Back shoes off for winter (maybe permanently)

[BentleyBelly]

Morning All!

Does anyone have experience of taking their horses back shoes off? Bents came off on Thurs as he is only really going to be able to be ridden once or twice a week during the winter. I rode on Fri and Sun keeping to the road or soft ground where he was fine but he was very uncomfortable on stoney ground. I know there will be a transition period especially while he grows out the nail holes but I hope he can cope without them. He has good feet although they are rough around the edges already and the farrier said to give it a few weeks and if he isn't coping he would come and put them back on. Any advice on how I can help him make the transition? Thanks.

 

[ThePony]

Hi,
Diet is really important for foot health so if I were you I would check that out first. Put briefly, any form of sugar is your enemy, and magnesium is your friend! A healthy diet will help with his footyness and transition. I wouldn't worry about chips and scrags (esp while the nail holes grow out), they are more a prob with appearence rather than anything to worry about. Regular work on the road is really helpful with allowing the feet to strengthen - even if you don't ride each day a 15 min walk in hand along the road will help his feet strengthen.
These places are great for more info - diet is key!
http://www.barefoothorses.co.uk/
http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php

 

[Lil Ferg]

Had my boy's back shoes off about six week's ago as he is not ridden much due to a health problem which affects him in the summer months. Its taken me this long to make the decision to have his back shoes off as he has been shod all round for the past 14 years and I was unsure how he would cope. He wasn't ridden until this weekend and I thought he would object to the stony ground but he was absolutely fine. I wish I had done it earlier in the year. The nail holes have obviously grown down now and the hooves are looking ragged but my farrier said they would and not to worry. I think your horse will be fine given more time, it must be a strange sensation for them to begin with.

 

[BentleyBelly]

Hi,
Diet is really important for foot health so if I were you I would check that out first. Put briefly, any form of sugar is your enemy, and magnesium is your friend! A healthy diet will help with his footyness and transition. I wouldn't worry about chips and scrags (esp while the nail holes grow out), they are more a prob with appearence rather than anything to worry about. Regular work on the road is really helpful with allowing the feet to strengthen - even if you don't ride each day a 15 min walk in hand along the road will help his feet strengthen.
These places are great for more info - diet is key!
http://www.barefoothorses.co.uk/
http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php

Oooh interesting, thank you...he is on a bare paddock and only gets a token amount of hi fi so he doesn't kick off when his fieldmate gets fed. Will look into adding a helpful supplement maybe. He has a mineral lick with added magnesium too.

 

[BentleyBelly]

Had my boy's back shoes off about six week's ago as he is not ridden much due to a health problem which affects him in the summer months. Its taken me this long to make the decision to have his back shoes off as he has been shod all round for the past 14 years and I was unsure how he would cope. He wasn't ridden until this weekend and I thought he would object to the stony ground but he was absolutely fine. I wish I had done it earlier in the year. The nail holes have obviously grown down now and the hooves are looking ragged but my farrier said they would and not to worry. I think your horse will be fine given more time, it must be a strange sensation for them to begin with.

Thank you...glad its working for your horse. Fingers crossed Bentley will get the hang of it!