Another Barefoot Diary!

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Hi all,

After something of a failed attempted last winter, I've taken Saf's shoes off again. Background is that she's been shod in front for the past 12 years, unshod on the back. Last winter the timing was just bad, the ground froze and she could hardly walk. I'm pleased to report that the shoes have been off for about 3 weeks now, been for a couple of short hacks up the road (tarmac with a rocky / gravelly bit first to get off the yard). She was really good, and seemed quite happy Photos to follow later!

 

[theraven]

Hi all,

After something of a failed attempted last winter, I've taken Saf's shoes off again. Background is that she's been shod in front for the past 12 years, unshod on the back. Last winter the timing was just bad, the ground froze and she could hardly walk. I'm pleased to report that the shoes have been off for about 3 weeks now, been for a couple of short hacks up the road (tarmac with a rocky / gravelly bit first to get off the yard). She was really good, and seemed quite happy Photos to follow later!

Well mine has been barefoot for pretty much his whole life, had shoes on for a summer when he was first broken, but he didn't need them, it was more of he needs to have them because he is young.

He can cope with being hacked about three times a week and no bother!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Well done SWC. I hope the weather is on your side this time.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Thanks Sorry that was a bit of a rushed post. Happily my farrier is very pro-barefoot and Saf is happy as anything on the grass. Slight protest at the rocky bit but she can just fit onto the grass at the edge which pleases her. The odd ouch if there's gravel on the tarmac but on smooth tarmac she's striding out beautifully. My concern at the mo is that she will wear her hooves down quickly as she's always wears her shoes down if we hack a lot. I'm restricting hacking to once a week at present.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Movement stimulates growth. I would suggest you are better doing more regular short hacks than only hacking once a week.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Movement stimulates growth. I would suggest you are better doing more regular short hacks than only hacking once a week.

I thought that would be the case. I school several times a week on grass, but only really get a chance to get out hacking at weekends. What are the chances of her hooves wearing down to the point where they'll be sore?

Anyway below are the photos taken a couple of days after the shoes were removed (2 1/2 weeks ago). Any thoughts?

Left Fore

Right Fore

 

[FfionWinnie]

Just get some boots so you can keep moving.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Just a little photo update, really pleased with her so far. Not much hacking, but lots of work in our arena, a makeshift one consisting of rough sand - seems to have polished her hooves up rather nicely!

Right fore

Left fore

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Meant to add, those pix were taken today, 6 weeks after shoes removed.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Saf's had a bit of a winter break, so we went for our first hack in about 6 weeks yesterday - I was seriously impressed. She barely noticed the rough bits and the gravel on tarmac. It's looking like she won't need to have the shoes back on for the summer if we keep this up! Pix taken yesterday, a couple of days after a rasp, and slightly chipped due to the road.

12.5 weeks since shoe removal.

Left Fore

Right Fore

Thoughts / comments welcomed

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Hi again everyone!

Poor ol' Saf is really hating the gravel / general muck on the roads around here. I can't help but blame the soaking conditions, and as she lives out 24/7 her hooves are permanently saturated. She's completely happy working on grass, getting some lovely work from her at the moment, and hardly any tripping since the shoes came off. I'm seriously considering getting her some boots though. She's very pottery whenever she has to go on a gravelly part of the road, and picks her way over the stone slowly and carefully. I'm not convinced she's actually sore, just a bit sensitive. The second she gets back onto a smooth bit of tarmac she's striding out like a good'un!

I've been looking at these: http://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/Boots/Cavallo-Simple-Boots
As I really can't spend too much money, I'm sure we won't be going off road whilst wearing them. Any thoughts?

 

[avthechav]

I have Cavellos for both of mine. Simple for WB and sports for youngster. Both were relativey cheap, they are easy to out on and they boys dont hate them! Youngster is completely fine, WB is fine walking but if I trottting he thinks hes walking on the moon but to be fair he hasnt worn them enough to acclimatise properly yet.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Thanks My farrier is coming out on Thurs, so will measure up afterwards. Went for another short hack yesterday and she was still very careful on the stones, but the majority of the roads were smooth so she was happy Pix taken on Saturday:

4.5 months barefoot

Right Fore

Left Fore

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

So, I've had Saf's new trainers for about 3 weeks now, but only been out properly twice - 15 mins then today 25 mins or so hacks to break them in. First time out was so-so, she was wondering what on earth I was doing to her putting these weird things on her feet. Today we went slightly further afield, once she gets away from the driveway (about 1/4 mile long) the handbrake comes off once she realises we're not going to turn around and go home any time soon. We turned the corner, heading away from the driveway, and it was like something clicked, she pounded off at a stonking walk, then got a bit confident and wanted to trot the whole time. It must have felt to her like she had new feet - I'm so pleased! The last few months have been really difficult, me worrying about her the whole time, and Saf watching out for stones and ouching at them if she trod on one. I'm so pleased I can't really put it into words!

Plus she makes some pretty cool hoofprints

So whilst I had her hooves nice and clean for putting the boots on, I thought I'd get some decent pix:

Just over 5 months barefoot

Right Fore

Left Fore

What's going on with the extra bit of frog below on the right of the frog?