Riding horses without shoes is not a new gimmick. Over time it has come and gone as an approach to hoof care. Lately it has come more to the foreground, to some extent maybe due to the fact that the return to "natural" has become a way of life – not only when it comes to horses, but also generally speaking. Organic food and avoiding refined starches are just two common examples of the "natural" way of life that is adhered to by more and more people.

Not all horses can be ridden without shoes. In his introduction, Ranald paints a picture of the ideal background of a horse that is to be ridden barefoot, the one that was allowed to roam large open spaces over hard, rocky terrain.

Shapes and sizes

Looking at the natural shape of different breeds of horses, gives us some pointers to the ideal barefoot horse. Pony breeds tend to have small feet, with the hoof diameter being larger at the coronet than at ground level. The sole is also concave to the extreme, and they could probably run barefoot forever.

Arabians mostly have smallish feet, with hoof diameter at the coronet similar to that at ground level, and usually a concave sole. On the other hand, the English Thoroughbred tends to have large feet, far bigger at ground level than at the coronet, and a flat sole. The bigger and flatter the feet, the less ideal for barefoot riding.

As Ranald also mentions, horses that grew up in sandy, soft areas, tend to have flat, large feet, and do not make ideal barefoot candidates. Horses that grew up in harder, rocky areas tend to have smaller and more upright feet, with a more concave sole, and are a better choice.

The natural way

But maybe the most important lesson lies in the fact that Ranald allows his horse to run barefoot in rocky terrain (increasing this by adding gravel to the lunge ring). This allows the feet to take on a natural shape, and all he does is to round them off and polish them up.

This is totally different to the "traditional" approach, where farriers, veterinarians and riders were taught that feet have to be at a certain angle, or that the break-over has to be at the point of the toe.

This traditional approach usually resulted in "corrective trims", where feet were forced into the shape that was seen as the ideal. What a pity! The true ideal is to follow the natural shape, the shape that the feet take when left to nature, and a shape that differs from horse to horse.

Right or wrong?

Will horse shoes ever be "out of fashion"? No, definitely not. There will always be a need for protection or better traction, depending on the circumstances. Is barefoot wrong? No, definitely not with the right choice of horse and, most importantly, the best possible care.

Is barefoot an alternative for those in far-off places where access to a good farrier is nigh impossible? No, probably not, as you will have to be trained in proper hoof care, and must be willing to take on the responsibility.

Barefoot is not an alternative to proper hoof care, not at all. Riding barefoot requires more care and dedication, and is not for the lazy horse owner!