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Barefootin' Boogies

© Gwenyth Browning Jones Santagate

In response to a question concerning a noted farrier/veterinarian from Germany who advocates a drastic trim in order to save foundered horses and keep barefooted horses healthy ....

"Each one of us has the responsibility to use the mind that God gave us and the free will to act upon the information we learn. Even IF Dr. Strasser were not whom she portrays, each one of us has the right to do our "homework" and make a free will personal judgment. If "the shoe fits" (neat little pun, eh? *vbg*) then fine, put it on and wear it! If it doesn't? Well, then, throw it away.

I see so many just blindly go off and follow the latest guru without even having any background knowledge on the person and his/her ways. Come on folks - we are all intelligent human beings. Let's do our homework, our research, find out what's best for our horses and then go for it. If something doesn't work then why would we continue with it? The horses can't file their own feet nor can they disagree when we throw iron on their feet. They can only tell us, in their own manner, if the shoe doesn't fit! The physiological results of our trimming speaks all. How many foundered horses have been "saved" from the canners because of the Strasser trim? How many horses have successfully done endurance rides barefoot? How many horses are calm, happy, fit and in condition and, at the same time, turned out 24/7 with shelter and good feedstuff and allowed to be barefoot? I think the answer is ... far more horses have shown contentment and well being when they are allowed to simulate the "natural" lifestyle - that is, the lifestyle that is "natural" to the horse than those that are pampered and molded into the human lifestyle.

Let's face it - all our fancy barns, stables, equipment, tack, etc. is for the human's benefit; not the horse's. As long as they are allowed to be horses and, when ridden, are put under comfortable, well fitting saddles and bridles (or, no tack at all) - they're happy campers! They LOVE a good roll in the mud, summer or winter. In the winter months the mud and dirt and lack of grooming help the coats repel the water and weather as well as aid in the regulation of the body temperature. In the summer months the mud helps keep the flies from biting and aggravating them. No, they don't *look* very pretty with a coat of dried mud and manure on them, but they're happy! And