lost a front shoe- ok to ride on grass?

xMoodyMarex

xMoodyMarex

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Due to unfortunate circumstances my mare hasn't been ridden for about 2 weeks (she's the type of horse that needs to be ridden most days) I was hoping to excercise her again during the 2 weeks Easer hols, as the field has now dried up so wouldn't have to hack out alone (which is why she hasn't been ridden for 2 weeks, as the owner of the other mare at the yard can't ride for a few months)

However...my mare has lost a front shoe and the farrier won't be coming for another 2 weeks, and that would be a month without her being ridden. I would never ride on the road with a missing front shoe, but is it ok to ride on grass without a front shoe? I would just be walking, trotting, a few canters, and possibly a few very small jumps...would this be ok? Sorry if this seems a silly question, but I thought it would be better to be safe than sorry.

Any advice would be really appreciated :)
 
I wouldn't but it would depend on what your mares feet are like...is there no way you can get a shoe on as it's the holidays, seems a shame not be able to ride for that long...another farrier perhaps ?
 
thank you all, I'll see if the farrier can come up earlier, but if not then she'll just have to have quite a long holiday as I'll be back at 6th form in 2 weeks and then have 6 final exams shortly after. I'm sure she'll be chuffed about the month or so off though lol :)
 
My mare lost a front shoe as well yesterday (first one she's ever lost in the 4 years I've had her).

She looked quite lame and uneven this morning when I turned her out, but after the farrier came and put another one back on today, she was fine again. So I personally wouldn't ride my mare with a front shoe missing. I must be very lucky that my farrier was able to come the very next day :)
 
If she's sound and has good feet she probably won't come to a lot of harm if you keep an eye on it and are careful to stop if she doesn't feel right. Better if you can get the farrier earlier though.
 
If a missing shoe is left off for any length of time (week or more) even without the horse doing any work (and this will exacerbate the problem) it will begin wearing and when the horse is who'd again that hoof will be smaller than the still shod hoof. Sometimes the wear is so extreme that the farrier will have difficulty putting the shoe back on and also the horse will be at risk of pulling the shoe again because the hoof is smaller and/or damaged by the loss and resulting wear. I would never ride a shod horse who was missing a shoe. Go and put on one shoe and a backpack full of books. Walk around (on the grass if you like but better on the stones or Tarmac) and come back and tell me if you would ride a show horse missing a shoe. :-)
 
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