can you ride a horse that has lost a shoe?

[mightymammoth]

A person at my yards mare came in with her front shoe hanging off, luckily vet was there to see another horse and took the shoe off. The hoof was undamaged and the horse apperared sound and after feeding was turned back out.

The owner asked me if she would be ok to ride her out tomorrow on quiet/side roads at walking pace for half an hour just to give her a bit of exercise. I said I didnt know.

The farrier is coming on tuesday which is their earliest appointment..

Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

Thanks

 

[be positive]

As the hoof is not damaged and the horse is sound there should be no problem, I frequently ride when one has come off and it has not made the horse sore.

 

[mightymammoth]

As the hoof is not damaged and the horse is sound there should be no problem, I frequently ride when one has come off and it has not made the horse sore.

Thank you

 

[monkeybum13]

If the shoe has been pulled clean off and the horse isn't "footy" then I don't see any harm. I will often still ride out if the show has been pulled off cleanly.

 

[Oberon]

It rather begs the question as to why the horse has shoes on in the first place....

But no - I would not ride a horse with a lost shoe unless it had a boot on that hoof.

Otherwise you are begging for a bruised sole and possibly abscess.

 

[Dizzle]

I've schooled and hacked my tb this week with just one shoe on (normally we like to go for two shoes), as long as they are sound it shouldn't be an issue, my tb was barefoot until about two months ago so I'm fully aware of what his limitations are shod/barefoot.

 

[MagicMelon]

As the hoof is not damaged and the horse is sound there should be no problem, I frequently ride when one has come off and it has not made the horse sore.

Same here. I've never had horses in the habit of losing shoes but occassionally if they do I have carried on riding, although I dont hack out (rough roads might chip the hoof) and wouldnt jump on grass with one less shoe as I think it may feel a bit unbalanced for them. But a horse I had over the summer lost a shoe and took the farrier 6 weeks to come back so I just carried on as normal including competing (on a surface).

 

[Roxana]

Outside isn't a good idea. The hoof has weakend and riding outside on roads will shorten the hoof, making it shorter than the other. Of course the farrier just shorten the other one aswell, but you have to watch out it doesn't get too short.

Riding in an arena is better, as you won't shorten the hoof.

 

[hannahmurphy]

I would ride them in a school, but not out hacking.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Wouldn't it unbalance the horse and if ridden on road/rough surface bruise the sole, but no I wouldn't ride my horse, who has lost a front shoe till farrier cane come out.

 

[starbar]

I would maybe have a potter round on a soft surface but definately would not go on roads or jump