Is it ok to ride with a missing shoe??

Hels_Bells

Hels_Bells

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I've never been in this predicament before as I've never done as much eventing as I am atm, so whenever a horse of mine has lost a shoe I've simply not ridden it and got the farrier in the next day or two. No problem.

However Remy threw a shoe yesterday in the field and as I'm between farriers atm (life long farrier's wife went psycho on me over 2 stud holes one of their guys messed up) I can't get a farrier out until Wednesday evening (new highly approved farrier is at national shoeing champs until then), so I won't be able to ride him again until Thursday unless I go back to the old farrier which I'm loathe to do!!

Problem is that I really am concerned about keeping Rem's fitness up for Hutton in 2 weeks time. He went well within the time at Beckwithshaw, and he tries so hard when you're out there XC he doesn't seem to be struggling but after I got off I felt like he had overdone it a bit and took quite a while to get his breath back so I was hoping to really work on fitness in this gap between events. Losing this shoe will knock nearly a week out and leave us only about a week and a half before the event.

On the flipside, I think he's lacking in something in his diet (which I'm addressing) so wondering if a little break would actually be good for him... and whether he actually is quite fit and it's just a lack of nutrients that affected him at Beckwithshaw.

I don't have access to any kind of surface apart from a grass field so I'm not sure if I can ride him at all until he's got his new shoe(s) on. What do people think? I have always been taught that it's a no-no but would you ride a horse with a shoe missing? He's out 24/7 so just a gentle hack for example probably won't make much difference to fitness.
 
Well I just lost £145 on a training course due to a lost shoe!

In my case a large bit of hoof was missing, and I didn't want to loose any more foot as there wasn't a lot for the farrier to work with

However if there is plenty of hoof (i.e. the farrier will do a good trim) then you can easily do a bit of gentle exercise.

Lots of horses loosing shoes now due to extreme dry and then extreme wet!
 
totally dependant on the horse. If he is a hardy type (i.e. doesn't get easily bruised soles and also has good foot conformation) and your ground is relatively soft but not slippy you should be fine to work gently. i.e. schooling etc. If though prone to bruising or rather flat footed etc or rutted ground I would say wait for a shoe. You can ride most horses in a school with a missing shoe as the surface compensates for the missing height of shoe. On grass if its not relatively soft it will be like wearing a heeled shoe on your left foot and a flat on your right!
 
Aaargh how frustrating for you CSJ!

I was just really non-plussed on this one, it seems such a idiot question to ask but I really don't know what to do! From what you say, I may do a bit of schooling with him every other day until Wednesday or something to at least keep him ticking over. He's got a fair bit of hoof to go at but not sure how well they will hold up without a shoe so might have to just play it by ear and give up if they're not holding up. Either that or swallow my pride and go back to the psycho for a quick fix!
 
Thanks Santa - I wondered about the height difference and whether there is any danger of him twisting something or similar as a result. He has great foot conformation and has never had a bruised sole on me. Our grass field is very level but quite hard atm and I think it might be slippy without a shoe - though he manages fine without studs etc. Oh, I just can't make a decision!! ...maybe lots of lateral work in walk!!!
 
My horse lost a shoe on wednesday - but I didnt know till we had finished work - he did 1x 6 minute fast canter and 2x short gallops with 3 shoes :o

But farrier is excellent and he put a shoe back on yesterday morning.

I wouldnt choose to ride with 3 shoes imo :)
 
Thanks for your input OM it's much appreciated. I really don't want to ride him in 3, but feel right between the devil and the deep blue on this one.

Also, if one has come off (he never loses shoes) I think there's a good chance another could come off while ridden and that's not ideal esp if they come off crooked or get bent etc. Another thought is that it's better to have a sound slightly less fit horse than something worse happen as a result of the shoes or riding him without! (sorry just musing to myself now) ;)
 
As a general rule I get my Dad to remove the other shoe for me and then ride with either just fronts or just backs but it would obviously depend on the state of the feet and the surface.
 
If there is just one lost shoe I wouldn't because I once did this and my horse came in lame the next day with a bad back and had to have 2 weeks off. not worth it..
But if there is 2 fronts missing or 2 backs I would.
 
I don't ride with a shoe missed, manily to do with the fact hes a TB and hasnt got the best feet ( bar shoes are a must "/) But Went to Shelford PC ODE lost shoe at fence 6 galloped/ cantered the rest of the 12 fences home!! Bless, but no i dont and i am under strienct ordersnot to ride witha shoe missing!! ;) other wise i shall have no good feet left ;):P Poor B
 
It all depends on your horses feet. I often ride without one if the need arises. My farrier is 60 miles away and only comes every 2 weeks to my area. If I loose a shoe inbetween, I have to ride without.

My horses have particularly good feet, and I just carry on as usual, but we used to have one that was rubbish if he lost a shoe, so he had to be left until a new one was put one.

In fact, I have come home from work tonight to discover a front shoe off. He'll still hack tomorrow and go jump training on grass on sunday.
 
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