[stainlessbanner]

I keep mine "barefeeted" for the most part. Last one foundered and we corrected it with shoes by putting pressure on the other side of his hoof. He recovered just fine and threw those shoes in no time! Back to barefoot, now. I'm in mostly soft sand and grass - not many rocks and gravel.

I trim mine every 5-6 weeks. A good farrier is so hard to find, though.

[HairOfTheDog]

How did your horse founder? Was he on grass? I am in a constant quandry about pasture management, how much pasture is too much, and always wanting that special balance where there is enough roughage out there to not have to feed hay, but yet not so much that they founder. I only have about a 4 acres pasture, and most of the time it is overgrazed and I have to feed. But right now I have them blocked out of it so it can grow, and I am wondering exactly when to let them in there.

I feel safest when there isn't pasture and I feed only hay, but it would sure be nice to be able to not feed hay and leave them out in summer.