Posted by Patty Stiller on November 15, 2003 at 12:56:23:
In Reply to: Re: Trying barefoot posted by Mae on November 13, 2003 at 15:25:00:
:
: Thanks Patty,
: He lives outdoors 12/7,in an acre to 1.5 acre pasture with acces to his stall, he has good quality feet with good walls and a thick sole,and good internal structure, and I ride in the same environment he lives in.
: This is why I'm trying it. He's doing fine with his hind feet bare (the hind shoes have been off for 2 weeks now). No noticable difference in gaits, on pavement and trails and in an arena. I'll be taking the front shoes off next month. If nothing else, to give his feet a breather.
: If he does come up with a bruise or abcess (obviously I would take steps to correct that) - what is the best product and/or way to take care of this?
If you want to harden the soles intialy to help prevent a bruise, try just plain 7% iodine, painted on the soles every day for a few days. Or use a commercial racetrack 'sole freeze'. These freezes are a caustic combination of iodine, potasioum iodide and sometimes formaldehyde or carbolic acid.
I wouldnlt worry about an anscess unless you get one, and if so then there is plenty of information here about treating them.
Be sure to leave ALL the old dead layers of sole on the foot initially, when the shoes are pulled. Just have the hoofwall rounded off so it doesn't break too bad. The dead stuff can flake off gradually as the sole underneath it toughens. A light trim a few weeks later is usually OK after the foot has had time to adapt.
Best of luck, Patty