pistolpete
Well-Known Member
If you have the luxury of choice when would be the best time of year to remove shoes?
Barefoot- which season ideally to start?
- Thread starter pistolpete
- Start date
Oberon
Well-Known Member
Autumn/winter.
serenityjane
Well-Known Member
Depends- autumn/winter-weather is foul, any sort of walking in hand, regular and consistant exercise is a problem.
summer/spring- lots of opportunity for exercise but also the time when you really need the horse to be 100% sound.
Soooo... best time is probably when there are no competitions/pressure to perform well but you have plenty of time and the right conditions to do lots of conditioning work on those hooves-starting slowly but then building up to lots of regular exercise.
summer/spring- lots of opportunity for exercise but also the time when you really need the horse to be 100% sound.
Soooo... best time is probably when there are no competitions/pressure to perform well but you have plenty of time and the right conditions to do lots of conditioning work on those hooves-starting slowly but then building up to lots of regular exercise.
LucyPriory
Well-Known Member
IME the best time is when the owner is ready. Emotionally, mentally, time wise you have to be prepared.
Some horses transition really quickly others require more major rehabbing. And it's not always easy to tell how it will be until the shoes are off.
It is always easier if the diet has been sorted first, ideally for several weeks.
If your horse has thin soles/thrush and the summer brings ruts and hard ground then you can boot and pad if required. Long summer evenings mean you have more opportunity to put in the exercise needed.
Winter is better for some because there may be less pressure, but that depends on what you want from your horse. It can be hard because it's cold and wet, horses are more likely to suffer thrush and doing the exercise through gloop can be miserable.
So when will suit you? Then you can make plans to deal with whatever the time of year brings.
Some horses transition really quickly others require more major rehabbing. And it's not always easy to tell how it will be until the shoes are off.
It is always easier if the diet has been sorted first, ideally for several weeks.
If your horse has thin soles/thrush and the summer brings ruts and hard ground then you can boot and pad if required. Long summer evenings mean you have more opportunity to put in the exercise needed.
Winter is better for some because there may be less pressure, but that depends on what you want from your horse. It can be hard because it's cold and wet, horses are more likely to suffer thrush and doing the exercise through gloop can be miserable.
So when will suit you? Then you can make plans to deal with whatever the time of year brings.