Nell's boots arrived but turns out they were too big. Having ordered two pairs of size 6, I tried them on her and had to send them back for a pair of size 5 and a pair of size 4. The new ones fit much better and she wore them for the first time in the field. Friday evening was the first maiden ride with them on and they worked briliantly. She has a memory of being footsore so hesitated before she got to rocky ground then stepped out to discover nothing hurt. They do look oversized on her large hooves with her skinny legs but as long as she's happy I'm happy. The next horse I have (if good fortune allows) will certainly be barefoot from the start.
So onto a related topic... How natural can you keep a horse? Well barefoot is a start but with the world being increasingly paved with un-natural substances it isn't always possible. But thats what hoof boots are made for. A quality boot lasts 6x longer on average than shoes. Yes, you must still trim and file but depending on your farrier's prices this may still work out a lot cheaper. Tony charges £50 for a set of shoes but he's an old farrier and coming up to retirement and we are doubtful that we will find another farrier that charges so cheaply. The local farriery company charges £75 for a set of standard shoes and a rediculous £90 for a horse of Rocky's size! Boots are certainly cheaper than that.
Turnout of course is essential to natural horses. Rugging is not being weak. I think even wild horses appreciate shelter from wind and rain and unless your horse is a mustang or a very hairy british native there is no reason to deprive your horse of a rug. Bringing your horse into a stable or shelter is also preferrable for most horses when the weather is foul. Stabling them all the time with only a little turnout is not natural though. It leads to steriotypical behaviour and hyperactivity when you come to work them. If lots of turnout is not possible at your yard you should either think about moving or ensure your horse is being thoroughly exercised when it is allowed out. Work them thoroughly once a day or a couple of times a day if possible. If you have a whole day free, make it worth both your whiles and go out for the day. Pack up a lunch and go for a long walk together. Allowing your horse to eat from the hedge or when you stop won't hurt either as they are designed to forage on the move.
Bits, bridles, saddles, martingales, tie downs, boots... Nothing is natural about them. It's not plausable to ask everyone to ride bareback and bridleless though and in most of the UK it is illegal to ride a horse on the road without a bit. That doesn't mean you need a huge contraption in it's mouth with draw reins and various other *magik kool aid* gear on your horse. All our horses are in a pelham. Tralee has been in a pelham since he started hunting and it feels comfy in his mouth. We did have him in a snaffle for a while but he spent a lot of time champing it and tossing his head so we put him back in his pelham which he goes softly in. Rocky started in a jointed snaffle which just banged the roof of his mouth causing him to lift his head at every downward transition. We got him a thick half-twist straight bar snaffle which he went better in but still had a habit of tanking in when he got panicked. He was changed to a pelham which not only gives emma some brakes if he has a spacky moment but is starting to produce quite a different outline in him. Nell was in a pelham when we bought her and was rather hard-mouthed. She is still in her pelham so I have stopping power if I need it but because she is neck reined the effect is nicer in her mouth than any jointed bit. The moral of this is that something is only as harsh as you make it and that small changes can make a difference in time. Horses live a long time so there is no point trying to rush them with gimick training aids.
As well as minimal gear you should be riding with minimal movement. Don't crank on your horses' face or flump around in the saddle. Get some lessons or if you can't afford them, try mucking out for some or ask a friend who can ride well to give you some tips. If you choose the latter though take their word with a pinch of salt. Not everyone who can ride well does so with respect for their horses well being. Riding bareback is a fantastic way to improve balance. If you are hard handed or are balancing on your horse's mouth you need to have your reins taken away. Either have someone lunge you on a reliable horse or slowly increase the length of your rein every time you ride so you are not so reliant on the horse to balance. I have been teaching my friend Kathryn to ride and the first thing I told her was not to balance on Rocky's mouth. I said she could use the pommel or even a handful of mane but the rule was that the rein should always have some slack in it.
I am by no means perfect - no one is - but I intend to improve for my horses' benefit. I have very soft hands to a fault where my instructor used to dispair of my long reins despite the mare going well for me. My seat needs to improve though and my forward posture gives me a bad back nearly every ride. I need to improve my balance bareback and because no horse should have to put up with a heavy, unfit rider, I must get in better shape. No one is perfect but for your horse's benefit you should try to be as close to it as possible.
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