Options for un-shod hinds? Boots/diet/treatment/shoes??

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Crazydancer

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I have two horses, my old gelding, and a younger mare. Both have been shod fronts only for some time, well over 2 years. So far this has been fine, but we've changed yards, and are now hacking more, and also the tracks here are very stony. (We have a lot of old drovers tracks)
I do feel they can both be sore on the stony tracks, although fine on grass and tarmac. My farrier says they both have really good feet, but there has been nothing on the backs to trim on the last few visits.
I would like to increase the workload, as so far we've only been out once a week or so, and for short hacks. So my dilemma is this, do I:
a) get hoofboots for the backs?
b) have them shod again all round?
c) do something to help 'toughen up' their hooves? And can you do this? (It has been suggested that I can put surgical spirit on the soles to help toughen them up.)
Both are out 24/7, grass only in the summer, and will have access to hay/haylage, and a daily feed of AlphaA and micronised linseed in the winter. Both good-doers but not fatties.

I would prefer option (c) but after so many years, would it be possible to toughen up the hooves further? Any suggestions guys?
 
It has been suggested that I can put surgical spirit on the soles to help toughen them up.
Click to expand...
This is an old wives tale-total rubbish
More work will stimulate more growth so option C is good, just don't do too much too soon-go shorter distances more frequently, do some additional work on softer ground (field/school) or more roadwork initially, working up to the tracks, build it up gradually! My horses do not need their back feet trimming either (or the fronts very often).
You have achieved 'self-trimming' horses!!!!
 
Thanks Serenityjane, I did wonder...... you do hear so much, but had two unrelated people say this in less than a week.
I am very lucky that both horses have great feet, may even take the leap and take fronts off the mare at some point if I can get the backs tougher. Old lad I'm reluctant to mess with, he had bad farriery in the past which means he has to be put 'upright' and has shoes without toeclips to help them keep shape, but this is quite easy to do, and works for him.
The challenge is getting more work in - I struggle for time as it is! I am considering a sharer......
 
Check its not their fronts they are struggling with...i went for a few years thinking my cob x didn't like walking on the gravel track/cobbled lanes, turns out he has had LGL all this time! Generally only spring and autumn but still! However hinds transition well with no need for any extra help :)
 
http://phoenixhorse.myfastforum.org is a Good place to start. I've never had much success with hind boots as found they twisted. I managed to skip hind boots by Building the road work up to help build callous on their soles. Don't let the farrier trim their frogs or soles as you want this built up as much as possible.

Ideally Low sugar diet such as fast fibre and a good balancer such as progressive earth or Forage plus.

micronised linseed is excellent.

Keep on the look out for thrush and nasties That will make them sore and reluctant to use their hoof properly.

edited to add first time I took backs off it went pear shaped so my comments are based on my experience.
 
If there was nothing to trim off when the farrier came then that means they are trimming themselves, not a bad thing. They won't wear away completely if you up the workload - the more work they do, the faster the feet grow :) As long as you have the diet sorted, which you sound as if you do, then they should be fine
 
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