leflynn
Well-Known Member
Hi, I'm hoping for some advice if possible from you knowledgable lot!
OH has a lovely wondercob, who has been barefoot all his life (as far as I know), we've had him for 18 months now and is still barefoot and would like to keep it that way if possible. The only issue we are about to have again is that his hooves wear down faster than they grow especially comeing into this time of year where we do more hacking (ie 5 times a week for 1hr plus) and most of our hacking involves a lot of roadwork to get onto tracks and it seems to be this that causes them to wear down faster. He is in a lot more work now with us and since last August (when we moved yards) he has had this issue when there is more roadwork. His hooves also seem to waer slightly unlevel too but with a trim they are back to level and lovely. He does go footy when the weather is very wet but as soon as the ground dries up he is fine again and hasn't been lightly footy for more than a day or two over winter.
Grazing daily 6am till 4pm and a small holed small net of haylage overnight (not very sugary, not tested but seems better than previous yard and he doesn't pile the weight on), no hard feed or supps.
Dilemma is that hacking as about to increase it in the next 2 weeks or so when the clocks change (doing more schooling on a surface atm, only hacking max twice a week currently) and I don't want him to be limited as he needs to be fit for OH to XC/ODE/SJ/hunt rides etc so I am not sure what to do? Do I try shoes, knowing he isn't too careful when SJ with his fronts and that boots might hinder, start feeding a supplement? Changing to hay not poss as haylage only supplied by livery yard. Current thinking is a set of front boots but will they stop the hooves growing as much as they do now?
All ideas welcome, thanks
OH has a lovely wondercob, who has been barefoot all his life (as far as I know), we've had him for 18 months now and is still barefoot and would like to keep it that way if possible. The only issue we are about to have again is that his hooves wear down faster than they grow especially comeing into this time of year where we do more hacking (ie 5 times a week for 1hr plus) and most of our hacking involves a lot of roadwork to get onto tracks and it seems to be this that causes them to wear down faster. He is in a lot more work now with us and since last August (when we moved yards) he has had this issue when there is more roadwork. His hooves also seem to waer slightly unlevel too but with a trim they are back to level and lovely. He does go footy when the weather is very wet but as soon as the ground dries up he is fine again and hasn't been lightly footy for more than a day or two over winter.
Grazing daily 6am till 4pm and a small holed small net of haylage overnight (not very sugary, not tested but seems better than previous yard and he doesn't pile the weight on), no hard feed or supps.
Dilemma is that hacking as about to increase it in the next 2 weeks or so when the clocks change (doing more schooling on a surface atm, only hacking max twice a week currently) and I don't want him to be limited as he needs to be fit for OH to XC/ODE/SJ/hunt rides etc so I am not sure what to do? Do I try shoes, knowing he isn't too careful when SJ with his fronts and that boots might hinder, start feeding a supplement? Changing to hay not poss as haylage only supplied by livery yard. Current thinking is a set of front boots but will they stop the hooves growing as much as they do now?
All ideas welcome, thanks