For the barefoot taliban, advice re gravel

BlackRider

BlackRider

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My mare has been barefoot for nearly 10 years, however I've recently moved yards, and there is a long walk over gravel to the field, and she really isn't comfortable on this.

She has a high fibre diet, with minimal hard feed, and is supplemented with brewers yeast, seaweed & rosehip, and magnesium - the same as my gelding who has feet like rocks.

When she first went barefoot it was traumatic for her, so had shoes back, and then the next time her shoes where taken off but the feet not trimmed, and this seemed to work for her.

My farrier has always said she is thin soled, but the hoof quality is good.

I'd rather not, but I'm thinking she will be more comfortable with fronts back on, due to the length of the walk over the gravel.

Any advice welcome - thank you
 
ApacheWarlord said:
My mare has been barefoot for nearly 10 years, however I've recently moved yards, and there is a long walk over gravel to the field, and she really isn't comfortable on this.

She has a high fibre diet, with minimal hard feed, and is supplemented with brewers yeast, seaweed & rosehip, and magnesium - the same as my gelding who has feet like rocks.

When she first went barefoot it was traumatic for her, so had shoes back, and then the next time her shoes where taken off but the feet not trimmed, and this seemed to work for her.

My farrier has always said she is thin soled, but the hoof quality is good.

I'd rather not, but I'm thinking she will be more comfortable with fronts back on, due to the length of the walk over the gravel.

Any advice welcome - thank you
Click to expand...

Have you got any pics of her hooves (side at ground level and sole).

It sounds to me that, if she is uncomfortable on certain surfaces and she still has thin soles after all this time, that her diet isn't agreeing with her.

[ducks for cover]
fear.gif
 
Thanks Oberon. she's fed the same as my gelding (apart from much less hay, and his feet are like rocks), they're both arabs.

She was 20 when her shoes came off, and she's never really walked further than the field / school and back, but has always been a bit footy on gravel.

Will see if I can get some pics at the weekend.
 
am I right in thinking if she was 20 when the shoes came off 10 years ago she is 30 now?
Have you tested for cushing and IR?
 
Yes - that's correct, I did suggest it to the vet, but they didn't think it was needed as she's no other signs.

She's always been footy over gravel, but as she's now got a very long walk over gravel, I don't want her to be uncomfortable.
 
Her feet can't be used to this new surface. I am sure over time she will get used to it, but, why not boot her to walk over this gravel. Doesn't seem worth shoeing just so she can walk over the gravel...
 
ApacheWarlord said:
Yes - that's correct, I did suggest it to the vet, but they didn't think it was needed as she's no other signs.

She's always been footy over gravel, but as she's now got a very long walk over gravel, I don't want her to be uncomfortable.
Click to expand...


my arab is 27. He has absolutely no signs of cushings whatsoever. Oh, except the laminitis that suddenly arrived out of the blue and totally unexpectedly last January. He was then tested.
I am afraid that you simply cannot tell without testing but I would test a horse of that age without delay.

I have no doubt Oberon will be commenting shortly along the same lines :D:D
 
She's on full livery so I don't turn out / bring in, I can have a word with the YO, and see how they feel about that.

I'm guessing she'd end up wearing the boots in the field though, and having them taken off when she comes in.
 
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