Barefoot Performers

Joy Kitchener's horses, Sudbury

Symphony of Fire (Sam, 1990 - 2009)
Our beloved Sam came to us as a very serious rescue at age 11. He was a 16.2 hand sorrel thoroughbred purchased off the track who then suffered abuse with his jumping training. He was skeletal and covered with welts on his hind quarters. We adopted Sam and he grew to trust again. He was a marvelous character, verbal and hilarious. He taught us so much. Sam had one hoof smaller than the other in the front and he had shoes in the summer only. We stopped shoeing Sam and he transitioned without incident. He was very thin soled as xrays showed clearly however we began the barefoot trim before it was too late. He grew healthy hooves which were almost the same size and his shoulder movement was larger than life. He was our clown. He movement was large and lovely. Sadly Sam suffered neurological damage most likely a long term effect from the drugs given to him on the track. During his 19th year we were faced with the decision to euthanize Sam in a peaceful green pasture and send him to his maker in a loving manner.

Sophie's Promise
Sophie came into our herd two years ago when she was 3 or 4. She is a large pony 14.2 hands who is part Clyde and part we think perhaps Canadian. She is a light bay with healthy draft hooves which have never been shod. Her hooves were long, untrimmed and cracked when she came to us, however, they are what some horses only dream of today. They are strong, have concavity with large healthy frogs. Sophie began some Dressage training last summer for only five weeks (winning Reserve Champion!) followed by lots of trail riding all winter. This spring Sophie has already spent 11 days schooling with Eddo Hoekstra. She will continue to trail ride along with her dressage schooling. We are hoping for her to return to Eddo's in the fall. Eventually we would like her to learn to drive. My plan is to grow old with Sophie. She is one smart darling of a horse. Very sweet girl.

Papillon
We leased Papillon a couple years ago for dressage. Papillon was always without shoes with beautifully strong and healthy hooves. She is full of character who did well with her dressage. A year later she was sold to a person on Canada's East Coast as a vaulting prospect.

Robinson
Robin was adopted at 14 years old into our family as a horse for our daughter who thought she was interested in jumping. As it turned out, neither Robin or Lauren were jumpers and instead focused on Dressage. For the first few years of our partnership Robin wore shoes on his front hooves during the summer months only. Lauren and Robin progressed to the Ontario Provincials placing fourth overall two years in a row when Robin was 17 and 18. Of course a few days before a show he would lose a shoe and I, as the mother would have to scramble to have it replaced. We decided to ride the show season barefoot. He did not require shoes in winter so we could not understand the requirement during the summer. His hooves although had contracted heels (due to the shoes) were sound. He was fine. He was better than fine. His shoulders relaxed and improved in their movement. His heels did eventually decontract. Today Robin is 23 years old, a very handsome and healthy horse.

Heritage Dancer (Raz)
17 hand Thoroughbred adopted at 17 years old as a gentlemanly jumper. He wore 4 shoes. Two years later we removed his back shoes without much incident followed by his front shoes a couple months later. His walls had no integrity and were crumbling. Even if we wanted to put shoes on him there was nothing to nail the shoe to. The black bacteria one would normally have to scrape out dripped from his hooves and he had very thin soles. Poor Raz. We soaked him, purchased Easy Boots for him and let him walk on soft ground. His soles were so thin one hoof actually cracked in front of his frog and the inside of his hooves were bulging out. Thankfully Kate invited him to roam on her acreage. He hobbled out in the field with the herd and befriended another horse in recovery. Raz stayed with Kate for the better part of a year during which time he did grow sole, some walls and was able to move about in comfort. It was a long transition for him which included abscessing, however our brave and gentlemanly Raz did grow to be be completely sound. He is 24 years old, sound, handsome and loves to be ridden. He enjoys a soak of warm water, epson salts and tea tree regularly.