Alternative Hoof Protection in Dressage
"I also notice a big difference in dressage. Especially after Heli also had the Goodsmith on her hind hooves. She can sit better, steps further under and moves more freely from the shoulder."
Hallo zusammen,
before I share my review of the Goodsmith with you, I would like to briefly introduce myself and my horse. Who are we actually?
My name is Lara, I am 23 years old and horse riding and the love of horses have been with me since childhood. For almost 5 years now, the Trakehner mare Herzenslicht (Heli for short) has been part of the family. At first I was really unsure whether choosing a young horse was such a good decision. Today I can only say: I have no regrets. Training a young horse is simply incredible fun and in my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than discovering and learning things together. We are mainly active in dressage and are at a good A/L level. But since varied training is extremely important to me, we often go on trail rides, do groundwork or sometimes jump as well. Species-appropriate housing is essential for me. That is why Heli is out on the mare pasture from morning to evening. She can romp with her girls, play and graze all day long. In the evening I bring her in and she can rest in her box stall.
The topic of hooves... a subject that has been following us for quite some time. It started 3 years ago when I wanted to have front shoes put on Heli. I don't know what my farrier at the time did, but it was definitely nothing good, because since then she won't let anyone shoe her. As soon as you try to nail on a shoe, she panics.
So we had to look for alternatives. Hoof boots? Didn't really work for us. After switching to a hoof orthopedist things were initially better since Heli's hooves stopped chipping, but the sensitivity on stony ground was still there. Then I became aware of Goodsmith and thought, such an alternative hoof protection for dressage would be perfect for us.
After my hoof orthopedist had trimmed Heli way too short in summer, and she didn't want to walk a single meter up front, I decided on the Permavariante . Since I couldn't leave her barefoot at first, I had the permanent version on for almost 6 weeks, which I was really very happy with.
What difference do I notice with the Goodsmith? Heli always moved very sensitively, whether on trails or on the way up to the pasture. With the Goodsmith that is no longer the case. She steps much more confidently and no longer seeks out the nearest soft ground. I also notice a big difference in dressage. Especially after Heli also had the Goodsmith on her hind hooves. She can sit better, steps further under and moves more freely from the shoulder.
Handling the Goodsmith? Easy or time-consuming? In my opinion it depends on which version you choose. Neither is really time-consuming, but one does require a bit more effort. If you choose the permanent version, you really don't have to do anything except regular hoof picking.
Instagram @herzenslicht_
My conclusion: Am I happy with the Goodsmith? Definitely yes. For Heli it is the best alternative to horseshoes. It is also gentler since there are no nails, and for me the handling of the Goodsmith is easier too. Of course it can happen that she loses a Goodsmith after a while, just as horses can lose horseshoes. But you can't simply nail horseshoes back on. With the Goodsmith you are flexible in that regard. You can reattach the Goodsmith to the horse yourself. And I must say, I find that very practical. Additionally, the Grundplatte is very durable. My plates still look great after 4 months and 6 weeks of continuous use & I could use them again.
