Comments on: Useful tip for transitioning from shod to barefoot

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:31:59 +0000

Becky – How flat are Julie’s feet on the bottom? If you want her to toughen up too, then give it a try on her and see what happens. Even with frequent rasping you are probably not actually doing the entire sole area — are you?

By: Becky Glaser

Becky Glaser — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:43:44 +0000

Thanks for the info. I can’t use it on Julie, because I rasp her feet every time I look at her. She is a pill to trim and it is easier if I just keep after them. Her feet seem to grow an inch a month!
I will give it a shot on Tio and the others who don’t get as much attention–nor do their feet grow quite so fast.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:41:08 +0000

Hi Fran – thanks for the info! I actually live in Northern Nevada – at about 5,000′ elevation. It’s been dryer than normal this time of year. Normally my horses have been in mud for weeks by now and it always makes managing their hooves difficult. The storms are starting to come through now though!

By: Fran Jurga

Fran Jurga — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:38:08 +0000

Karen, if it is helpful, I have seen Durasole around the farrier world for many years and have never heard of an ill effects.

There are options for sore-footed horses and I hope that people will seek some first-aid measures. I know you can’t relate to this down in the Southwest, but this time of year in the North, even horses whose soles you thought were tough can get ouchy as the frozen ground shapes into weird lumpy concrete-like hummocks right under them in the paddock.

Dreaming of spring,

Fran Jurga
The Hoof Blog