DAE get more requests for barefoot trimming from urban horse owners?

Lately, a bunch of my clients in the city have been asking to take off shoes and go barefoot. They say it's because of blogs and podcasts talking about natural hoof health. I mostly work with horses that do trail rides or light arena work, so I see where they're coming from. But some of these horses have been shod for years, and their soles are thin. I'm worried about making the switch too fast and causing soreness. What's the best way to ease a horse into barefoot if they're used to shoes? Do you use any special hoof hardeners or supplements? I want to help these owners but also keep the horses comfortable. Any tips from folks who've handled this change would be great.

3 comments

3 Comments

black.val1mo ago

Yeah all the blogs and podcasts thing is so real. I mean, it's like how everyone suddenly got into sourdough because some influencer said to. Maybe it's just me but people get really into a trend before thinking it through.

charles76625d ago

Got burned on crypto myself. Now I just wait to see if a trend lasts more than a month.

dylan_smith361mo ago

It's wild how quickly these things catch on. Remember when everyone was buying air fryers or trying to learn calligraphy overnight? Or that time crypto blew up and people invested without knowing the first thing about it. People see something shiny and new, and they dive in headfirst without checking if the water's deep enough. Then you end up with a bunch of unused gear or half-baked projects when the hype dies down. It's like a cycle of excitement and regret that keeps repeating.