Thank you so much for your info, I will definately try this,when we first noticed the chips my husband said it looked like it could be from the nails being pulled.

no prob!! Just make sure that whoever trims your horse shapes the toe, that will prevent the nail holes from getting snagged on anything and making them chip/tear worse.
good luck!!!
and if you need additional info, check out abchoofcare.com that is where my school was.

Palamino;

That sounds like you have a solid grasp on going shoeless. And I do agree that the transition to shoeless is like most other things.

Getting the foundation principles right and then letting the Natural structure of the hoof start to take effect.

But a hoof supplement wouldn't hurt. It is sometimes assumed that because the horse had that extra "support" holding the hoof in restriction that once it is "released" an expansion takes place and a little crack or chip does occur.

I am not at all saying I know much about natural hoof. But just what I have read and experienced.

Just my two cents, take advice from someone with a good track record and references.

Spud

Hi Spud!!

I totally agree on a good supplement- sound nutrition is a key part of growing a healthy hoof. I think that there are a few key ingredients you should look for in any supplement, and not just for hoof health- I like the Source supplement primarily for hooves, and making sure they have good amounts of selenium and vitamin e is good also. I like Horse Guard- pretty good all around supplement. Im sure there are alot of good ones I havent even HEARD of yet! Seems like every day they come out with something pretty interesting for our horses. Are you barefoot, spud?

"Usually when a farrier will pull shoes, he wont bother to rasp down the nail holes, even the wall, or even make the heels even."----Not causin' a ruckus here, now..but I try real hard not to generalize anyone into a big group of "know it alls" or "don't know nothin's". Any farrier worth his or her salt that's been to school and does the job full time can and will trim properly no matter what the circumstance (utilizing all tools necessary-including rasping, rounding, balancing, and pulling back the heels when needed). I admit that there's hacks out there aplenty in the farrier business, but so to are there those who can be classified just the same in regard to barefoot trimmers. Please don't make such a biased, generalized statement that places farriers (in general) in a negative light (it really isn't true or fair). Remember that there's room for both good barefoot trimmers and good farriers in this world. (before the mass influx of advertised barefoot trimmers, it was afterall, the good farriers out there that trimmed, filed, and balanced non-shod hooves for a very long time). A good farrier will see a hoof that's fine w/out shoes and tell ya, "That foot's healthy so we'll just leave it bare and balance it up", and a good farrier will pull shoes, attend to the hoof's nail holes, and rasp and balance accordingly...just the same as a barefoot trimmer would do. There's good and bad in all walks of life--I've been researching for nigh on a year now (both sides) and have noticed bad blood between some barefooters and farriers because of such generalized statements like the one I put in quotes here...there's no need for anyone to go around insinuating one's better than the other (no matter how subtle an insinuation may be). I've had a barefoot trimmer on my Perch to begin with...then I moved him to a boarding stable and he's got a farrier now. Both have done excellent jobs balancing him and upkeeping his hooves. Both are educated and experienced. Both agreed, for now, barefoot is best for him. But I've seen enough farriers to know that (the ones I've seen) DO use the rasp where they should, DO address the walls, and DO even the heels--just the same as a barefoot trimmer would. As a client, on a personal note, I would just like to see the day when the bad blood stops between these two types of professionals b/c when you strip it down to brass tacks-if you're doing your job right (no matter if you're a trimmer or a farrier) and your job is to trim a bare hoof-that bare hoof better be all it can be (like the Army I have not seen a difference in the end result betwen the barefoot trimmer and the farrier---out of each of them were results of 4 great, healthy, rock-crushing, very large and in charge Percheron hooves. So, why the bad blood? Why the war of the words between farriers and barefoot trimmers? What causes one side to make obviously erroneous generalizations about the other side? As a client, I just hope to someday see that stop. (thanks for lettin' me get if off my chest) Oh, by the way- I have so much respect for anyone making a living under a horse like trimmers/farriers....they are my heroes!

Not all horses need shoes and not all horses can go barefoot. If your interested in the natural balance look up non bias information site thehorse.com is one of them. The theory with that is based on a study and trial on mustangs. And yes it works great on them. Their natural hoof shape,size,circumfrence,dimensions,thickness,stren gths. Problem is most of us don't own mustangs, we have some breed that slightly resembles what it should be, because someone want to tweek it a little, a few times around. Having a barefoot horse is great, but knowing how and when to shoe is even better.Not that you should try to do it, but at least know the difference between good/bad. Education never hurt anyone and the more you know the more $ you save. Also just because John Doe has been a blacksmith/farrier for 30+ years doesn't mean he was ever a good one.

And remember Not all Vets got straight A's either (and that doesn't make him/her a BAD vet). Just going for perspective here!