Marilyn wrote:  i also have a question. i live in the Vancouver, Wa area. I have 2
barefoot horses, one of them can't go on rocks or gravel, even after
being barefoot for 6 years. Does anyone else have this
problem? They live on gravel in their sacrifice area so it doesn't make
sense. I do everything they say to do, such as 24 hour turnout.
I talked to a farrier yesterday and he says it is too wet here and
therefore they can't go barefoot here.
What do you say to that?

Marilyn,

My horses have a granite sand paddock but no hardener or gravel to toughen up there feet.  I ride on hard packed sand roads that do have some small stones on top and this time a year my horses feet are fine barefoot but  when the conditions are wet I put boots on the front.  It doesn’t matter how much I ride, if their feet are soft from the moist ground, I must put the boots on.  I don’t think it would ever be too wet for me to put shoes on because the boots work great (Easyboot Epics) and the more you use them the easier it gets to take them on and off.  My horse likes them too.

Ashley

Wellfleet, Massachusetts