zoon
Well-Known Member
My horse was sold in Jan and came back to me last month. It's a very long story, but he came back with the same shoes on as I had put on in january. No idea how they stayed on that long, but farrier advised leaving them until he came as could do more damage removing them (hoof wall had grown over the shoe). Shoes prompty fell off anyway and took half of hoof wall with them. Obviously nothing left to put a shoe on to so is now barefoot.
He has been barefoot at the back for a while now and always coped well. He was also barefoot on the fronts for about a year, but change of yard and he didn't cope as well and became quite footy. Fronts were put on again and he was fine. Fed the saem and worked the same so can only assume it was dietary?
Now he is back and the shoes have been off for about 6 weeks. In that time the hoof has grown the grand total of ZERO mm! His back hooves are also a bit chipped. He has been turned out 24/7 on soft ground to keep him comfortable, lightly worked a couple of times a week on same ground and a few days ago walked out on tarmac (and was comfortable seeing as he doesn't have any hoof wall!) My reasoning behind that was to stimulate some growth. Is it a good idea to continue doing it?
I am guessing it is dietary so wondered what I could do to help. Would love to keep him barefoot again as his feet were 10000 times better shape and horn quality without them, but will consider shoes in front if he is uncomfortable. Currently out 24/7 on plentiful grass. Not lush grazing, but plenty of grass there. Has a daily feed of saracen veteran mix, alphabeet, micronised linseed and feedmark benevit. Not currently fed hay as still lots of grass in field and will hopefully be renting another field for them to move in to with lots of grass when this field has been eaten down. My little pony has super feet and has been on this grazing longer, so not sure if it a dietary issue from when he was sold or now?
Any help greatly appreciated!
He has been barefoot at the back for a while now and always coped well. He was also barefoot on the fronts for about a year, but change of yard and he didn't cope as well and became quite footy. Fronts were put on again and he was fine. Fed the saem and worked the same so can only assume it was dietary?
Now he is back and the shoes have been off for about 6 weeks. In that time the hoof has grown the grand total of ZERO mm! His back hooves are also a bit chipped. He has been turned out 24/7 on soft ground to keep him comfortable, lightly worked a couple of times a week on same ground and a few days ago walked out on tarmac (and was comfortable seeing as he doesn't have any hoof wall!) My reasoning behind that was to stimulate some growth. Is it a good idea to continue doing it?
I am guessing it is dietary so wondered what I could do to help. Would love to keep him barefoot again as his feet were 10000 times better shape and horn quality without them, but will consider shoes in front if he is uncomfortable. Currently out 24/7 on plentiful grass. Not lush grazing, but plenty of grass there. Has a daily feed of saracen veteran mix, alphabeet, micronised linseed and feedmark benevit. Not currently fed hay as still lots of grass in field and will hopefully be renting another field for them to move in to with lots of grass when this field has been eaten down. My little pony has super feet and has been on this grazing longer, so not sure if it a dietary issue from when he was sold or now?
Any help greatly appreciated!