Living Out and Hind Shoes!

TheresaW

TheresaW

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My horse was recently diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks. At the moment he is stabled overnight and turned out for a few hours a day and hacked in the evenings. I have given it a lot of thought and have decided that I am going to turn him out for the rest of the summer. (He will come in during the day when it is really hot as he suffers in the heat, and his stable is cooler).

He has always worn shoes, and I have spoken to farrier who says he doesn't think he will cope with no back shoes on. Does anyone here turn out with hind shoes on, and what are your experiences.
 
Surely your horse gets turned out with others at the moment, and the plan is just not to bring him in?

However, if you have to introduce him to a new group of friends, and they have no back shoes on then yes out of curtesy take them off until he is settled, and then put them back on.

It's not realistic to expect your working horse not to have a full set of shoes on ultimately.
 
Thanks. He is turned out at the moment with his friend, but the living out field is a different field and he doesn't know any of the horses.

Maybe I could just have the hinds off for a couple of weeks?
 
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Maybe I could just have the hinds off for a couple of weeks?

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Only if the others have theirs off.
 
My horse is living out 24/7 with all of his shoes on and going into a field with different horses has made no diference.

However he is not a kicker and only threatens unless a horse really goes for him then he stands his ground.

Taking his shoes off whether front or hinds and still hacking out could likely make him foot sore. Something that your farrier will also be concerned about.
However if you intend not to ride then foot soreness shouldn't be an issue.

Your farrier may be thinking that the hind shoes help give support for the arthritis
 
I wouldn't remove the hind shoes. Mine lives out and I've never removed his shoes when introducing him to new horses/groups. However he is not a kicker and has always been low in the pecking order.

Also - how active is his spavin. You may find that removing the shoes affects the spavin. Aran has rolled toes behind to help with his spavin - he needs remedial trimming behind - I'd be very wary removing the shoes especially if your farrier doesnt think that it is a good idea!
 
Mac will still be ridden, so ideally needs all four shoes on. Am thinking that if the others are shoeless, I can remove his hinds for a couple of weeks just in case, then have them put back on. He isn't a kicker, but like your horse, will stand up for himself if bullied.
 
I suppose, at the end of the day, it all depends how the other liveries feel about him going out with their horses with shoes on. I am on hols for 2 weeks soon, so maybe I could tie it all in together, and if they insist on his shoes coming off temporarily, he can have 2 weeks off as well.
 
It might help him having his hind shoes removed, as his circulation will improve in his feet and hind legs. Which could ease some of the arthritic conditions. There is a fab supplement called Riaflex too, which is great for arthritic neddies. We got recommended it for our ex polo pony whose legs are pretty bad - and it is like she has got a new lease of life!
 
Is he liable to start double barreling his new fieldmates? I have some ponies shod and others unshod and have never even thought about taking off their shoes because they are living out.
 
No way. He is so laid back, he asleep most of the time. He can't be bothered to look at another horse the wrong way, let alone physically move to have a go.
grin.gif
 
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It's not realistic to expect your working horse not to have a full set of shoes on ultimately.

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Yes it is. Depending on what sort of ground he's hacked on? I competed one of my horses most weekends (all activities) with no shoes at all for the past 2/3 years!! If the hacking is stoney tracks then he may struggle but if they're nice grassy tracks then he could cope without any shoes at all, but at least without hind shoes. It's just a case of letting them get used to it. If he were mine, if he has athritis in his hind hocks, Id probably be taking his shoes off permanently anyway as I think it would help lessen concusssion in his hocks.

I assume your horse is not turned out with this group of horses now then? If you're introducing him to a new herd then ask the owners if they would prefer you took hind shoes off during the introduction period. If he's not a known kicker / bully etc. then I would probably leave them on if thats what you want to do.
 
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