Barefoot or fron shoes or full set

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Sandstone1

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I have a old boy who is in light work, Has been bare foot for sometime but due to having to use roads to get to any off road riding is having to do a little more road work.
I have found that he is a little footy on the road and am considering if I should put front shoes on, does anyone else just have fronts on and does it make a differance?
Would like to keep bare foot really but I dont feel he is happy on the roads with out shoes so Im thinking maybe fronts would be a compromise.
Any thoughts on just having fronts on please.
 
One of my horses is footy on the roads but I use Easyboot gloves (did use Old Macs before these put they were a bit more fiddly for putting on and off) on him and have never had a problem with them coming off, no matter what pace.
 
Boots are great. I don't know what puts people off them. I mean, you put them on, ride, take them off again. Job done. Beats hammering a set of shoes on with nails permanently imo... plenty of choice, well priced and last a long time.
 
Thanks will look in to boots maybe. Do you need a full set or just fronts? do you have farrier trim feet as normal? How long do they last in comparison to shoes?
 
tallyho! said:
Boots are great. I don't know what puts people off them. I mean, you put them on, ride, take them off again. Job done. Beats hammering a set of shoes on with nails permanently imo... plenty of choice, well priced and last a long time.
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Totally agree. I have boots that have been hammered for several years and are still going strong. Just make sure you get the fit right - two of my horses fit Old Macs great but didn't get on with Gloves at all, so you need to get the right boot for the horse. Have a look at the EasyCare website for information on several different kinds, also Cavallo and Renegade (though these are a bit more expensive).
 
Agree with the boots; I have fronts on Ben, the Cavallo's are briliant you can get a pair from ebay for under £80, mine has so far lasted nearly a year and I do a lot of roadwork.

Easy to put on, take off and never come off even at a good fast canter
 
itsmylife said:
Thanks will look in to boots maybe. Do you need a full set or just fronts? do you have farrier trim feet as normal? How long do they last in comparison to shoes?
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Generally in my experience, hind feet are almost always stronger - that is ALMOST. As with anything there are exceptions. However you will find that most boot companies cater for fronts only as fronts are more sensitive (due to grass, conformation, etc)

Farrier trims as normal but a farriers trim will not do for renegades. They cater for a "wild hoof" trim or "performance" trim which allows for heel/frog landing (how a wild horse gets about). You will need either cavallos or Easycare Inc. model for the more elongated hoof. then again, I'm sure if he is a skilled chap he can do this trim for you.

I have the cavallos - lovely leather, non-chafe, dead-easy literally takes less time than to put my hat on! Stays on through anything - I've gone through water with them and muddy bits. Really sticky stuff might pull them off.

I don't use them all the time, I pick and choose when to put on depending where I go and how he's feeling as it changes day-day very slightly.

I'm saving for some renegades though.... can't wait!!!! :D
 
Diamonds son is barefoot only needs his boots when we hack mine have lasted 1 year much cheaper than shoes I use old macs on one of mine they stay on fine walk trot and gallop

i just use them on front i did for a short time use backs to but only cos of a farrier ***** his feet up before, as mentioned front feet more likely to get footy as it caries the head and neck hense they always get footy in front back feet not so much if at all
 
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