ERASA Barefoot Group

This page is for the use of the ERASA Barefoot Group (EBG). There is another webpage dedicated to our group which you can access at Barefoot endurance

We are the South African endurance riders who choose not to shoe our horses. We ride our horses barefoot and sometimes use hoof boots. Most of the time our horses don't need them.

South African barefoot endurance horses compete against shod horses in open competition. Barefoot horses have proven that all the distances are possible barefoot.

Barefoot horses start with simple 30km rides and progress to 60 km and 80 km. After years of conditioning the elite barefoot horses go on to 120kms, one day hundred milers (160 km)and 3-day Fauresmith (201kms).

To achieve the hoof health necessary for barefoot endurance riding, horses have to have hooves as tough as wild horses. Only natural living conditions can make hooves this hard. That means living outdoors, stimulating hoof growth and toughness over hard surfaces and stony ground and staying away from metal shoes.

You can get more direction from the article on Barefoot Conditioning Tips on the Articles page.