Going Shoeless

H

highlandponylady

New User
Joined
8 November 2012
Messages
8
Visit site
I have a 15 year old Highland with really crumbly back feet and have been considering taking the shoes off. Can anyone give me some guidance as to what time of year is best to take them off and length of time it takes to know whether it is a good solution or not?
 
If the horse's feet are crumbly that suggests unhealthy feet. Diet is the first thing that needs addressing in such cases; often that means restricting grazing and soaking hay, though a decent mineral supplement may be enough.

After that its a case of working the horse as much as possible over varied terrains, but always within the comfort levels of the horse.

There is stacks of information here in past posts about barefoot diet and transition. Good luck :).
 
I asked the same question about a week ago. I am doing it in 3 weeks after he has had his next physio treatment - as long as he hasn't lost them all hooning about in the snow tomorrow.
 
Considering how wet the UK is I guess anytime is a good time but I did mine over winter.

I don't actually think there is a "magic" time, it's about being able to GIVE time so that a better hoof capsule can improve and grow to ground level.

Diet is nearly always the reason for poor horn quality but could it be also that the feet are poorly balanced? Too long? Not supported well enough in shoes?
 
I wouldnt take them off til the weather has improved a bit - the frozen ground is very unforgiving and if your turnout is rutted it wont help the transition.

This is good though as it gives you chance to sort your diet out - whats he being fed?
 
Any time is a good time, I'd avoid extremes like frozen ground though, as others have said, no point making it harder than it is.

I'd start off with getting his diet sorted then take the shoes off.

You will need some boots though because exercise is the most important element in the whole barefoot game.
 
You have been advised that you will need boots and that may be true. There are, though, many, many horses that go barefoot just fine without boots. It depends on what surfaces you have available to exercise him on and how much he misses his shoes. Some don't even notice that they are gone :)

I would also caution people to wait before they buy boots if they can, because feet very often get either bigger or smaller and you could swiftly end up with a set of expensive boots that you can't use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top