Is shoeing the only way to prevent slipping?

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Took Dex for a walk up the lane today, it's the only way to get to a big estate and woods where all our hacking is, but it turns out it's super slippery and he had quite a bad slip today just walking and not being silly, so that was quite worrying.

Apparently a lot of the horses have road nails, but I'd like to keep him barefoot, would hoof boots work? Or can anyone recommend anything to try?

 

[ihatework]

Shoeing, even with nails would generally make them slip more

 

[SEL]

I find mine are more stable without shoes. Baby cob had fronts put back on because he was getting bruised but he definitely strides out more confidently on tarmac barefoot

 

[Gloi]

Hoof boots work very well on slippery tarmac. I have never had a problem slipping on the road in them. It's just short wet grass that they can give trouble.

 

[rabatsa]

The only safe way along a slippery stretch of road is to lead the horse.

Get in touch with the local authority and explain the problem and ask for the road to be chipped to make it safer.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

That's interesting, I was led to believe that the road nails help - well that's a semi relief then, a friend has some hoof boots that I could possibly try.
Leading for the time being isn't an issue as it's the plan for the next year anyway, but it was a proper slip and he definitely didn't feel sure footed on it. Perhaps he just needs to practise and find his feet.
I will put in a report to the LA, but I think the turnaround time is about 4-5 years

 

[Gloi]

That's interesting, I was led to believe that the road nails help - well that's a semi relief then, a friend has some hoof boots that I could possibly try.
Leading for the time being isn't an issue as it's the plan for the next year anyway, but it was a proper slip and he definitely didn't feel sure footed on it. Perhaps he just needs to practise and find his feet.
I will put in a report to the LA, but I think the turnaround time is about 4-5 years

When I used shoes I always had road nails in and found they helped though they often sheared off.

 

[webble]

Mine has hoof boots and is very confident on most surfaces including wet steep hills. As above wet grass on a slope can be a bit slippery

 

[smolmaus]

We have had a few slips going downhill on one particular bit of road near us that is slippy when wet and shes stopped slipping now she knows to pay attention to her feet on that bit and not just fling them about.

 

[Peglo]

I was hacking with a couple of friends down a steep road. Both of their horses were shod and slipped going down the road but Tali felt completely secure in her boots and she’s not the most sure footed horse. I don’t know however if either friends horses had road nails or not.

 

[SEL]

I will put in a report to the LA, but I think the turnaround time is about 4-5 years

About the timeline for our potholes

 

[paddy555]

That's interesting, I was led to believe that the road nails help - well that's a semi relief then, a friend has some hoof boots that I could possibly try.
Leading for the time being isn't an issue as it's the plan for the next year anyway, but it was a proper slip and he definitely didn't feel sure footed on it. Perhaps he just needs to practise and find his feet.
I will put in a report to the LA, but I think the turnaround time is about 4-5 years

some do slip and need to learn so practise and letting him get used to it and work it out for himself. If he is likely to get hurt put some knee boots on to protect him.

He may not have had much in the way of slipping in his previous home.

We have a steep slippery downhill tarmac road. Mine can trot down barefoot whilst shod horses I am with are slowly edging their way down. I have always found that going downhill on smooth tarmac to be totally safe with barefoot horses so he may just need to learn. Horses do learn to control slipping.

 

[Caol Ila]

My barefoot horses slide around less than their shod hacking buddies on most surfaces.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

some do slip and need to learn so practise and letting him get used to it and work it out for himself. If he is likely to get hurt put some knee boots on to protect him.

He may not have had much in the way of slipping in his previous home.

We have a steep slippery downhill tarmac road. Mine can trot down barefoot whilst shod horses I am with are slowly edging their way down. I have always found that going downhill on smooth tarmac to be totally safe with barefoot horses so he may just need to learn. Horses do learn to control slipping.

He won't have as he was just out in a field for 2.5 years - this is good to know though, hopefully he will find his feet and it won't be too much of an issue. He's not been on slippery before so perhaps it is just practise.

 

[Highmileagecob]

What are his feet like? Is he weighting all four evenly? If you can ask your trimmer/farrier to leave a little bit of heel and don't remove the bars at the next trim, hopefully he will learn to use the anchors! If he has been trimmed down to sole level, there won't be any hoof to counteract slippy surfaces, and boots would be your best best

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

What are his feet like? Is he weighting all four evenly? If you can ask your trimmer/farrier to leave a little bit of heel and don't remove the bars at the next trim, hopefully he will learn to use the anchors! If he has been trimmed down to sole level, there won't be any hoof to counteract slippy surfaces, and boots would be your best best

That reminds me that I need to take photos! I have been concentrating so much on teaching him to get them off the ground, that I haven't focused so much on what they look like from the bottom. I know they look good but haven't had time before now to analyse much more than that!
I will discuss with farrier, thank you!

 

[splashgirl45]

In my experience shod horses slip more on the road so shoes won’t help. I wouldnt put boots on as you are not going to be riding for some time. It will be good for him to learn to balance himself without a rider

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

What are his feet like? Is he weighting all four evenly? If you can ask your trimmer/farrier to leave a little bit of heel and don't remove the bars at the next trim, hopefully he will learn to use the anchors! If he has been trimmed down to sole level, there won't be any hoof to counteract slippy surfaces, and boots would be your best best

Now I’ve taken photos, I’m actually not quite so happy with the side and front on view of his foot. But then again, really I don’t much know what I’m looking at apart from the obvious angles and main things

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Black tarmac without any chippings with it is a nightmare; where I am they've started replacing the old-style chippings with this stuff which is horribly slippy with metal shoes on, especially on our Devon hills.

Ours are all barefoot and we've noticed how much less slippage there is. They also wear hoof-boots occasionally. Not noticed any slipping with boots on.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Not bad, but room for improvement! Overgrown bar needs balancing up, and the hoof wall needs bringing back to stop the white line from stretching any more. The deep fissure in the frog and up the heel shouldn't be there, and indicates thrush. This would make the heel area painful and throw weight onto the toe, which could explain why the slipping is occurring.
I had to ask my trimmer to stop levelling Old Dobbin down to the sole all round, and instead would she start to leave a shallow collar at the heel area and leave the bars at the corresponding height. He is now sound after trimming, no footyness, and no thrush during the wet spell. Let us know how you get on, we like a happy ending!

 

[Gloi]

I don't really like the overgrown bar and low heel on the hoof. It is something for the trimmer to work on before he starts being ridden.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Thanks for the feedback both, I’ll definitely discuss with the farrier. The first visit was just a ‘get the job done’ but now he’s much better with his feet we can work on improvements for sure