Dee's first ride without her shoes.....

[ann-jen]

Was totally non-eventful lol!
The main thing was she is 100% sound.
She has pretty decent paces but I would say if anything these seemed even better than usual! Her big medium trot is back! I'm starting to think she was quite uncomfortable long before she went lame as she is def so much better without her shoes!
My barefoot friend had recommended I led her out in hand over the rough tracks we have on the farm which we have been doing so I rode up one of the tracks today and think she coped pretty well even on the slightly stoner bits.
So I'm feeling pretty hopeful!
Her hoof boots came yesterday. I think they fit ok. They are old mac g2s if anyone has any experience of them? I fitted them as instructed with some medium pads inside. I think they fit ok except the 'collar' of the boot isn't at all snug to the pastern. Is this normal? As it looks the same on the picture on the front of the box so I assume it is??? My barefoot friend told me not to bother with the gaiter things that came with them so haven't tried those on as yet. The plan will be to lead her about in them a bit and see what she makes of them first. Today she just stared at her feet and snorted at them lol. Barefoot guy says I will probably only need them for longer hacks or I guess anywhere a bit more stony?
Anyway hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here!

 

[mightymammoth]

glad you got on well, that's really good that she was so good over the stony terrain. The first few months my horse hobbled over anything more than grass like he was going to the gallows! (although he did have thrush and I didn't know)

My horse is still not 100% and will stumble if he stands on a sharp stone so I use hoof boots on his fronts. If you join http://phoenixhorse.myfastforum.org/index.php theres a "hoof boot bible" I think which may help.

I've never used macs I use gloves so can't help on that.

 

[ann-jen]

Thanks. Someone else mentioned this group. Doesn't look like the site is compatible with my iPad so I will have to try and register next time I'm on a PC.

 

[pistolpete]

Great stuff, rode my horse barefoot for the first time yesterday. I too was pleasantly surprised with his capability.

 

[ann-jen]

Great stuff .
I think I've seen your horse on the rockley website. Hope he continues to progress
It's all been a bit new and scary for me but as a friend pointed out to me I would think nothing of nailing shoes onto my horses feet so why am I so worried about taking them off lol.... He does have a point!
I've ridden Dee 3 times now, admittedly just on the flat in the arena for half an hour then a short hack on the uneven path. She feels fab on the surface and really just hesitant on the path so hopefully so far so good I think!!
Anyone know when I would be ok to start jumping her? I was planning on giving her 10-14days to get used to it on the flat and then see if that sounds sensible?

 

[Brightbay]

I think they fit ok except the 'collar' of the boot isn't at all snug to the pastern. Is this normal?

Yes The G2s stay on because of how snugly they fit at about the level of the top of the hoof just below the coronet band - if you pop your finger in the loose bit at the collar, you should find they are snugly fitted lower down. I don't mean the inside pastern strap - that actually doesn't need to be tight either, just snug - it's the fit around the actual horn of the hoof.

I never really used the pastern wraps either, although they can help the fit if it's not perfect.

As far as jumping goes, I would just build everything up gradually, testing out via a very short session, then see how the horse is the next day, and building up from there.

 

[ann-jen]

Thanks ever so much for the advice reassuring re the boots and sensible re the jumping. With normal exercise in the arena, acclimatising to different terrain I haven't fitted in 'boot practice' as yet but really need to so I can get her out on some hacks. This is all as well as exercising my other shod horse lol!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Great news! Dont' worry about the boots fitting tight at the pastern - I use Cavallos and they're the same, so I use gaiters to stop any little stones getting flick up and going down the boots. Also you don't want them too tight at the pastern anyway, or they may rub. Onwards and upwards!