Lyle
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I have a lovely 5yo Warmblood who has never been shod. This is my first barefoot horse, so please excuse me if I sound like a total nuff! I purchased him three months ago, and have kept him barefoot. His feet were very long when I purchased him, although they were still a nice and regular shape. He now gets 3 week trims to keep everything in shape, and they are looking fabulous, and are really developing great concavity.
All while I've had him, he's been rock-crunchingly sound over very large stones/gravel, never had a proppy step. I moved him to a new yard about 6 weeks ago. The old place had lots of gravel and stones that he had to walk over every day, which now he doesn't really get. He's being worked on a river-sand arena, all fine, keeping up with the wear very well, and being hacked once a week. However, after his last trim, when I went for a walk around the lanes he felt a little hobble-y over the stony bits.
time for the questions...
Now, because I really am new to this, I'm wondering if it's normal that when a trim may have been a little short, they can get sensitive?
Or could I be dealing with the fact his feet aren't being conditioned as much? It is the end of winter over here, so could that have something to do with it?
His diet hasn't changed, except that he's now off grass, but has ad-lib access to his grass round bale.
I'm just looking for a bit of advice in general about keeping horses barefoot!
Chicken Ceaser salad on offer!!
I have a lovely 5yo Warmblood who has never been shod. This is my first barefoot horse, so please excuse me if I sound like a total nuff! I purchased him three months ago, and have kept him barefoot. His feet were very long when I purchased him, although they were still a nice and regular shape. He now gets 3 week trims to keep everything in shape, and they are looking fabulous, and are really developing great concavity.
All while I've had him, he's been rock-crunchingly sound over very large stones/gravel, never had a proppy step. I moved him to a new yard about 6 weeks ago. The old place had lots of gravel and stones that he had to walk over every day, which now he doesn't really get. He's being worked on a river-sand arena, all fine, keeping up with the wear very well, and being hacked once a week. However, after his last trim, when I went for a walk around the lanes he felt a little hobble-y over the stony bits.
time for the questions...
Now, because I really am new to this, I'm wondering if it's normal that when a trim may have been a little short, they can get sensitive?
Or could I be dealing with the fact his feet aren't being conditioned as much? It is the end of winter over here, so could that have something to do with it?
His diet hasn't changed, except that he's now off grass, but has ad-lib access to his grass round bale.
I'm just looking for a bit of advice in general about keeping horses barefoot!
Chicken Ceaser salad on offer!!