First time shoeing queries :-)

W

wellwisher

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2008
Messages
192
Location
Devon
Visit site
Hi
Really hoping there is someone here who can help me! My 10 yr old daughter has just discovered hunting and is absolutely loving it, as is her pony who is learning the ropes with her pony(and being a total star).

My quandary is that until now he has very successfully gone without shoes, not in heavy work but doing a little bit of everything 2-3 times a week. He has now hunted 5 consecutive saturdays but with little if any work between. Coping fine fitness wise and is not sore BUT his feet are really wearing back and lots of the ground is really flinty.

So thinking shoes may be required to continue hunting and not damage him! How effective would it be to just put on fronts? Having never been shod, how long will it take him to adjust\balance? At the end of the season will it be possible to go back to no shoes over the summer?

Any thoughts, answers,help or experience really appreciated...thank you :-)
 
Oooh thank you! have to admit to also being worried about the feeding issue! He is a fantastically talented and brilliant natured sec C Welsh. Never been fed extras and showing absolutely no need for it in his coat, weight or behaviour. Don't want to feed him anything that will badly affect his manners (bearing in mind daughters age).
 
wellwisher said:
Never been fed extras and showing absolutely no need for it in his coat, weight or behaviour.
Click to expand...

In what way do you have a feeding issue? Sounds like you should carry on with whatever you're doing at the moment!

ETA My horse is doing his first season's hunting without shoes and it's going really well. The best bit is the fantastic grip on the road and the impossibility of the day being cut short due to a lost shoe.
 
My quandary is...
1) Feed him correctly for his feet with the worry that he will become too much for my daughter too handle
2) Shoe him. Either full or half set but apart from the cost not sure of the practicalities of him adjusting to be shod for the first time aged 7 and that feasibility of going back to no shoes for pony clubbing in the summer.

All input really appreciated as not sure what to do for the best!!
 
I would leave him barefooted at the moment and see how it goes. I have had many ponies that were hunting hard all season barefooted and they were fine. Most were laminitic when they came to me and non ever went lame because they didn't have shoes on.

Tell your daughter to look for grass as much as she can - ponies are very adept at cantering along a tall grass verge only 6 inches wide!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top