Can Your Horse Go Barefoot? How to Transition Safely From Shoes

By Dr Duncan Houston

Removing a horse’s shoes can work extremely well in the right horse. It can also leave another horse uncomfortable, short-striding and unable to perform on the surfaces they normally handle without difficulty.

The difference is rarely whether the owner is sufficiently committed to barefoot management. It comes down to hoof structure, sole protection, workload, terrain, trimming, existing disease and how well the transition is managed.

The hoof does not care which side of the barefoot debate wins. It cares whether the horse can stand, turn and work comfortably.

Quick Answer

A horse may be able to transition safely from shoes to barefoot when the hoof wall and sole are capable of tolerating the horse’s normal workload and terrain without pain or excessive wear.

Before removing shoes, have the horse assessed by an experienced farrier and, where there is lameness, previous laminitis, thin soles or abnormal hoof conformation, an equine veterinarian. Use a conservative initial trim, reduce work on abrasive surfaces and have correctly fitted hoof boots available. Barefoot is only successful when the horse remains comfortable and functional. Shoes are not necessary for every horse, but protection, traction or therapeutic mechanics may still be essential for some. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Is Barefoot Healthier Than Wearing Shoes?

There is no evidence-based rule that barefoot is universally healthier than shoeing.

A 2025 systematic review found that horseshoes can alter equine gait and loading, but the reported effects varied widely according to the shoe, surface, gait, hoof shape and outcome being measured. There was little overall consensus that one shoeing state was best for every horse. (Wiley Online Library)

Shoes can provide:

• Protection when hoof wear exceeds growth

• Traction for particular sports or surfaces

• Support for damaged or painful structures

• A way to modify breakover and load distribution

• Protection for thin or bruised soles

• Therapeutic assistance during rehabilitation

Barefoot management can provide:

• Natural wear of the hoof wall

• Elimination of nail holes and lost shoes

• Greater direct contact between the hoof and ground

• Different hoof deformation and loading characteristics

• Easier daily inspection of the sole, frog and white line

• Better traction on snow and ice than some conventionally shod feet

The correct choice is the one that allows the individual horse to remain sound and perform its intended job. (University of Minnesota Extension)

What Changes When Shoes Are Removed?

Removing shoes changes how the hoof contacts the ground.

In a small crossover study of 11 horses, shod and barefoot feet developed different changes over a seven-week period. Shod feet showed a greater reduction in proximal hoof circumference, decreasing hoof angle and less toe wear, while barefoot feet showed greater natural wear and an increase in solar circumference. These findings demonstrate that shoeing status affects hoof shape, but they do not prove that either condition is always clinically superior. (DOI.org)

Shoes also change hoof deformation and the transmission of impact through the limb. Experimental studies have found different vibration, strain and acceleration patterns between shod and unshod feet. In galloping retired Thoroughbreds, barefoot hooves produced lower impact accelerations than steel shoes under the particular surfaces tested. The researchers appropriately cautioned that this does not yet prove a lower injury rate in working racehorses. (Beva)

These findings support one important conclusion:

Shoeing and barefoot management both alter hoof mechanics. Neither state is mechanically neutral, and neither is automatically correct for every horse.

What Are the Possible Benefits of Going Barefoot?

More Natural Hoof Wear

An unshod hoof can wear as it grows. When growth and wear remain balanced, this may help prevent excessive toe length developing between farrier visits.

This only works when the surface and workload produce an appropriate amount of wear. A horse travelling long distances over abrasive rock or hard roads may wear hoof faster than it can grow.

Changes in Hoof Shape

A small longitudinal study followed seven horses managed with a specific barefoot trimming protocol. Over time, the heels migrated palmarly, support length increased and the angle of the distal phalanx changed.

These results suggest that a carefully managed barefoot program can change hoof morphology. However, the study was small, the trimming protocol was specific and several months were required before the desired trim was established. It should not be interpreted as evidence that removing shoes automatically corrects every low heel or hoof imbalance. (PubMed)

Fewer Nail-Related Problems

Removing nailed shoes eliminates nail holes, loose nails, sprung heels and shoes that shift or are pulled off.

This can be useful in horses with damaged hoof walls, but it does not mean that every horse with poor horn should immediately lose all protection. Glue-on shoes, hoof boots, composite shoes and other non-nailed options may provide useful protection while damaged wall grows out.

Improved Winter Traction in Some Conditions

Bare feet often provide better grip on snow and ice than plain metal shoes and are less likely to accumulate large snowballs inside the shoe.

Frozen, uneven ground can still bruise a barefoot sole. A horse that requires shoes during winter may instead need snow pads, appropriate studs or another traction plan. (University of Minnesota Extension)

What Barefoot Does Not Automatically Do

Barefoot Does Not Guarantee Better Circulation

Unshod and shod hooves deform differently under load, but the popular claim that metal shoes simply “switch off” circulation is an oversimplification.

Research has demonstrated changes in hoof deformation, vibration and some vascular measurements under different shoeing conditions. It has not established that every conventionally shod horse has clinically inadequate hoof circulation or that removing shoes automatically corrects disease. (Beva)

Barefoot Does Not Cure Thrush

Thrush is associated with infection and an environment that allows diseased frog tissue to persist.

Removing shoes may make the frog easier to inspect and may change ground contact, but thrush still requires:

• Removal of unhealthy and undermined tissue where appropriate

• A cleaner, drier environment

• Daily hoof cleaning

• Treatment selected for the severity of infection

• Investigation of deep central sulcus disease, pain or heel contraction

A persistently painful frog should not be dismissed as a normal stage of becoming barefoot.

Barefoot Does Not Automatically Fix Contracted Heels

A particular barefoot trimming and management program may improve heel morphology in some horses, but shoes can also be designed to alter heel loading and hoof expansion.

For example, one study found that hinged shoes improved measurements in contracted feet of Thoroughbred yearlings. This demonstrates that contracted heels are a mechanical and developmental problem, not a condition with one compulsory barefoot solution. (PubMed)

Barefoot Does Not Make Every Horse Sound

Some horses have insufficient sole depth, poor-quality horn, abnormal distal phalanx alignment, chronic foot pain or a workload that requires more protection than the unshod hoof can provide.

Returning to shoes or another protective option is not a failure. Leaving a horse painful to satisfy a management philosophy is.

Which Horses Are Good Candidates for Barefoot Management?

A horse is more likely to transition successfully when they:

• Are currently sound

• Walk and turn comfortably on firm, level ground

• Have adequate sole and hoof wall

• Have no significant active hoof disease

• Work mainly on forgiving or familiar surfaces

• Have a workload that does not cause excessive wear

• Do not require specialised traction

• Can have regular professional trims

• Have access to correctly fitted boots when additional protection is needed

• Have an owner prepared to adjust work according to comfort

Many pleasure horses, retired horses, broodmares and lightly worked horses can remain comfortable barefoot. Some high-level performance horses can also work barefoot, but discipline alone does not determine suitability. Surface, speed, mileage and the individual hoof matter more.

Which Horses Need More Caution?

Horses With Thin Soles

A thin-soled horse has less protective horn between the distal phalanx and the ground. Removing the shoe and then aggressively trimming the sole may result in immediate pain, bruising or abscessation.

Radiographs can objectively assess sole depth, palmar angle and the relationship between the distal phalanx and hoof capsule. Positioning and beam centring affect these measurements, so radiographs should be taken and interpreted using a consistent veterinary technique. (Beva)

Horses Working on Abrasive Terrain

Roadwork, rocky trails and hard, dry ground can wear an unshod hoof faster than it grows.

A horse that remains comfortable in pasture may become footsore after several kilometres over stone. Suitability must be judged against the horse’s actual job, not how the hoof looks while standing in the paddock.

Horses Requiring Specialised Traction

Jumpers, eventers, endurance horses, carriage horses and horses working on slippery surfaces may need a level of traction that the bare hoof cannot consistently provide.

More traction is not always safer. Excessive grip can also increase stress on the limb. The required traction should be chosen for the discipline and footing rather than added indiscriminately.

Horses With Existing Foot Pain

A horse with navicular-region pain, bruising, pedal osteitis, white line disease, keratoma, hoof-wall defects or chronic abscessation requires a diagnosis before the shoes are removed.

Therapeutic shoes can change pressure distribution, heel support and breakover. Research confirms that different shoe designs produce different loading patterns, which is why removing a therapeutic shoe without understanding its purpose can make the horse worse. (Taylor & Francis Online)

Horses With Poor Hoof Horn

Brittle, crumbling or severely cracked walls may struggle to tolerate direct loading and wear.

Some horses can still transition using hoof boots or glue-on protection, but the underlying contributors should be investigated, including:

• An unbalanced diet

• Inadequate amino acids or energy

• Trace mineral imbalance

• Repeated wet-to-dry environmental changes

• Long trimming intervals

• Chronic laminitis

• White line disease

• Repeated nail damage

Can a Horse With Laminitis, EMS or PPID Go Barefoot?

Sometimes, but this needs careful interpretation.

A horse with equine metabolic syndrome or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is not automatically required to wear shoes forever. Some laminitic horses are managed without nailed shoes using deep bedding, boots, pads, casts, glue-on appliances or carefully designed trims.

However, active laminitis is not the time to pull shoes casually and see how the horse adapts.

The decision should be based on:

• The current degree of pain

• Digital pulse intensity

• Radiographic changes

• Sole depth

• Distal phalanx position

• Hoof-wall separation

• The mechanical support currently provided

• Whether the existing shoe is helping or worsening the horse

• The horse’s ability to tolerate the ground surface

Radiographs are commonly used to guide trimming and mechanical support in laminitic horses. Successful management depends on collaboration between the veterinarian, farrier and owner rather than choosing “shod” or “barefoot” as an ideological category. (Center for Equine Health)

How Should the Feet Be Assessed Before Removing Shoes?

A useful pre-transition assessment includes:

Examine the Horse Moving

Watch the horse:

• Walking in a straight line

• Turning tightly in both directions

• Walking over firm and soft ground

• Trotting where safe and appropriate

• Backing up

• Moving before and after the current shoes are removed

A horse that is already short-striding, reluctant to turn or uncomfortable on firm ground may have an existing foot problem that the shoes are masking or partially supporting.

Examine the Hoof Capsule

Assess:

• Toe length

• Heel position and height

• Medial-lateral balance

• Hoof-pastern alignment

• Wall cracks and flares

• Nail-hole damage

• White line width

• Frog health

• Sole concavity and apparent depth

• Previous growth rings

• Unequal hoof shape

• Evidence of excessive wear

Review the Horse’s Medical History

Important history includes:

• Previous laminitis

• Recurrent hoof abscesses

• Foot soreness after trimming

• Navicular-region pain

• EMS or PPID

• Previous tendon or ligament injury

• Changes in performance after shoeing

• A history of needing pads

• Long-standing uneven feet

Use Imaging When Needed

Radiographs are particularly useful when there is:

• Previous laminitis

• Recurrent unexplained foot pain

• Suspected thin soles

• A negative or abnormal palmar angle

• Major hoof-pastern mismatch

• Significant medial-lateral imbalance

• Long-standing low or underrun heels

• A need for substantial corrective trimming

External appearance alone does not always reveal what is happening inside the hoof capsule.

Should Shoes Be Removed Gradually?

There is no single scientifically proven removal sequence for every horse.

Some horses can have all four shoes removed at one appointment and remain completely comfortable. Others benefit from a staged approach.

Option 1: Remove All Four Shoes

This may be reasonable when the horse:

• Has strong feet

• Is sound on firm ground

• Is entering a period of reduced work

• Has access to forgiving footing

• Has hoof boots available

• Does not require therapeutic shoeing

Option 2: Remove the Hind Shoes First

A practical staged option is to remove the hind pair while temporarily retaining front protection.

After one or two trim cycles, the front feet can be reassessed. This is a management strategy rather than a universal requirement and should not be used when the hind shoes are serving an important therapeutic or traction purpose.

Option 3: Use Temporary Alternative Protection

The horse may transition from metal shoes to:

• Hoof boots

• Removable pads

• Glue-on shoes

• Composite shoes

• A temporary sole-support system

This can reduce the sudden difference between full shoe protection and direct ground contact.

Keep Left and Right Feet Matched

Do not deliberately remove the shoe from only one foot in a pair while leaving the opposite foot conventionally shod unless this is part of a specific veterinary or farriery treatment plan.

Unequal hoof height, weight and traction may alter movement and loading.

How Should the First Barefoot Trim Be Done?

The first trim should generally be conservative.

The goal is not to manufacture the final imagined hoof shape in one appointment. It is to remove excess wall, restore functional balance and preserve the protective structures the horse will immediately need.

Avoid:

• Aggressively thinning the sole

• Carving artificial concavity

• Removing large amounts of healthy frog

• Lowering the heels rapidly without understanding internal alignment

• Shortening the wall until the horse bears heavily on a sensitive sole

• Using the same trim formula on every horse

A 2025 study of 94 sound forefeet found that a single trim increased pressure in the frog region in a subset of feet and that the response varied with changes in hoof shape and between farriers. This reinforces why a transition trim should be individually planned rather than aggressively standardised. (Beva)

A Practical Barefoot Transition Plan

This is an example framework, not a compulsory timetable. Progress should be determined by comfort.

Before Shoe Removal

1. Arrange a farrier assessment.

2. Investigate existing lameness or hoof pain.

3. Choose a period with reduced competition or hard-surface work.

4. Prepare a clean, level turnout or exercise surface.

5. Fit hoof boots before they are urgently needed.

6. Record baseline photographs and movement videos.

7. Check digital pulses and learn what is normal for that horse.

Day 0

• Remove the selected pair or all four shoes.

• Perform a conservative trim.

• Check for nail damage, white line separation and sole bruising.

• Walk the horse over soft and firm ground.

• Compare turns in both directions.

• Apply boots or pads if the horse is immediately uncomfortable.

Days 1 to 7

Allow normal turnout when the horse is comfortable, but avoid forcing exercise over sharp stone or prolonged hard ground.

Monitor daily for:

• Shortened steps

• Reluctance to turn

• Increased digital pulses

• Hoof heat

• Chipping

• Sole bruising

• Reduced willingness to move

• Changes in behaviour when approaching hard ground

Weeks 2 to 3

If the horse remains comfortable:

• Begin short sessions on familiar, forgiving surfaces

• Use hoof boots for gravel or roadwork

• Increase duration gradually

• Recheck boot fit after each use

• Avoid adding speed and difficult terrain simultaneously

Weeks 4 to 6

Reassess:

• Hoof wear

• Wall chipping

• Frog and sole health

• Movement on firm ground

• Whether boots remain necessary

• Whether workload exceeds the hoof’s current tolerance

Schedule the next professional trim before the hoof becomes long or distorted.

Weeks 6 to 12

Gradually increase workload only if the horse remains sound.

Some horses are fully comfortable immediately. Others need protection for particular surfaces indefinitely. A horse does not need to perform every activity completely unprotected to be considered successfully barefoot.

How Much Soreness Is Normal?

A horse may become more cautious on sharp gravel after shoe removal, particularly if they have thin soles or have been fully protected for years.

However, significant pain is not a required part of adaptation.

Mild Sensitivity

The horse:

• Is comfortable in pasture

• Walks normally on soft footing

• Hesitates only over sharp gravel

• Improves when wearing hoof boots

• Has no increased digital pulses

Action: Protect the feet on difficult surfaces, reduce abrasive work and monitor closely.

Concerning Foot Soreness

The horse:

• Shortens the stride on ordinary firm ground

• Becomes reluctant to turn

• Shifts weight repeatedly

• Is unwilling to leave the stable

• Develops stronger digital pulses

• Is uncomfortable even on soft footing

• Continues worsening over several days

Action: Stop ridden work and arrange a farrier or veterinary assessment.

Significant Lameness Is Not “Toughening Up”

Do not continue exercising a painful horse in the belief that the sole must become tougher through repeated concussion.

Pain may indicate:

• Excessive trimming

• Thin soles

• Solar bruising

• A developing abscess

• Laminitis

• White line disease

• Deep thrush

• Palmar foot pain

• A penetrating foreign body

• An unrelated limb injury

A horse that improves immediately in boots has demonstrated that additional protection is needed. That information should be used, not ignored.

When Should Hoof Boots Be Used?

Hoof boots can be useful when the horse is comfortable during turnout but needs additional protection for:

• Rocky trails

• Roadwork

• Hard or frozen ground

• The first few weeks after shoe removal

• Rehabilitation walking

• Temporary protection after a lost shoe

• A specific medical support plan

Boots must fit the freshly trimmed hoof appropriately. A boot that rotates, rubs the heels or traps debris can create a new problem while solving the original one.

Check after use for:

• Heel or pastern rubbing

• Heat and moisture accumulation

• Debris inside the boot

• Rotation

• Sole pressure

• Changes in gait

• Damaged fastenings

Pads may be added under some boots when more sole or frog support is required, particularly in veterinary rehabilitation. The pad type and pressure distribution should be selected for the individual condition.

How Often Should a Barefoot Horse Be Trimmed?

Barefoot does not mean maintenance-free.

During transition, many horses benefit from trimming approximately every four to six weeks. Horses with rapid growth, distortion or significant imbalance may need shorter intervals.

Waiting until the wall is visibly overgrown can allow:

• Long toes

• Flares

• Chipping

• Uneven loading

• White line stretching

• Changes in breakover

• Recurrent post-trim soreness after a large correction

Research has shown that hoof conformation and centre of pressure change during longer shoeing intervals. University veterinary farriers increasingly advocate shorter four-to-five-week schedules for many horses rather than waiting for major hoof distortion to develop. (Beva)

The correct interval still depends on:

• Season

• Growth rate

• Terrain

• Workload

• Hoof quality

• Existing pathology

• How quickly the hoof loses balance

Can Diet Improve the Barefoot Transition?

Nutrition supports the horn that will grow in the future. It does not instantly transform the sole already touching the ground.

A suitable diet should provide:

• Adequate energy without creating obesity

• Sufficient quality protein

• Essential amino acids

• Balanced calcium and phosphorus

• Appropriate zinc and copper

• Vitamins and trace minerals

• Salt and clean water

A forage analysis and review of the full ration are often more useful than purchasing several overlapping hoof supplements. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Does Biotin Work?

Biotin can improve poor-quality hoof horn in some horses, but it is a long-term intervention.

Controlled research in horses with poor horn quality found improvement after approximately nine months of daily supplementation. The hoof wall grew at about 7 mm every 28 days and required roughly 11 months for full renewal. Another long-term study reported visible improvement after approximately eight to 15 months. (PubMed)

This means:

• A supplement will not correct soreness next week

• Improvement must grow down from the coronary band

• A balanced total diet remains essential

• More supplement is not automatically better

• Continuous supplementation may be required in horses that genuinely respond

How Long Does the Barefoot Transition Take?

There is no fixed transition period.

The horse’s immediate comfort can often be judged within the first few days, but changes in hoof shape and horn quality occur over several trim cycles.

A practical expectation is:

• Days to weeks: Determine whether the horse is comfortable on normal surfaces

• Four to twelve weeks: Assess wear, chipping, boot requirements and early trim response

• Several months: Evaluate changes in heel position, wall quality and work tolerance

• Approximately nine to twelve months: Allow most or all of the hoof wall to be replaced by new growth

A horse that remains markedly painful for weeks is not simply having a slow but healthy transition. The cause of the pain needs to be identified.

Barefoot Transition Risk Framework

Low Risk

The horse:

• Is sound

• Has good hoof wall and sole

• Works lightly on forgiving surfaces

• Has no history of laminitis or chronic foot pain

• Remains comfortable on firm ground

Action: Shoes may be removed with a conservative trim and routine monitoring.

Moderate Risk

The horse:

• Is mildly sensitive on stone

• Has some wall damage

• Works regularly on roads or trails

• Has been shod continuously for many years

• Has an uncertain sole depth

• Needs intermittent traction or protection

Action: Plan a reduced workload, have boots available and arrange an earlier recheck.

High Risk

The horse has:

• Thin soles

• Previous laminitis

• Known EMS or PPID with hoof changes

• Chronic palmar foot pain

• Significant hoof imbalance

• Recurrent abscesses

• A high-mileage workload

• Therapeutic shoes

• Immediate pain after shoe removal

Action: Use a veterinarian-farrier plan. Imaging, boots, pads, glue-on protection or continued shoeing may be required.

Critical

The horse has:

• Active laminitis

• Severe or rapidly worsening lameness

• A penetrating hoof injury

• Suspected distal phalanx instability

• A hoof-wall avulsion

• Severe infection

• Inability to bear weight

• A sole or coronary-band wound

Action: Seek urgent veterinary care. Do not treat this as a routine barefoot transition.

When Is This an Emergency?

Contact a veterinarian urgently if the horse develops:

• Sudden severe lameness

• Refusal to bear weight

• Strong or bounding digital pulses

• Marked hoof heat affecting multiple feet

• A rocked-back stance

• Reluctance to turn or walk

• Rapidly increasing swelling

• A nail or foreign body penetrating the sole

• Bleeding from the sole, frog or coronary band

• Fever or systemic illness

• Progressive pain after an apparently minor trim

While waiting:

1. Stop work.

2. Keep the horse on deep, supportive footing.

3. Do not force the horse to walk in circles.

4. Remove access to lush pasture and high-sugar feed if laminitis is suspected.

5. Do not dig into the sole looking for an abscess.

6. Do not repeatedly change the trim or support without veterinary direction.

7. Tell the veterinarian when the shoes were removed and exactly what was trimmed.

Common Mistakes When Taking a Horse Barefoot

Pulling Shoes Immediately Before an Important Event

The first test of barefoot comfort should not occur days before a competition, long trail ride or transport.

Performing an Aggressive “Corrective” First Trim

The hoof needs adequate wall and sole immediately after the shoe is removed. Large changes can make the horse painful before any adaptation has had time to occur.

Assuming Pain Is Part of the Process

Mild gravel sensitivity and significant lameness are not the same thing. Persistent pain requires protection and investigation.

Forcing the Horse Over Hard Ground

Movement is useful when the horse is comfortable. Forced concussion on a painful sole is not conditioning.

Waiting Too Long Between Trims

Barefoot feet can still become long, flared and imbalanced.

Buying Supplements Instead of Assessing the Diet

Horn quality improves through new growth over months. Supplements cannot compensate for poor trimming, active disease or a diet that is already unbalanced.

Treating Shoes as a Failure

A horse that requires shoes, boots, pads or another appliance is not less healthy or less natural. The welfare goal is comfort and function.

Ignoring the Original Reason the Horse Was Shod

Some horses wear shoes because of tradition. Others wear them because previous attempts without protection caused pain. Find out which situation applies before repeating the experiment.

How Can You Tell Whether the Transition Is Working?

A successful transition means the horse:

• Walks and turns normally

• Remains willing to move

• Maintains normal stride length

• Has no persistent digital pulse increase

• Experiences manageable hoof wear

• Does not repeatedly bruise or abscess

• Can perform the intended work comfortably, with or without boots

• Develops a stable hoof shape over successive trims

Take photographs after each trim from:

• The front

• Each side

• The sole

• The heel

Also record:

• Trim date

• Workload

• Surfaces used

• Whether boots were worn

• Chipping or cracking

• Episodes of tenderness

• Digital pulse changes

• Lameness

• Farrier and veterinary observations

The most useful measure is not whether the hoof looks impressively “natural.” It is whether the horse remains comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I remove all four shoes at once?

Some sound horses can have all four removed at the same appointment. A staged approach, such as removing the hind pair first, may be easier to manage in other horses. The choice should reflect hoof quality, workload and why each pair is currently shod.

Can a competition horse be barefoot?

Yes, some competition horses perform successfully without fixed shoes. Others require protection or traction because of their discipline, speed, terrain or individual feet. Performance level alone does not determine the answer.

Can a laminitic horse be barefoot?

Yes, some laminitic horses are managed without nailed shoes. However, they usually still need carefully designed mechanical support using bedding, pads, boots, casts, glue-on appliances or therapeutic trimming. Active laminitis requires veterinary and farrier supervision.

Is it normal for a horse to be sore after the shoes are removed?

Mild sensitivity on sharp stones can occur. Lameness on ordinary firm ground, discomfort on soft footing, stronger digital pulses or worsening pain is not an acceptable transition and requires reassessment.

How long should I try barefoot before putting shoes back on?

Do not use an arbitrary deadline. If the horse is painful, protect the foot immediately and investigate why. If the horse is comfortable in boots but not without them, boots may remain part of the long-term plan. Shoes can be reapplied whenever they offer the best protection, traction or mechanics.

Final Thoughts

Transitioning from shoes to barefoot can be beneficial for the right horse, but the goal is not simply to remove metal.

The goal is to create a hoof-management system in which growth, wear, trimming, protection, workload and terrain remain in balance.

A sound horse with adequate sole, good horn and a manageable workload may adapt quickly. A horse with thin soles, previous laminitis, chronic foot pain or demanding work may require boots, alternative protection or continued shoeing.

The most important rule is simple:

Barefoot should make the horse no less comfortable than they were before.

If the horse becomes painful, do not force the process. Reassess the trim, surface, workload and underlying foot health. Sometimes the best barefoot plan includes boots. Sometimes the best hoof-care plan includes shoes.

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ASK A VET™ can help you organise hoof photographs, trimming dates, lameness observations, digital pulse changes and veterinary records while you assess whether a barefoot transition is working safely.