Farriers,feet and shoeing!

[Clofox]

Hi all,
May have the option of getting a pony so lots of questions,
At the moment she is out of work and is bare foot.
I do hacking and schooling nothing major really. I have not had time to look at the condition of her feet properly, but from the work i do which would be 3/4times a week whould you shoe? all 4 or just front two? or just keep them trimmed and shaped?
Also how much is trim and shape, 2shoes,4shoes? i know price varries depending on your area but are what are you guys experiances personally?
Thanks you, sorry for the numpty questions

 

[Holly Hocks]

If the pony is happy without shoes why change it? I use a barefoot trimmer for my two who is £35 a go. My farrier used to charge £50 for a set of four shoes and £30 for the front two with a trim at the back - he was an excellent farrier as well who encouraged me to try taking my mare without shoes and was happy for me to use the trimmer - his attitude was one of "well if it doesn't work we can always put shoes back on".

 

[tallyho!]

Ponies generally work well without shoes. If she's going well then why pay for shoes?

 

[Clofox]

Thanks for help
I'm not sure if she normally has shoes,shes barefoot at the moment but im not sure whether thats because shes out of work and that they knew they were going to sell her, will def ask thou.
thanks for help

 

[tallyho!]

No worries, I just wanted to add, that if you do consider keeping her unshod, make sure you keep her on a hi-fibre low sugar diet and she should be fine. Infact, I don't think the diet will do her any harm if she were shod either

 

[Oberon]

Shoes on ponies seems to be the in thing nowadays.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

If I had a pony that didnt need shoes I wouldnt be putting them on.

If I get my baby D it wont be getting shoes unless it cant cope with the workload.

I ahve tried BF with my guys and they seem to handle fronts with bare behind but not all rouond

Good Luck with what you decide

 

[Clofox]

Thanks for your help guys will find out, from woner if she normally has her shod.will alson enquire about the price of the farrier too.
Thanks for you help guys
Also whats the diffrence between having two front shoes or all four?

 

[Inchy]

I pay £20 for bare foot trim, £33 for shoes in front, trim behind, £66 for shoes all round. I start off barefoot with everything, and only shoe if I feel they need it.

 

[Clofox]

Thanks for your help.
This sounds a good option

 

[MerrySherryRider]

If you can keep the pony in work without shoes, so much the better. Only shoe if absolutely necessary and even then, she may be fine with just fronts on.
Keeping shoes off is definitely preferrable and all credit to you for not automatically deciding to use shoes without seeing how she gets on first.

 

[Clofox]

If you can keep the pony in work without shoes, so much the better. Only shoe if absolutely necessary and even then, she may be fine with just fronts on.
Keeping shoes off is definitely preferable and all credit to you for not automatically deciding to use shoes without seeing how she gets on first.

Thanks for help, my loan pony lost her shoes playing in th field and now she is barefoot, they look so much better and healthier.
Yes will give it a try, and wont put on unless absolutely have too!
Thank you

 

[CrazyMare]

I have a variety of ponies - all under 14.2h, but all warmblood/TB blood types with some native thrown in.

One is shod all round, works 6-7 days a week, hunting, hacking & jumping. Cost £64 inc 4 road nails

One has no shoes on. Cost £20 trim. Now backed, will potentially need shoes as going to have same career path as the one above

One has fronts on which are coming off in February - Had to have quite a bit of corrective shoeing, and attempting to take them off in February as she is a broodmare. Cost £45

 

[Clofox]

Thanks for help
Sorry for another numpty question..
erm how often will i need to get her feet trimmed and shaped (roughley)?

 

[peaceandquiet1]

approx every 6 weeks but be guided by your farrier