How can you safely shift a horse from near-daily exercise to a life of leisure, even if temporary?
Appropriate nutrition is a key consideration during this transition.
Without the demands of training your horse will require much less energy than they were previously consuming but will still need the same basic nutrients.
Gradually switch to a balancer pellet, lower energy feed, or a vitamin and mineral supplement. This will supply essential nutrients without the calories found in a concentrated feed.
Still, provide ...
Hay if pasture levels are low and always provide free-choice access to water and salt. Continue to give your horse dietary supplements they are accustomed to, such as hoof and joint products, but check ingredients to avoid over-supplementation when feeding more than one product.
Management
Even though your horse is not in work, they still need daily attention. A light grooming gives you a chance to find and treat injuries or skin conditions like rain scald or remove bot eggs.
Fly masks and grazing muzzles should be removed at least once a day to check for rubbed areas. A regular schedule of deworming, vaccinations, and dental care should be followed just as though the horse were still in training.
Barefoot Hoofcare Tips
Horses that are newly barefoot may be tender for a few weeks until their soles begin to toughen .
Turn out your horse on grass or sand if possible, rather than hard ground.
Make sure the horse is in with friendly companions to avoid forcing them to run or kick to defend themselves.
Horses that have therapeutic shoeing for navicular syndrome, laminitis, or other hoof problems may need to remain shod.
Hoof shape will change without the support of a shoe. These changes are normal, and unless excessive, are nothing to worry about.
These include: Spreading of the heel. Flaring in the quarters. Chipping at the toe and sides of the hoof.
Check your horse’s diet
Before changing feeds, get your horse’s diet checked over by a Barastoc Nutritionist for free to ensure all their needs are being met. Visit barastochorse. com.au/diet-request
Inspect your horses hooves
Hooves should be inspected and picked daily regardless of if they are shod or barefoot, and the schedule of farrier visits should be maintained.