'Holiday' without shoes over Christmas?

J

Jango

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 July 2010
Messages
615
Visit site
Im planning on taking my lads shoes off for approx. a month over Christmas, he's perfectly happy and sound in shoes but I think it's good for their feet to have a break! I thought xmas time would be ideal as no shoes = better grip in icy conditions. When I was at a different yard he was barefoot with no issues, but at my current yard the hacking is a lot of stoney tracks which he is uncomfortable walking on barefoot, he is usually hacked 2-3 times a week and overall ridden 5-6 times a week. Ive just got a few questions, firstly is a month long enough for him benefit? Are there any supplements that would help him and if so how long before the shoes come off would I need to start feeding them? I dont want him to be barefoot all the time as I dont have the time for all the hacking on hard surfaces and Im on livery so cant micromanage the grass etc and also in summer I jump and stud. but I do want his feet to stay as healthy as possible! Thank you!
 
No use in a month ! I have never had any problems with doing that , but I accept that I have probably been lucky, once the shoes came off though I never went back !!!

Ps never changed feed or husbandry!!!
 
I always have my TB`S shoes off over the winter, depending on weather conditions and work load as to what month to take them off (usually december) and put back on again (usually march/ april)
he has great feet because of this! no crumbling of the wall like my friends horse who is shod all year round! :)
would definatly recommend doing it!
saves pennies too! :)
 
Horses i share had shoes off all winter last year from november onwards as we rarely hack them out after that. Did them no harm one is an tb ex racer other is either tb or tbx.
 
Every horse should have a rest from shoes - years ago they normally did, the showing horses and polo ponies in the winter and the hunters in the summer. There weren't really any other horses around apart from working horses that were shod all year and they were the ones that suffered most from navicular, foot problems, etc.

Even a month is better than nothing.
 
3-4 months would be better as then have a chance of the nail holes growing out. I try to get my mares off every year, but depends how wet the ground is.
 
My mares will come off after last event in October and go back on in March ready for first event. Sj and dressage on surfaces over the winter, ground is soft for hacking and no snow balling in her hooves :-)
 
I will be doing the same as riding_promise :) I did the same last winter and his hooves really seemed to benefit. I don't think a month is worth it TBH , you won't see much growth in the winter months
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top