Barefoot query

[siennamum]

I would love my horses to stop costing me a bloody fortune in shoes and see the valid points barefoot people make about allowing the hoof to function as nature intended BUT.

My 4 year old has no shoes on. I really hoped he wouldn't have to have shoes for some time yet. He had never been touched by the farrier and so is unhappy about too much being done with his feet, which has also delayed thoughts about putting shoes on him.
Problem is that he is now working lightly and is foot sore.

He is fine on grass, a little uncomfortable on the road and very stumbly on tracks which have any stones on them. It stops him walking out and will hinder his education.

He gets no hard food, just good (rough) grass and a hoof supplement from NAF. I keep his feet shaped and they are is fair condition though I think a little dry at the moment.

If he had previously been shod, I accept that he is in a transitioning phase, but his transitioning phase has lasted 4 years and I would expect him to have toughened up by now.

Any commenst/suggestions welcome, although I am planning sadly to have shoes on him with the next farriers visit.

 

[touchstone]

Although I am pro barefoot, there is no crime in putting shoes on a horse to make him comfortable.

At four years old I wonder if it just recently that his workload has increased, before that his feet would have been conditioned to not being ridden/very light work, so they will still be going through the conditioning process if that is the case, so his transitioning phase hasn't really been four years if you see what I mean.

The other thing to consider if you really don't want to shoe is to give hoof boots a go, they might only be needed temporarily to get your horse over the uncomfy stage.

Whatever you decide, so long as you have a comfortable horse that is all that matters.

 

[soloequestrian]

I have one who's been barefoot for six years and is still rubbish over stones. I have hoof boots for him (Old Macs at the moment but I'm about to invest in some Gloves now they make them big enough for him). He is happy in the boots, even jumping, and obviously I can take them off after riding so he has the benefits of barefoot too. Look at the EasyCare website for lots of info on boots.

 

[siennamum]

He's got good feet, and being half connemara I expect them to be strong. Maybe in future I can take the shoes off & try again. I suspect you are right and that standing in a field for 4 years is a far cry from starting to work properly with a big weight on board, my comment was a bit facetious really.
If he were an older horse I might be more determined, I just don't want him to not want to work or go forwards.