Barefoot musings.

[pistolpete]

I’d do a poll if I knew how!
When taking a horse barefoot do you?
Buy hoof boots first?
Try without hoof boots but transitions very slowly using surfaces and lots of in hand work?
Expect to use boots most of the time so just don’t worry about transitioning?
Just go for it?

 

[FitzyFitz]

depends on the horse and the footing. most horses with at least mediocre feet will be fine turned out at grass barefoot straight away. But if for example you have a long walk up a crushed stone drive to bring in every day, they might be a bit footy and appreciate boots.
Work in an arena is generally no problem, but hacking out soon after removing shoes can cause discomfort for some. If you can and the horse won't go mental, it's handy to take the shoes off at a time when the ground is softer and you won't be doing much riding. Gives them a chance for all the nerves to wake back up when they aren't under pressure to work.
Their feet can change shape quite a lot at first so if I thought i'd need boots and didn't already have something vaguely the right size, i'd go for old macs or similar as they are more forgiving in fit and figure out better boots if they're needed in 6 months or so.

I used to live in an area with all sand/woodchip tracks, or smooth tarmac where much of the time you could get on verges. Didn't boot anything except the 30yr old with dropped pedal bones and thin soles. Now I live somewhere with crushed stone or shale tracks absolutely everywhere and nearly all roadwork for hacking so anything that arrives barefoot is usually ok but maybe needs boots for proper rides out, and anything i've transitioned from shoes is done a bit more carefully and kept booted for everything outside of turnout except arena rides to start with. Even with that, theres variety. One of mine had her shoes off and never gave a footy step except if she hit a pointy stone on a solid surface. Others were thinner soled or flatter footed or had existing thrush and needed more help.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d have the boots on standby from the off. Though until the shoes are off it’s not possible to measure up for boots properly.

I *may* have a cupboard full of Cavallo Treks in all sizes from size 2 - 6 .

 

[Gloi]

If you are still having the pony shod measure the feet for boots when the feet are trimmed before the shoes go on. Have the boots ready for when they go bare for when you need them. Most don't need for turnout, just for work until feet strengthen. If you can find second hand boots in the beginning that is a good idea as you can resell and not lose money if they don't work for your pony.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Depends on the horse. Most natives will cope reasonably well right from the off, but if you need to rehab after poor shoeing, or shoes off after years of shoeing, then boots might be advisable. Cavallo Treks are a forgiving fit, and a size 1 baby's nappy makes a good sock if the boot is a bit roomy.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Mine is barefoot since Friday, she was very very footy even in field friday. She seems much more comfortable now, boot fitter came sunday and fitted Scoots on her.
She will do a week of hacking with them and then going fun riding sunday in the scoots!

During the fitting we lunged, schooled and jumped with the boots and she was perfectly comfortable.
What Im wondering is what everyone is feeding?
Mine is on Agrobs muesli, hay and grass track.

 

[Landcruiser]

Mine is barefoot since Friday, she was very very footy even in field friday. She seems much more comfortable now, boot fitter came sunday and fitted Scoots on her.
She will do a week of hacking with them and then going fun riding sunday in the scoots!

During the fitting we lunged, schooled and jumped with the boots and she was perfectly comfortable.
What Im wondering is what everyone is feeding?
Mine is on Agrobs muesli, hay and grass track.

I'm afraid you may be setting yourself up for a fail by going on a funride a week or so after taking shoes off. Many previously shod hooves take a dip about a week in, as the internal structures start to relax and the blood supply increases. Plus boots can rub on longer rides, where they have been ok on shorter. You are very early days in boots to be risking a fun ride, where you could get caught out miles from your transport. Reconditioning previously shod feet is often quite a long and gradual process. Not always - my retired horse was sound straight out of shoes and has always had tough strong sound feet. But if your horse was very footy even in the field I doubt that's the case with yours.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

I'm afraid you may be setting yourself up for a fail by going on a funride a week or so after taking shoes off. Many previously shod hooves take a dip about a week in, as the internal structures start to relax and the blood supply increases. Plus boots can rub on longer rides, where they have been ok on shorter. You are very early days in boots to be risking a fun ride, where you could get caught out miles from your transport. Reconditioning previously shod feet is often quite a long and gradual process. Not always - my retired horse was sound straight out of shoes and has always had tough strong sound feet. But if your horse was very footy even in the field I doubt that's the case with yours.

As I said I will see how she is during the week, with the hope of going fun riding. But she was very comfortable in boots sunday! Thankfully its all on grass anyway.

 

[Landcruiser]

She will do a week of hacking with them and then going fun riding sunday in the scoots!

 

[Lamehorses]

If you are not desperate to be riding straight away I'd wait & see.
I've had one that stomped up a gravel track to the field when shoes were removed then do the 2 week later feet wake up & need boots.
Another made me feel so guilty I'd removed shoes as he gingerly picked his way up the track, 10 days later he was foot stomping on all surfaces & didn't ever use his boot again
The feet will be easier to measure / fit once shoes are off.

 

[McGrools]

Depends on the horse. But I would just go for it xx

 

[criso]

I wouldn't get them in advance but I would measure when the shoes came off and get something that is forgiving of fit on standby. Would expect feet to change so these wouldn't necessarily fit after a few weeks.

I would also manage my expectations and do in hand work or ridden on a surface at first. I might do a short hack on the road without boots, then a longer one the next day with.