Going barefoot after a long time being shod

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LBJ

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Hi, my 28 year old ID/TB mare has recently fully retired to enjoy her life in the field. Having been fully shod all of her adult life, I had her hind shoes removed about 9 months ago, which was all fine, and then her fore shoes removed a couple of months ago. She is REALLY tender on them and I am wondering how long the adjustment period would be, if anyone has experience of this? She's OK in the field but not good coming into the yard on the odd occasion she has done recently, really to escape the heat/flies. Any help??
 
Do you bring her into yard or does she have free access? If you are bringing her in and If she is ok on grass I would just get a pair of boots for fronts to bring her in. Is it stoney ground where you bring her in or concrete / tarmac etc? Are her feet quite flat?
 
I have taken two barefoot, but did so in autumn when the ground was softer. If you have rain now you may find that she improves. It may just be unfortunate timing that the rain stopped just as you took them off, and the whole country has been like concrete since (if you are in the UK).
 
Thanks for replies. I am hoping it is just the hard ground, fields are like concrete although after last night things might improve. Saw her cantering up the field this morning so I am hopeful! Will keep an eye on it though. Thanks again.
 
It’s a really hard summer to be taking shoes off. Frank had his off six years ago aged 19 having been shod at least 11 years probably longer but it was thankfully a wet summer. We stopped hacking him out at the end of may partly because he’s struggling with his feet currently. I’m waiting for it to soften and cool down so I can properly see how he is otherwise
I’d bute if she is struggling
 
Thanks, yes, I think if i'd known this summer was going to be on a par with the Bahamas I'd have kept her shoes on!!
 
LBJ - just wondering how your mare is doing ? I am facing the same with my 24 yo ID mare just retired a couple of weeks ago. Severe arthritis in both pasterns and superficial flexor tendon issues in both hinds. She has been barefoot on the back for a couple of years with no issues but (in conjunction with farrier) have held off removing the fronts ivo the hard ground.

Just wondered if your mare had improved at all ?
 
I would have made sure the diet was correct for her to go barefoot before removing her shoes. If she is really struggling on the harder ground, I'd definitely be looking at the diet.
 
FNC - interestingly, she has improved, which is good. She is still hobbling like an old granny on the hard standing between field and yard but she seems fine in the field now, even cantering about occasionally, which is a good sign. The physio is coming next week to see her and so I will have a chat with her and see what she thinks.
 
Oh that’s interesting LBJ thank you. I have visions of mine being the same - hobbling between field and yard, but that’s only about 50 yards if that so might be worth trying at some stage. She’s happy enough in the field, can still hold her own in the herd hierarchy etc. Good luck with the physio
 
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