Barefoot transition advice - all four?

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Primitive Pony

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A question for those of you who have taken a horse barefoot, please.

I have a podiatrist coming to see my horse next week so obviously will discuss with her, but I'm wondering whether people normally have all four shoes removed at once or start with just taking off back shoes?

My horse has been fully shod for years, he's had various problems although none specifically foot related (KS and now SI problems although he's doing well at the minute). I think that going barefoot could be very helpful but haven't done so yet as we have had enough to work on, so now that all else is going well, I am ready to start the process but am wondering whether just taking off hind shoes would be an idea to see how he copes to start with?

Thank you.
 
I had all 4 off at once. If your horse has decent feet to start with there shouldn't be much of a transition period. You may find that if he has had an unstimulated sole and frog that he is ouchy over stony ground until he can build up enough sole depth (not saying that shod horses have thin soles, but there will be little callous) and a decent callous on his feet.

I was lucky in that my horse didn't really have a transition period, we just went a bit carefully over the stony ground for a couple of weeks, then carried on as normal.

An experienced EP will probably take shoes off and not much else to begin with.
 
I had all 4 off at once, at the end of a shoeing cycle. Things looked a little untidy in the first few weeks but some seriously exciting changes are starting to come through now in new growth.
 
All four off. Mine is still footy coming down hills and is only completely sound in trot on a level incline but I think his front heels are still adjusting to it. If I was able to give him more work it might have been quicker. I bought some boots to help with the transition, he loved the renegades (I have lost them atm and its driving me crazy!)
 
Hinds do tend to cope a bit better, mine had his off all at once (as the fronts were the issue!) at the end of shoeing cycle and not trimmed- fully shod prob for 15 years. They can often get a bit worse a few weeks in as the foot begins to wake up/blood flow increases etc - we did have to boot for a while after that point. One other thing to note given the other issues yours has is that you may well need a good physio/bodyworker on board too as they start to use themselves a little differently/can get tense where holding themselves if a bit footie. I underestimated this at the time.
 
Thanks for all the replies, that all sounds very positive, and good to know that boots are an option and thanks for the recommendation on those.

Ester: thank you, hadn't thought of that at all but he is due to see the physio about two weeks after the podiatrist comes anyway, so she will be able to help with any muscle issues that might arise.

Stony ground is easily avoided for me, thankfully, so hopefully that will help and it won't be too complex a process!
 
I would also go for the physio option, mine said that he didn't have many sore spots from the transition, and to my eyes he has changed since his shoes came off, I'm sure his bum is more rounded and better muscled, and he's not in that much work either
 
I've been keeping a regular photo diary over the past few months anyway during all my saddle refitting, physio etc etc - his posture and shape have changed enormously already, so it will be really interesting to see what effect this has!
 
now you will be taking a hoof photo diary too ;)

yup we can talk about food too :) what's he eating currently?
 
ester said:
Hinds do tend to cope a bit better, mine had his off all at once (as the fronts were the issue!) at the end of shoeing cycle and not trimmed- fully shod prob for 15 years. They can often get a bit worse a few weeks in as the foot begins to wake up/blood flow increases etc - we did have to boot for a while after that point. One other thing to note given the other issues yours has is that you may well need a good physio/bodyworker on board too as they start to use themselves a little differently/can get tense where holding themselves if a bit footie. I underestimated this at the time.
Click to expand...

Without hijacking the OP's thread - thanks very much for this. Vet wants me to get physio/bodyworker out to Pops anyway as he's quite stiff after being off work :). Interesting too about them getting worse a few weeks in - will look out for that.

P
 
I had all 4 off on sat. He's been fine from the word go on Tarmac but is footy on stones ground. Rode him for the first time today in the arena (not ridden for 2.5 weeks due to injury). Didn't put boots on as I didn't have time to test before hopping on - seemed fine and not scared to extend.

Tested the boots (fronts only) and his first few steps on stony ground were quite tentative then he figured it out

Must take photos !
 
Ps I couldn't get renegades as they're the wrong shape for his feet as they are right now. You can buy jimmy choos, but Clarks might fit better. ;)
 
for boots to work well they definitely rely on fit. - I use easyboot gloves and my trimmer has a fit kit. The people at equine podiatry supplies and the saddlery shop are both happy to give advise if you take measurements too - and saddlery shop to hire/trials I think if unsure.
 
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