does his front shoes make any difference?

[welshied]

My horse has arthritis and doesn't get ridden anymore. He used to have shoes on all four but over a year ago he had his back shoes taken off and his feet cope well, he still has front shoes on now but always looses them as he has really bad feet. I leave them on because i thought they would help take some of his weight with him always resting his hind leg. Do you think there is any need for them?

 

[Bossanova]

Shoes wont make the slightest amount of difference when it comes to bearing weight.
Take them off if he's not too footy without them on.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

[ QUOTE ]
Shoes wont make the slightest amount of difference when it comes to bearing weight.
Take them off if he's not too footy without them on.

[/ QUOTE ]

I second this, whip them off, if he is retired and out in the field its worth seeing how your horse does without

 

[welshied]

that will save me money farriers coming tomorrow, he was retired this summer at the grand old age of 13 lol (he has had arthritis since he was 8) but he only holds his shoes about 5 weeks, he never gets foot sore!

 

[TheFarrier]

[ QUOTE ]
he never gets foot sore!

[/ QUOTE ]

No need for the shoes unless they were remedial ones keeping him sound so have them off by all means