Going barefoot behind - any tips? Hello BM...

[stencilface]

A bit of background, horse had PSD last year in near hind - had shockwave, box rest along with chiro and osteo treatments every 3 months. I had him back to canter work again, then he duffed a tendon in off hind (well, they didn't find any holes or anything, but had swelling + heat) 6 weeks box rest, inc 3 weeks at a spa then 2 weeks restricted turnout.

Now, tendon leg hasn't come up again, and I'm in a programme of walking with increased amounts of trot, however he wasn't feeling right so I had the chiro out - a different one. New chiro has suggested that his hind heels look squeezed and that this could be causing tension problems up his leg, and also causing the small amount of fill in both hind legs (horse is 12).

Farrier not due out for another 6 weeks, but I thought it might be an idea to get him out now, take off the hind shoes and re-assess shoeing again in 6 weeks - so whether he stays bare, or has wider shoes fitted. I would continue the walk work in this time if possible as it will help keep him sane and all his other bits (sacro and PSD leg) in working order.

So any tips, on anything really! He has good feet that are hard and hold shoes well, and I have competed on a surface without a shoe before and he didn't care, but not really ridden out sans shoe before......

 

[chestnut cob]

I took the shoes off my new horse a couple of shoeing cycles ago (he's shod every 6-7 weeks). Farrier didn't trim the sole, tidied up the frog and wall a tiny bit but basically left them alone saying they'd break off to the nail holes but it wouldn't cause a problem. He was a little ouchy on sharp stones (stony track to the field) for a week or so but otherwise he hasn't felt a thing. We don't have a lot of roadwork in our hacking (mostly off road across fields and bridleways) so he doesn't do loads on the road, but he's fine when we do. Strides along nicely. I've taken him cubbing twice without them; again, hasn't felt a thing. He's jumped out cubbing and is jumping in the school too.

Saving me loads of money!

I just took it easy on the hacking for the first couple of weeks. Picked routes that I knew would involve minimal roadwork, though our roads are all smooth tarmac anyway, and stuck to the school. I haven't changed his diet or anything like that - he gets a handful of Safe & Sound with a scoop of magox in the morning, 5kg of hay during the day and is out at night on not-very-much poor quality grass.

 

[Stephani]

Hi - have had our 2 geldings shod in front only for well over 10 yrs now and works fine for them. They are ridden regularly for approx an hour 5 times a week. We don't do any road work at all though, either riding on natural surfaces or school.

 

[stencilface]

Thanks both

We don't have a school, and due to tendon/PSD issues, I'm not keen to spend lots of time in a hired one. The route I have (currently up to 30-35 mins) is all on good roads, bar our track which is gravelly - might have to dismount a the first few times out to brush his feet out before going on the roads I think.

 

[fishy]

I took my mares hinds off earlier this year (with the plan to eventually go barefoot). I just carried on as normal and she has been great, we had a few footy moments in the second week because our lane to the yard is gravelly but she was great on the roads and bridlepaths. When she is footy I ride her in the school or lunge her or turn her out for a day or two. But like I said she's been great. Good luck x