So you've just had your horse's shoes taken off- well done! Here's some important things to be careful of while your horse adapts all the new stimuli getting to his feet:
1) Be patient. Your horse's feet have been protected by metal or plastic shoes for many years and need a chance to adapt to the new stimuli and wear they will be getting from the ground surface. Try and keep the work easy (this depends on the hoof health and you should ask your hoof professional for advice here) and on something cushioned like a sand school. If you're a bit impatient or worried about your horse losing fitness, you may wish to purchase hoof boots so you are able to get out and about hacking sooner.
2) Closely monitor the hooves for the first few weeks and contact your hoof care professional if you are worried about anything (especially raised pulses and heat). Occasionally feet can experience a re perfusion injury when the shoes are removed (especially if shod for a long time or very tightly)- this results from a compression of the circumflex artery of the pedal bone- and is akin to your arm 'falling asleep'... you know the feeling when you shake your arm out and get pain and pins and needles? This is what your horse is experiencing, and it will pass with no ill effects. This being said, things can go wrong if too much stimulus is added too quickly (especially if the feet are very unhealthy), and occasionally the horse may experience an abscess or corn if too much is done too soon. It is always best to seek advice from a professional who has experience in transitioning horses to barefoot.
3) Because your horse does not have the protection of a shoe 24/7, you will be able to see when he is slightly sore or footy. Believe it or not, this is a good thing! Because you can see every slight change in the hoof health as and when it happens, you can change and modify things accordingly to stop any problems as they start. You will also become a sort of hoof geek- I'm afraid. Remember, the patterns you see of soreness, etc were likely there before too, you just couldn't see them. The important thing is to record the details of when he is footy and try to establish a pattern (ie, grass flush causes soreness) and work with your hoof care professional to eliminate the source of the soreness, nit merely mask it. In the meantime, a good pair of boots/pads will keep him comfortable for work.
4) Bare feet are kinder to your fields, and to other horses and people (if kicked)- but handle differently on the wet and especially on jumps- take it easy at first and allow time for you and your horse to get used to how to handle these obstacles with his new feet. Usually there is always a bit of extra slip with bare feet, but don't worry- provided your horse is happy handling his feet he won't fall, and if you want the extra grip I recommend the Renegade boots with studs for things like cross country.
5) The hoof growth should catch up with your workload in about 6-9 months, but in the meantime keep an eye on the amount of foot left- especially if you do a lot of roadwork. If you need extra length, speak to your hoof care professional or use a pair of boots to protect the foot from wear.
6) Don't worry if you don't see dramatic changes immediately. remember that a healthy foot has to grow from the inside out, and not merely trimmed into shape- allow some time for the new growth to occur.
7) Find some fun activities to do regardless of what level of activity your horse is up to at the moment- even if you can only walk in-hand at the moment, take the opportunity to go on some nice walks and just enjoy being with your horse- your relationship will improve as well as the feet!
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