Donatello

Donatello, 17.2hds, 9 yrs old, 1600 lbs.,Irish Sport Horse

Occupation: Hunter Paces Owner: Liz, Wappingers Falls, NY

When I purchased Donatello, he was just 7 yrs. old and recovering from over use in the jumper ring.  He was a bit hitchy in his right hind....pictures confirmed hock trauma, but we felt that it could be controlled if not remedied.  Shod all around, and had been in shoes for quite a while as confirmed by trimmer and vet.  Much to the dismay of my veterinarian, who was concerned about the hock needing support, all shoes were pulled, and we began the barefoot transition.  His feet were quite a sight...those years of shoes had wreaked havoc. We stabled at a barn with unlimited turnout on dry rocky lots.  Needless to say, he was a bit tender and quickly dragged me to the grass when I led him down gravel paths.  Despite the hitch, he was as sound in the ring without shoes as he was with shoes.  I booted him in front  when I took him out of the ring and he was fine in all terrain. Within two months, he underwent colic surgery and was confined to stall rest for 1 month and then small paddock turnout for a couple hours a day for the next 60 days.  Not an ideal situation for the transition.  After recovery I moved him to a stable with limited turnout (4 hrs. per day) on soft dirt and grass.  Stalled for 20 hrs. per day.  Well, with all the rest he had, the hitch was gone, but his feet were a disaster.  Since it was the winter, I didn't realize it since we rode in an indoor ring; although he continued to chip.  By spring we were ready to train for the pace season, but facilities only offered soft sand rings.  His feet were chipping constantly, no matter how big the mustang roll, and he became more and more ouchy outside the ring.  I booted all four feet for hunter paces since I tend to ride very fast and jump every jump no matter the height, width, drop, or footing.  His feet were still chipping, boots and all.  On one particularly rocky pace, his front boots broke  and I had to remove them to get through the course safely.  When I came home, I quickly forwarded Amy pictures of his hooves because  he was pretty much a mess.  Only cosmetic damage, but enough to cause concern and question what was going on with the transition.  So, I went through another change to his environment.  I moved him to a facility where he would be outside from 1PM until 8AM to next morning.  He only came in to catch up on some sleep and to be checked over for injuries.  The move to the new facility was 8 months ago, and his feet began to change quickly.  When we arrived, the ground was getting hard and snow came within 6-8 weeks. Very little chipping....it was unbelievable! Donatello chipped whether he was in a soft sand ring, cushioned soft grass meadow, or in a stall. This move to extended turnout with plenty of room to kick up his heels with his buddies (who you will read about as well!) solved his problems.  When spring came, I booted him all around because I didn't want to relive past experiences.  With all the torquing and twisting of the boots as we galloped over hill and dale with spring fever, I had trouble keeping the boots in place.  And his feet were changing too.  The flare was gone, and boot sizes changed.  I finally looked at Amy and said, "That's it...I'm done with the boots...can't take it anymore.  Let's just see what happens when I take him out barefoot."  It was a miracle!  No chips...first hunter pace of the season (May 18th)...no chips!  90 minute  cross country ride every morning...no chipping! A revisit to the pace I had done the previous year that destroyed his feet....tiny chips!  Donatello has completely transitioned, and his feet are beautiful!  Now, it's mid July and the ground is rock hard again...Yes, he prefers softer ground...all horses, even those that are shod prefer a cushion. But there is minimal chipping from the difficult terrain that he is required to conquer, mostly due to self trimming as opposed to damage.   Due to Donatello's "job," Amy trims every four weeks, so by the beginning of week four, there are a few chips.  This is a horse whose feet are put to the test every time I ride now.  I don't do any ring work, so he must navigate trails, rocky streams, fields, and all types of cross country fences.  Often times, we can be seen approaching jumps at a gallop that are preceded by a  rock culvert ...No matter....Donatello springs forward with excitement. 

Choosing the barefoot option for your horse, especially a cross country athlete, is a difficult decision that requires  extended turnout, an inordinate amount of patience, experimentation, and above all, time.  This transition took 2 years.  With proper turnout from the beginning, this time might have been shortened.  Don't expect miracles overnight. Each of my horses reacted differently, and the time line was varied. Riding a barefoot  horse took more responsibility on my part...and a lot more time...booting and conditioning are required and aren't always fun or easy.  I remember the farrier at my barn just shaking his head as he watched me struggle to put the fourth boot on Donatello.  What he did say is this, " You're one of the few who is doing this right. If you choose to remove shoes, you owe it to your horse to protect him until he can do it un-aided."  Now he sees me tack up and ride out barefoot.

Right Front before trim. After 4 weeks of riding jumping and having fun on very dry hard packed footing. Small minor chips and plenty of growth.

Right front post trim. A solid healthy frog, sole and digital cushion and a good "mustang roll" keep Donatello in shape for more riding.