Do you think I can get away with this?

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niagaraduval

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Am sitting here quite p*ssed off TBH. Farrier came this morning, had to go out so left horse with the farrier and paid him for the shoes. Have been waiting for farrier to come for over a week as naughty horse lost a shoe and couldn't be ridden. Farrier comes so it's all good, happy about being able to finally ride again. Get a text in the afternoon to say he couldn't be shod as his hooves aren't long enough (weird because he has only been out in the very wet field and his hooves haven't worn a tall me thinks) so I'm slightly annoyed.

Have finally got the YO to lend me his horsebox (after him F** me about for 2 months telling me when I can use it then saying at the last moment I can't). So myself and my friend have totally had enough and I am supposed to be going this Friday to my friends house to ride with her horse.
All is planned (as the last 4 other times were) for friday and now my bloody horse isn't shod.
I am thinking F* it I'm taking him anyway (we will only be going up a muddy track and in her field) without any shoes as I am so completely fed up and I know if I have to find another excuse to why I'm not coming my friend will be equally as P* off and won't invite me anymore, Although it's really not my fault a all YO has been faffing me around and making me cancel at the last minute and also giving me another day I can use it then telling me the day before I can't.

Sorry about this rant - Can I get away with taking him to my friends place and riding him around in her field and possibly a short walk up the track without any shoes ? He is not at all shifty on any ground without his shoes even on stony terrain so would this be ok? Or do I have to cancel (for about the 5th time in 2 months)? It's almost asthough YO told him not to shoe him in the hope I wouldn't go. (Very far fetched I know but hey ho!)

Thanks for reading - Hot choccy for everyone :) Or orange juice for those that don't like hot chocolate :D
 
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I wouldn't. Doesn't matter whose fault it is, yours, the farrier or the yard owner - it certainly isn't your horse's fault and yet he could be the one that ends up sore. I think you've got to cancel again.
 
Go for it- you can always just leave him out if he does get sore and not ride, but most horses are fine for a few days- mine went through a whole ODE with one back shoe and one front shoe cause she went loopy in the trailer and Id paid for it so she was damn well going round, a little bit sore the next day but no way enough to regret doing it or consider her lame at all:)
 
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No missing shoes he was missing a back shoe but the farrier came and took them all off.

I never ride him when he's missing a shoe as they get unbalanced and can hurt their back etc.. but he doesn't have any and TBH he is not at all soft footed, I feel I can easily get away with riding round her field (which is probably a bit soggy :( ) but would like advice. He's never been lame yet *touches wood* and I certainly couldn't put my horse in any risk WHAT SO EVER.
 
If he's completely unshod you should be fine in the field. Just don't take him anywhere too hard.

At my old riding school hardly any of the ponies were ever shod, but we rarely went beyond the school and fields. They were fine to walk around the local lanes once in a while too - but then, they were used to being shoeless.
 
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I know lots of horses that are un shod that hack out on the roads unless he has very bad feet I'm sure it wouldn't hurt anyway it's more natural to have no shoes on
 
do it. it will do his feet good. The parts of the foot that havent had a chance to work whilst being peripherally loaded with shoes will start to work again! (ie the frog) You say he isnt footy even on stones when the shoes are off? well done you and well done to your farrier.

Seriously consider having his shoes off for a month or two each year x
 
Most of my youngsters are unshod (they have never been shod) and all hack out happily on the roads once a week. I have had to put fronts on one of them as he knocked too much foot off with hacking on the roads and another had to be shod all round as he has very good feet but very thin soles so although he was sound on the road he would go lame in the school on a sand and rubber surface.

If your horse had good feet I would certainly consider trying him unshod.
 
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