How long will it take my horse to get used to going barefoot?

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Sags_Deer

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I had the front shoes taken off my horse last week, he is really pottery without them which I was sort of expecting he is still struggling 5 days later. Im putting hardener on his soles. I hate seeing him like it, but is in semi retirement and doesnt hack out so had them taken off. I willl put them back on if I have to. Should I give him longer to get used to it?
 
Both of mine both took to it pretty much straight away when their shoes came off, but they were both in full work and although their feet were badly trimmed and this could have caused lameness in the long term, there was nothing seriously amiss with them. The problem your horse has is unlikely to be lack of hardness in the sole or just not being used to being barefoot. My guess would be low grade laminitis and/or heel pain if he's struggling significantly. What is his diet like? The key to having a comfy barefoot horse is often poor quality or very little grass, soaked or old hay, no hard feed - basically a low sugar diet. Trimming is also very important, both too little and too much food can cause problems.

Hoofrehab.com is a really good site for getting up to speed on barefoot stuff :)
 
Sags_Deer said:
thanks, he is only getting hi fi lite, bit of speedibeet and a feed balancer. See I do remb my old mare was a bit pottery for a few days when she first had hers off.
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Keep an eye on him though, when the grass flushes at this time of year it cn cause real probs for barefoot horses if they are prone to LGL ;)
 
If you are worried about laminitis as mentioned by another reply I would get the vet out. However, I think it is perfectly normal for them to be footy initially, it can take them weeks, even months to adjust to being barefoot, ultimately you know your horse best but with going barefoot you do have to ride it out so to speak
 
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