field
For natural management to be a success it is essential to plan ahead. Assess your field for flooding and trouble spots and plan to improve the drainage in these areas either with land drains, gravel, rocks or some other sort of ground reinforcement. This is essential preparation and the better this is done the first time around the better your facility will be. Sort out the fencing so that it is horse friendly too, no "sheep" wire or sharp objects to get caught on. The field will become your horses main home so invest some time into it. See it as time that you won't have to spend mucking out all through the winter. Do it properly. Provide several hay racks placed at different points around the field and put them on hard standing. You will also need to provide adequate field shelter.

Considering Taking your Horses Barefoot?
Do some serious research. Not just into the various techniques and practitioners available but try and find others around you who are also embarking on the B.F journey. It really is not just a case of taking off the shoes! If your horse requires a period of transition before he/she is comfortable with our the numbing affects of shoes then moral support will be essential. Seek knowledgable support before taking the plunge.

To locate your nearest Natural Hoof Care Practitioner visit: AANHCP.    The trim that you will require for higher performance than occasional hacking is fundamentally different from a standard "pasture trim". A pasture trim is a very basic removal of excess hoof, and is often the same trim that is done in preperation for a shoe. This is fine if your horse is to live in the field and not have much expected of him, but if you want to ride on the roads, hack out regularly on varied terrain and compete barefoot, your horse will require a more specialist trim combined with specific "hoof exercise".        

Proper hoof care is the base from which to build your natural horse management plan from. "No foot no horse" is very relevant. This not only means working with the right person but it also means educating your self on how the hoof works and what it needs, and,most importantly providing this as part of your horse's daily routine. Ask questions, look up all the different methods, good and bad and decide which one YOU think is best for your horse(s).This way you will know what people are on about when they start getting technical, or try talking you into or out of things you're not sure of. Get the books and have a good read.

Step 2. Action - Barefoot

1. Change your chemical wormer for a herbal alternative. Science with Natures "Multiworm" It's easy to do visit www.swnh.co.uk .

2.Wait until the spring when things are beginning to dry up a bit and the rugs can come off with out causing any major temperature change to your horse(s). Remove rugs, and remove shoes! Get your first natural trim and have your horse(s) assessed for the length of time it may take for them to recover from being shod. Fit hoof boots if necessary.

3. Allow your horse a couple of months with no ridden work. This may not be required but it is better to prepare for this than to be caught out and become despondent. Work your horse from the ground, meaning loose schooling singularly or in a group (which is more fun but must they must also be unshod for safety) Join-Up and Parelli work are also excellent ways of getting to know your horse. Or if you're not into the fancy stuff just try walking out in hand, grooming etc, what ever you enjoy doing other than riding. This should be more about quality time and bonding than exercise. Listen to your horse for other aspects of his life that he struggles with and explore the alternatives.

4. Gradually bring your horse into work. Start by riding on soft ground and flat tarmac (or what ever ground your horse is accustomed to), keep with in the horses comfort zone at all times and gradually build up so that you are riding for longer periods and over slightly more gravely / rocky ground. Do this over the summer. This is the best time of year as the ground is hard and the hooves adapt to this terrain which is often like concrete or tarmac giving you the advantage that the hooves are exposed to a consistent environment. Unlike the winter when they are exposed to conflicting conditions, often damp mud or bedding around 20hrs a day and then hard and abrasive roads and gravel. For this reason a quality pair of hoof boots (see www.swisshorseboots.co.uk) are an essential bit of kit especially during the winter and first year unshod.

Step 3. Observe and Monitor

Keep a diary for the first year. Keep notes on topics such as feed, hay, where it comes from, the color of the grass at that time of year, girth measurements, daily routine, lameness minor or major, how you treated it, exercise plans, hoof wear, anything significant. Also keep notes on areas that are anoying or you think could/should be improved. For example: "Today all the horses were at the gate at the same time, all clambering for their food, I got stuck in the mud and couldn't shoo them away so fatty ate it all! " Or " Not sure what is going on with near fore, the frog is shedding and his coronary band is swollen" etc. By doing this you will begin to build up a reference that you can return to again and again. Not based on a book or someone's ideas but on the reality that your set up presents. All the seemingly un connected or unimportant events that take place will begin to read like a story. The same events may happen again and again, there may be contributing factors that you just hadn't noticed before. Look for areas that can be improved and try to anticipate problems before they happen. By the end of the year you will have a body of evidence that you can plan your next year on. Have a seasonal action plan, i.e. April = check for ragwort, check fencing, clear out the barn. May= loose schooling and quiet hacking, watch out for expanding waste lines. The first year of any new management routine will be the most challenging with the most issues so keep as many notes as possible and do as much "improving" as possible during this time. Keep expectations at a realistic level. Once the routine is in place the work load will greatly reduce, you'll will know what you are doing and can concentrate on more serious goals.