Full set of shoes or just fronts? Need to decide this morning!

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Muddy unicorn

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Please help me make an executive decision on behalf of my daughter who’s not got her phone with her today. The farrier is coming to the yard today and I need to let him know if she wants a full set on her horse. I know virtually nothing about the pros and cons so would appreciate some help!

Her horse is a 9 year old ISH, 16hh, who’s been doing quite a bit more exercise in the last six weeks since she started her full loan. For the previous three months she’d been riding him twice a week but his owner didn’t have time to do much more with him so he spent most of his time in the field. She’s planning to take him cross-country schooling soon as she’d like to enter some local ODEs.

He’s just had shoes on his front feet but she’s been talking about getting a full set but I need to make a decision before I’ll be able to talk to her. Any advice gratefully received
 
On the basis that you can add but not remove, I'd be having fronts for now - he can always come back and do the hinds at another time
 
Eek - I’m not brave enough to make a decision about him being barefoot!! My daughter’s 15 and can be very withering at times!! I suspect fronts is the way to go - as you say it’s easier to add than take away
 
Stick with what he's got. As previous person said hinds can always be added another day, and anyway you'll possibly be saving yourself a bit of money if that's what your daughter wanted. If it's wrong then lesson learned remember to take your mobile phone!!!!
 
fronts unless farrier recommends full set for any reason he finds when shoeing (eg, he notices extensive wear or another issue which might only be evident now the horse is in more work - struggling to think of examples)
 
Can you have a chat with the farrier once he is on the yard and has had a look. Then if your daughter says anything you can say the farrier recommended whichever course you take.

Teenagers can be a bit vulnerable to peer pressure, I have seen many non horsey mums pestered to buy martingales, grackles and all sort of equipment because daughter's friends have them. If someone has said to her, you'll need shoes all round, then she might be reacting to that. So a professional opinion would help.

Also if it's a loan horse do you need to check with the owner.
 
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See what the farrier says....

We have had two ponies now, who initially had only front shoes, but on the advice of farrier and due to hoof wear we eventually shod them all round.

Good luck...

Fiona
 
The farrier said he only needed front shoes for now so the decision’s made - thanks for the advice

PS the owner said it was entirely up to us
 
Save money and have just fronts. If you can then go barefoot you'll save thousands over a lifetime. And watch out for the farrier telling you they 'need shoes' - a lot of horses don't but farriers will say they 'need' them .

I had one farrier tell me my horse couldn't possibly have his shoes off. Another was happy to remove the shoes and he was absolutely fine and saved me a packet. A trim would cost only 20 quid which is a heck of a lot less than shoes.
 
SophieO said:
Eek - I’m not brave enough to make a decision about him being barefoot!! My daughter’s 15 and can be very withering at times!! I suspect fronts is the way to go - as you say it’s easier to add than take away
Click to expand...

Then the next question at that age is who is paying the farrier?
 
letitia7778 said:
Save money and have just fronts. If you can then go barefoot you'll save thousands over a lifetime. And watch out for the farrier telling you they 'need shoes' - a lot of horses don't but farriers will say they 'need' them .

I had one farrier tell me my horse couldn't possibly have his shoes off. Another was happy to remove the shoes and he was absolutely fine and saved me a packet. A trim would cost only 20 quid which is a heck of a lot less than shoes.
Click to expand...

Don't decide to go barefoot for the financial benefits, it's the best possible way for the horse, but the correct diet, which involves natural feeds with no chemicals or horrid additives, means that it costs the same or more than having them shod. Money well spent I always think, making sure they have the very best feed. All these mixes and nuts may be cheap, but are mostly the reason people believe their horse can't go barefoot because they are so bad for their feet. When you decide to start the transition to barefoot, talk to a barefoot trimmer about the correct diet and get them to take the shoes off a month after they have been off the chemicals, then the chances are the horse will be considerably less sensitive.
 
Actually she’s paying the farrier! She has a Saturday job and saves virtually everything she earns for horsey stuff - the deal was I pay for livery, insurance etc and she pays for extras including lessons and farrier. Her work ethic is amazing :)
 
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