Barefoot transition guidance please?

As a firm believer in barefoot, I have to say you have done tremendously well with your horses feet!!

We have 3, all barefoot. My 25 year old is my retired endurance pony and he always competed barefoot and was not once spun out for feet issues. My 7 year old Gypsy Vanner Cob has only ever had front shoes on once, and they were put on by the lady who imported him from Ireland (along with giving him the most hideous blanket clip to make him more "saleable"), he was a devil when my farrier removed the shoes, so god only knows what he was like when they put them on him! And my husband's 20 year school master, who came to us about 9 months ago and immediately had his shoes removed, his feet were in an appalling state. He is now comfortably hacking out and his feet are in marvellous condition. My vanner sounds like he is actually shod, and the farrier has a job trimming as his feet are so hard and healthy!!!

On the plus side, you get barely any churning up in gateways as well!!!!!
 
Thanks for your reply K!

Socks were my next plan - have tried wrist sweat bands but they weren't chunky enough to stop the debris getting in!

I know it's very early days but I'm really missing hacking- and so is he- and as we are lucky enough to go straight from the yard onto bridleways- need to go on rough bridleway for about a mile before we can get to a 'flat' road - we are pretty much stuck in the school unless I can solve the debris problem!

Off to buy large mens socks today!! ;)
 
Cross posted with you Vanner! Thanks for your reply too- it's always reassuring to hear about others who have 'done it' successfully!

What breeding is your husbands horse- sounds like you've achieved a fairly quick transition with him especially if he's been shod for all that time before!
 
Still early days but you've made good progress so far :).

You may not need boots in the future - rocks or not. I advocate the use of boots as a transitional tool and for horses with metabolic issues who require help to be comfortable....but not all horses need protection once their hooves are healthy, regardless of the ground conditions.

There is nothing to trim at the moment - so aside from making the hooves look prettier, I reckon you can skip the farrier this time.
 
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