barefoot conditioning on a walker

[MiniMilton]

Just a thought, possibly a daft one... But has anyone altered the surface of their horse walker to assist with barefoot conditioning? While trudging the roads with my main horse today I realised i'll never have time to put in the miles with all of them.

My horse walker is currently an astroturf and sand surface. The surface has become a little slippy because flooding from a neighbouring stream created a fine silt on the surface. So the sand needs to be topped up. But what if I put down a rougher stone/grit surface?

Your thoughts please, and suggestions of surfaces (if its not a daft idea!)

 

[catkin]

I don't have a walker so don't know the nuts and bolts of how they can be set up.

Only thing that would concern me is that if any horse was finding a rough surface difficult at any time for some reason, is whether they would be able to step off it/round it/slow down etc. (they can do all these things if they are walked in-hand or can choose surfaces on a track)

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

You can only try, but I don't think a coarse sand would make a lot of difference. The feet self trim on tarmac, which acts in the same way as a rasp running over the surface, but your sand, whether coarse medium or fine is moving, so I don't see it having the same action. You can only try.

 

[weebarney]

Pea gravel?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I wouldn't want my horses constantly circling to that degree as it's been proven to damage their joints. If your walker is an oval one, with straight sides, then it might work with the right surface.

 

[ester]

I suppose OP already uses it though so the actual action isn't a concern as such. Pea gravel would be the obvious option though it needs to be a reasonable depth OP.

 

[MiniMilton]

I wouldn't want my horses constantly circling to that degree as it's been proven to damage their joints.

That all depends on the speed and duration spent on the walker.

I think I'll just put a small bit of grit down on top and see how it goes