How long should you leave a horse transition to barefoot?

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almrc

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I have been rehabilitating my horse for about 18 months. In this time he was mainly in the field. I have been hacking him out for about 5 months now on all sorts of terrain.He doesn't have shoes on. Previous to me having him, he has always been barefoot but I believe although hacking out, was mainly schooled. He ages ago, had fronts on for a short while when he was jumping, then he went bare foot again.

He is doing ok hacking out, his feet have got a louder clip-clopping noise on the road and I have been using that hoof hardner that begins with 'k' cant remember the name! He does sometimes go a little foot sore and is still looking for the verges. How long should I leave it before potentially putting fronts on or shouldn't I?
 
How much grass is he allowed? He sounds like he's generally doing pretty well but maybe either a bit too much sugar or try supplementing magnesium oxide?

Is there something in particular thats going on when he goes sore? certain times of the year or weather?

Be careful using keratex too much it has some pretty nasty chemicals in it - pretty sure formaldehyde is one of them.
 
Well he lives out all the time. I haven't been riding him long enough to see what he is like with the different weather but it is certainly something I will take into account. keratex thats it! I used it first of all all week for 1 week then use it once a week now as it says on the packet. So potentially, might he need more magnesium oxide than in the pink powder for example?
 
It sounds like you've got it very nearly right and maybe just need to do a tweak of diet to get it perfect. Some horses just seem to be a little more sensitive to diet than others: I have one who can eat anything and still canter over rubble, and other who becomes noticably more sensitive if he's on 'decent' grass. It's not as simple as just adding mag ox. It does depend on your grazing and forage but a good general supplement for barefeet horses is brewers yeast, seaweed and linseed, plus mag ox if he needs it (not all horses do).

Plus, do you think he's actually sore on the stoney ground, or just careful? My horse will choose a grass verge if he can but it doesn't bother if he can't - common sense to me;) If he's not in any discomfort then let him pick the verges and his feet will harden with time. If you do think he's a bit sore why not try boots on the worst rides and spend longer building up? Putting shoes on would be a quick fix for the problem but won't help his feet strength in the long run.

oh, and make sure he's not got any thrush: it's horrible weather for it and it will make him sensitive. I have an ongoing battle with it due to the facilities I have (i.e none, but lots of mud!)
 
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