Barefoot driving?

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Gf5871

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Am planning on breaking my section a to drive but I think my farrier will keel over if I ask him to shoe him, he doesn't like trimming him as it is :D
Is barefoot driving ok? Wouldnt be far, & only once or twice a week just to keep him ticking over and not being a complete (chubby) field ornament?
 
I drive and mines not shod. He does 5 to 8 miles once or twice a week and works in the sand school 3 times ish. Hes fine. Lovely concave rock crunching feet. Just build the work up slowly and they will adjust.
 
Mines pretty much self trimming now, he only gets the odd tweak to keep the balance in check. Since he got fitter and we are putting the miles in I've noticed them getting lovely and concave. He makes a distinct clip clop as he goes along as well!
 
Leo Walker said:
Mines pretty much self trimming now, he only gets the odd tweak to keep the balance in check. Since he got fitter and we are putting the miles in I've noticed them getting lovely and concave. He makes a distinct clip clop as he goes along as well!
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Yes without that teeth grindingly awful metal on stone sound....

The bf sound is nice isn't it :)
 
lovely! and hes so grippy I dont have to worry about hills. We sneak the odd canter in in appropriate places as well which I would never do with a shod horse!
 
Gf5871 said:
Am planning on breaking my section a to drive but I think my farrier will keel over if I ask him to shoe him, he doesn't like trimming him as it is :D
Is barefoot driving ok? Wouldnt be far, & only once or twice a week just to keep him ticking over and not being a complete (chubby) field ornament?
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Like you're thinking about OP I drive a welsh section A mine's has been driving since 2014

Welsh Section A are hardy little ponies well mine is (feet wise)
My welsh section A is bare foot - she seems to be fine so far and I will leave her barefoot until such time the farrier says she needs fronts. We carry a hoofpick with us every time along with the other requirements you should carry. So If the pony is fine so far - why shoe!!


shoot me a pm and I will take some pictures of her soles to show you how a welsh section A copes driving and mine is driven on roads twice a week.
 
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I'm another who drives barefoot. Reglarly 15+ mile drives (and we don't hang about), and never had an issue. I agree that tarmac + bare hoof works beautifully. Nothing gives better traction on tarmac than hoof.

On stony tracks you might have to spend extra time training your pony to keep to the line you choose, rather than picking the best ground... otherwise sooner or later he'll take your wheel into a gatepost.
 
Thank you for all our replies. He's been barefoot for quite some time so his feet are nice and strong, would be on tarmac mainly but you never know what we might face! ❤️
 
ILuvCowparsely said:
Like you're thinking about OP I drive a welsh section A mine's has been driving since 2014

Welsh Section A are hardy little ponies well mine is (feet wise)
My welsh section A is bare foot - she seems to be fine so far and I will leave her barefoot until such time the farrier says she needs fronts. We carry a hoofpick with us every time along with the other requirements you should carry. So If the pony is fine so far - why shoe!!


shoot me a pm and I will take some pictures of her soles to show you how a welsh section A copes driving and mine is driven on roads twice a week.
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Thank you for this, I'll drop you a message!
I'm looking forward to it, at least when the kids outgrow him he'll still have a purpose and I won't have to part with him!
 
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