Benefit to taking shoes off for a month?

[JenJ]

So Tilda lost a shoe two weeks ago, the first time since I bought her 18 months ago. I put it down to a one-off from the mud being so horribly deep and sticky.

This weekend she twisted another one, whilst I was out hacking so I can't just blame the mud in our fields.

If it was just the inconvenience I wouldn't mind, but both times she's become foot sore and broken a little of her hoof off.

I'm considering having all her shoes taken off (she's due for a new set this week anyway) and leave her barefoot for a month until the mud hopefully dries out a bit. I've no objection to not riding, or just having a little sit in the school if she's not sore towards the end of the month.

But the question is - aside from obviously not having the risk of shoes being pulled off, are there any benefits to doing this just for, say, a month? And would there be any risks or disadvantages? Would I be able to have shoes just put back on again without problem?

 

[Paint it Lucky]

You might decide you like it and want to leave them off.

She should be fine to ride in the school almost strightaway so long as the surface is soft. I can't see it doing her any harm. Does she live out full time or is she is at night as this would give her feet a chance to dry better?

 

[TwoStroke]

I'd say you'd get as much out of it as you're able to put in . The more work you can give her - within her comfort - the more improvement you'll see. You may need to make diet alterations, however. Either way, you will be able to put shoes back on at any time.

 

[Clodagh]

In my hunting days the hunters always had 12 weeks minimum without shoes to recover from 4 weekly shoeing all winter. It did them the world of good.

I bought home a new horse on the 1st January and he had his hinds off the same day so he could go out with my youngster who can be an idiot. He is now so lame I can't even walk around the fields, I was hoping he would last at least 6 weeks with light hacking not on concrete but not to be. So, I think it depends on the individual horse.

I would say that you need to give enough time for the nail holes to grow down a bit which probably won't happen very quickly this time of year.

 

[JenJ]

Thanks all. She's out in the day, in at night all year round.

As much as I'd like it, I'm concerned about leaving them off full time, as at my yard there are only 3 barefoot out of 40+, and although we have great hacking, access to it is on a rough track which I know the barefooters aren't so great on.

I guess it could just be a case of suck it and see. Leave off for a month and see how she's been as to whether I can keep them off longer...?

I'm possible slightly restricted on diet alterations as she's on part livery, and although I can add supplements (bought biotin after the first instance) the main feeds are decided by what the YO buys.