An Interview With Tomas Teskey D.V.M.

March 2, 2007

                                          First, the easy stuff… your full name, company or business,                                                         town/state, and years of barefoot experience.

                                Tomas G. Teskey D.V.M. Large Animal Veterinary Medicine and Surgery,                                    Mayer, AZ, Graduated 1995 Colorado State University...equine podiatry                                   specialty since 1999.

1. What is the greatest difference you see in the barefoot ‘movement’ of today compared to when you first started? Do you see the trend growing in popularity and if so, why? What’s changed in our horse society that is making it more receptive now?

Recently, more people are venturing in to natural hoof care purposefully, as an active choice, rather than a choice of desperation, trying to save their lame horse as a “last ditch” effort. The popularity of natural hoof care is growing exponentially...I tell you, you tell two people, they tell four, they tell sixteen... It’s growing in this fashion because it is exciting and truthful—there is no way to dismiss how much more healthy the horses are because of it. It speaks loud and clear for itself...there are so many horse people leading by example now that you can’t escape being exposed at every turn...that’s the nature of the truth...it survives at every opportunity. Folks are taking part in a medical revolution, both in human and animal venues. To question the men and women in “the white coats” is not only becoming commonplace, it’s essential and life-saving. Western medical and veterinary medical practices are being called to the table and closely scrutinized because they are rooted in symptomatic and pharmaceutical treatments of disease, and rightly so! We will look back in horror (and all ready do in many circumstances) at the casualties fallen victim to Western medical practices. The human and veterinary medical scene will continue to turn to more holistic and naturopathic applications, simply because preventing disease is infinitely more satisfying, honest and humane than pushing pills and cutting upon the flesh.

2. What are the benefits of barefoot to the riding horse? To the driving horse?

Barefoot hoof care is more appropriately discussed in the realm of natural horsemanship. To specifically discuss the bare hoof is unproductive in the largest sense, because this is only one piece of the puzzle in attempting to attain an honestly sound and healthy equine. Keeping these animals too tightly confined, solitary, shod, or on poor footing is inappropriate and unacceptable. The benefits of keeping horses and all domestic animals in as natural an environment as possible, as well as providing appropriate nutrition, are limitless, regardless of one’s chosen sport. Most folks have little idea what their horse or other equine is really capable of. They are pure athletes at their core, and the only way to tap in to that potential is to respect their nature...their genetic inheritance. To ignore or disrespect their nature can only lead to loss of vitality, disease, premature aging and death.

A horseman’s or horsewoman’s chosen equine sport is inconsequential with respect to whether natural hoof care and natural horsemanship is beneficial. All equine sports utilize equines, and none of the equine sports are performed at a higher level with an animal that is handled inappropriately. Ignorance of proper equine handling and hoof care provides no consolation. The responsibilities for appropriate care fall to anyone with an equine, whether it’s a $50 donkey or a million dollar trotter.

3. Are ‘natural trim’ and ‘barefoot’ synonymous?

No. A sound horse is not achieved through natural trimming, and a horse kept without steel shoes is not necessarily sound. Forget about the hoof for a moment—realize that the people in the world with the soundest horses rarely even stare at or pick up the hooves.

4. How soon after going from shod to barefoot can an owner expect to see a change in how their horse goes? Are there stages to this transition – i.e. from sore, to sound, to better?

The changes will be immediate. Everything affects a horse and their way of going. Of interest is how many horses I successfully treat for lameness without ever touching them—the only change made is in their diet. There are hundreds of examples running through my head of horses made more comfortable through simple diet change. The point is, it’s not the pulling of shoes or the trimming of hooves that is important, it’s the horsemanship and dedication to the nature of the animal that is.

Most equines moving to appropriate hoof care can be expected to improve their overall hoof and body health within a number of short weeks. Longer than this indicates inattention to important pieces of the puzzle, or in rarer instances, damage so severe that recovery is challenging at best, or impossible at worst. Of ultimate concern to many folks I counsel is what level of performance to expect. Again, most people aren’t aware of how athletic their equines can be, thus their expectations are often not as lofty as they could be. Ultimately, nearly all horses I have a hand in helping to rehabilitate far exceed their human’s expectations for performance in a matter of one short year...the grinning faces go on for miles.

Here’s the sobering truth: confinement, shoeing and overfeeding/underfeeding understandably can and DO cause irreparable damage to horses, especially long term damage when the animal is young and subjected to such abuses.

5. Briefly, how would you address such arguments against going barefoot as:

  *The ground in Massachusetts/New England is too rocky.

*My horse… goes lame without shoes, needs special shoes, has thin/brittle hooves, or is ‘ouchy’ even with shoes.

*Unlike wild horses, my horse carries a rider’s weight and thus needs shoes.

The hoof responds to pressure from the environment, both physical and nutritional. The right amount of pressure is that achieved from the exact ground in which the animal is expected to perform. If you expect your mule to perform flawlessly in pole bending in the arena, then housing this mule in the arena will do just fine. If you expect, on Sundays, to ride this mule over the Alps or Rocky Mountains, you’ll likely run in to some logistical problems, with the mule’s hooves, body and mind.

Unhealthy hooves are simply an indicator of an unhealthy animal, whether equine, bovine or any other hoofed critter. Applying steel plates to such unhealthy hooves adds insult to injury in every case (other than deceased cadaver limbs for historical demonstration.) Horses become accustomed to the work we demand in domesticated settings, include the added weight of our tack and body. Added weight up to 25% of the animal’s own weight is easily accomplished with conditioning; many times considerably more weight can be handled. Of much more critical importance is not subjecting young animals (younger than four to five years old) to weight on their undeveloped backs and frames, and ensuring that one’s tack is as properly fitted as possible. Nearly all western saddles, for example, are injurious to a horse’s back—such is the bane of many horses’ existence, not the weight of their rider. Besides, added weight or added performance, increased distances, or higher frequency of work simply demands even more that the entire animal, including the hooves, be as healthy as possible, which means being “barefoot”. Application of shoes, as we know, poses as the proverbial “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, covers up existing problems, and inevitably damages the horses’ entire body rather than aiding in accomplishing their work.

6. Natural hoof care references the wild horse hoof as the standard to emulate, but is the wild hoof always the ‘healthiest’ example?

Of great interest to me in the past five years is how much MORE capable my horses’ hooves and bodies are compared to feral horses’. I demand more of my horses than is required of feral mustangs, thus their bodies become more highly conditioned, callused and capable. Granted, my horses have the ideal environment of hundreds of acres to subsist upon, but the point is that our domestics can, and DO, become more athletic than their feral cousins. Another striking example is the impressive mileages covered by Arabian horses during competitive endurance rides in the American West (over the same terrain where the mustangs live). Covering 100 miles in sixteen hours, barefoot, is commonplace, with hooves looking like they could use a trim and horses looking like they’re ready for another 100 miles afterwards. One begins to appreciate the athlete the horse is when witnessing such “unbelievable” achievements.

The healthiest examples of hooves in the world can be found WHEREVER you live. Seek out and study the horses in your area that are “self-trimming” and successful in their sport. They are out there if you look for them. These are the horses you want to emulate. Take note of their body condition, hoof characteristics, nutritional program and housing, and seek to impart this to your animals’ lives. This is precisely why dictating specific characteristics, measurements, diets and general lifestyles for “The Horse” is unproductive and unrewarding. Horses can and do live successfully on every continent—seek out the healthy examples in your neighborhood and note well.

7. What role does modern equine nutrition/supplementation play in building a healthy hoof compared to wild forebears?

Most areas of the earth differ in geography and soils, weather, and available forages. Find out what is excessive and deficient in your part of the world and strive to bring balanced nutrition to your animals. My part of the American West is deficient in selenium, copper, phosphorus and vitamin A, so my vitamin/mineral supplementation is geared to provide extra amounts of these nutrients. The closer your nutritional program is to providing what we are learning our equine domestics need, the healthier they will be. This is obviously a critical piece of the puzzle needed to complete the picture of optimum horse health. I suspect we will further push the athletic potential of our animals in this regard—continued research in this area is critical, with all involved parties benefiting—along with this knowledge will come added responsibility to our horses.

8. What common lameness or hoof quality issues seem to improve with going barefoot? Is there medical evidence to support these outcomes? Should an owner work together with a veterinarian and a barefoot practitioner to address unsoundness issues?

Every aspect of equine health improves if we respect the nature of these animals—this is a simple cause and effect that you can take to the bank. The scientific, empirical evidence supporting genuine horse and hoof care builds exponentially along with these numbers of horses making the change to better health. To partake in “controlled experiments” is unnecessary and injurious to horses, though the “lack of controlled experimentation” of barefooted versus shod horses is often trumpeted by the protectors of tradition. In fact, elementary empirical (observational) data is the most important and most widely used form of science employed in basic research, not only today but since the beginning of all time.

The better I do my job of educating equine lovers in the world, the faster I’ll be out of a job! This information is NOT the sole territory of farriers or veterinarians or trainers...it is the realm of horse aficionados everywhere and it is elementary to understand.

Occasional animals will greatly benefit from close cooperation between your veterinarian and hoof care provider, as long as they are privy to the basics of natural horsemanship and hoof care, but be assured that the power to heal lies within each horse—you simply need to provide those basic ingredients which allow this power to transform disease in to healthy performance.

9. How can barefoot increase performance?

A horse is connected to the earth through their hooves. To successfully play and work on the earth requires sound hooves at a “basic” level. Remember, the soundest horses on the earth don’t worry about whether their hooves are too long or too short—it’s a non-issue if they are fortunate enough to be handled appropriately. Their human caregivers likewise aren’t concerned with specifics surrounding the hooves—they simply go to work like they have for generations. These horses are more vital from their very core: better endurance, faster, unsurpassed agility and traction...you’ll see the smiles of happy horsemen and women from miles away, stemming from the extra energy their horses have to offer.

10. What about clip-on boots? When should they be worn? What are their benefits? Limitations? Can they handle snow or ice?

Boots are the most appropriate option for the distinguishing horse person when added hoof protection is desired. They complement the functions of the hoof rather than antagonizing it—this is the bottom line. Your horses can perform on their own feet in that environment in which they live. Simple judgment is needed when you decide to spend time outside of this environment with your horse—it’s as straightforward as deciding on your own footwear on a daily basis—you can perform better or worse in a certain environment or with certain tasks versus others with the right shoes, and taking those shoes OFF and ON back at camp is always the norm. Boots with foam pads inserted are wonderful for getting sore-footed horses more comfortable. It's important to break the cycle of pain so healing can really take off-a more comfortable horse simply moves around more, and more movement breathes life in to lame horses like Bute never could. Truly, so many horses are lame in the first place simply due to lack of movement, so turning this pattern around is at the heart of honest treatment. Proper fitting of boots is essential to prevent loss or slippage, and takes a little practice. Special tread patterns on boots are becoming available, and even metal studs can be used to improve traction on ice. Riding in treacherous conditions demands extra care; realize that your horse wouldn't willingly choose a certain path if given a choice, and forcing them to go a certain way can lead to tense encounters! As time goes on, proper hoof protection will meet the demand of these educated owners that know what their animals need. Hoof protection in the form of boots is improving in regards to better retention and traction and improved comfort. Differences in terrain and conditions are becoming less and less of a consideration. All it takes is good old human ingenuity to ensure that your horses are protected rather than harmed—don’t be afraid to exercise your best judgment, and listen to your horses, as they still haven’t figured out how to lie.

11. Realistically, is there any hoof, lameness, or mobility issue that does not seem to benefit from barefoot?

Addressing any ill-health issue concerning an animal will always benefit from practices that complement that animals’ nature. Those animals that fail to regain their lost vitality are those that have been injured in the extreme by management schemes that are disrespectful of that animals’ nature and lack basic sensibility. What is sensible today is always greater than what was sensible yesterday, because we are constantly learning about the animals. Keeping up with the times takes an active effort, but the rewards are terrific.

12. Can natural trimmers and horse shoers find common ground? What positive lessons about hoofcare have you learned from shoers in your life?

The only common ground necessary across all brands of horse men and women is an interest in the animals. Realize it is perfectly normal and expected for tensions to mount and be the fiercest before real change occurs. Tension is the driving force behind change, and change is the only inevitable thing you can count on. Absolutely every single encounter with farriers and other traditional horse folks has led to a deeper understanding of the horse—thus is the nature of the truth—it is self-perpetuating and is tested true by only one of the interested parties...the horse. For these tense encounters I can only hold the critics in the highest esteem.

13. What has been the most rewarding part for you about choosing this approach/philosophy to horse hoof care?

Those smiles you can see from miles away, and those horses that are healthy despite the predictions of doom and gloom given them...the added energy infused in to the world by these people and animals gives me the much needed energy and interest to forge ahead.

14. Is there anything I am overlooking asking that you would like to add?

Often times I recommend we should sit next to our horses, go inside ourselves, and carefully listen to the sounds all around. The common sense beauty of all this discussion is often blurred by over-analysis, when the simple answers lie so close at hand. I am ready, able and willing to get in to the nitty-gritty of it all (and have done so for the past several years in every type of venue) but am most satisfied and smiling the most with my horses simply prancing nimbly all around, ever ready for the charge.

Thank you and I know readers (and their horses) will benefit from your shared responses.