Barefoot advice

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Hayjay

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Hi, some advice needed please re barefoot. Having only had TB's which were shod, this is new territory for me!
I have a 10.2hh pony (sold to me as a shetland but not convinced!). Ive had him for about 14 years and he has mainly been a large pet. However my girls, now 6 & 7 are taking an interest in ponies (at last!!!) and have been taking care of him and riding him on lead rein in the field over the last few months. We took him out for a walk in the lanes today and he was an angel. Didn't go very far as new to them both but coming back he was favouring the grass verge and seemed a little sensitive on his fronts when the verge ran out. With no experience of barefeet I would really appreciate some advice on the way forward. Many thanks
 
Probably not what you want to hear but I would suspect he has laminitis, a pony that has never been shod should be able to do a little walking on a road without feeling footy, the ground is pretty firm at the moment so he should be conditioned enough to cope. It is probably just an early warning but treat him as if it is to be on the safe side.
 
He is overweight despite being on restricted grazing. Gets fat on air! He was trimmed on Monday and I did ask farrier about laminitis. I will bear that in mind - thanks.
 
Either over trimmed or lami.

Better tomorrow, over trimmed.
Not better tomorrow, lam, get him off the grass pronto.
 
Thanks cptrays. He has not had laminitis in the 14 years ive had him and has been fatter and on more grass - however i am no laminitis expert! He seems completely sound in his paddock tonight - stands normally and stands to have feet picked out quite happily. It was his first trim in a while as his feet grow very slowly. Maybe he is a bit sore. I really struggle to get the weight off him - I was hoping the new interest in riding from my little girls would help. I'll stick with them riding him on grass and see how we go. Thanks for your input.
 
It hasn't been recognised until recent years that the very first warning of laminitis is sore soles. At that stage, the horse looks fine unless you try to walk it across stones, and you have time to change things to stop it progressing. He probably had it in previous years, but you never tried to ride him on stones. I know what it's like to try to keep a little one's weight under control. If you can't get him happy on stones but otherwise he's OK, take a look at boots for the summer/autumn and try to use winter to really get the weight of him. Good luck.
 
If you've had him 14 years he's probably also getting to the age where it would be sensible to test him for Cushings which is often the reason for laminitis.
 
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