Pass him by.

Pale Rider

Pale Rider

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I've been thinking about some horses we have that have never been shod and some, one's we've bought in, that have. I've decided that I'll never buy a shod horse or one that has been shod ever again. Why? Shoeing has too big an effect on the whole health of the horse, not just the feet.
Might seem a little OTT, but I feel shoeing is too detrimental.
 
Pale Rider said:
I've been thinking about some horses we have that have never been shod and some, one's we've bought in, that have. I've decided that I'll never buy a shod horse or one that has been shod ever again. Why? Shoeing has too big an effect on the whole health of the horse, not just the feet.
Might seem a little OTT, but I feel shoeing is too detrimental.
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It's very unusual to find a shod horse in the area I live so if ever I look at horses for sale and they have shoes on I do wonder why. I almost never will buy horses who are shod. I've only ever bought 2 over here who were sold shod and I promptly took their shoes off and they've been perfect.
 
What a very strange post!

I do have mine unshod though, I just don't like shoes after reading studies and things. Natural is best!
Our newest mare (well, we got her in October!) when farrier first came out he took off her hinds and then next time, fronts off. She didn't notice and I'm much happier she's not got shoes on anymore :)
 
Each to their own.

When I want to but a horse whether he is shod or not is not high on my list of importance's.


I would be more concerned if:

Passport did not match the horse
was not vaccinated
wormed
other health issue.


It is more detrimental for some horses to be barefoot for what ever reason.
If it was a good horse perfect in anyway and was into b/f. I would just go about preparing the horse to go b/f taking shoes off when time came.
 
I'd much rather have a horse unshod if I could but I certainly wouldn't let the fact a horse was shod put me off buying it. Obviously if it had poor hooves that would be concerning but I know so many horses which are happy and healthy shod (and many of them are older and have been shod most of their life and are still going strong). Equally, my horse is doing really well with barefoot rehab at home. As others have pointed out there are other things that would put me off buying a horse.
 
All mine are unshod now. I prefer it. But most people stick on shoes as a matter of course as soon as they start work. So not really a biggie if I'm buying a shod one.

Terri
 
Whilst I agree that shoeing is not at all good for the horse, there are some, that due to indiscriminate breeding (most notably TBs that have been bred for nothing other than speed) cannot comfortably go without something on their feet, preferably removable boots. I would never ever shoe a horse again, unless I have first persevered with it barefoot. So many horses have their feet ruined permanently by shoeing, and some also have detrimental effects rebound throughout their bodies causing massive damage. I do see where you are coming from OP, but I would not discount a shod horse.
 
That is extreme what about those who need shoes as a temp measure while foot is healing/growing? My horse is shod not because I want too it's because she wears her walls down due to the road work we have to do as we don't have fields and woodland to plotter around on allowing us to go barefoot, we have tried.
 
Spring Feather said:
I think that's his point. That it isn't, hence he'd never buy a horse who has ever been shod before.
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Yes - but my point is, why would he discount a horse who has been shod previously if barefoot can magically resolve everything that can possible go wrong with a horse. It shouldn't matter - because barefoot can fix it!

I am on the fence about its miraculous powers- mine are all unshod, and one of them got colic last week.
 
Mrs B said:
Oh Gawd! Don't encourage him! He already has an inbuilt superiority complex about how to keep a horse and a Tourette-like habit of yelling 'Barefoot' at odd moments... ;)
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lmao. ^5 made me laugh after reading poor Tobiano's thread.





Not to repeat myself- What about horses been barefoot all their life in turn needs shoes as a last result, too keep them in work/sound PR?

1 of mine is shod now after being barefoot was not an option anymore.
 
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Auslander said:
Yes - but my point is, why would he discount a horse who has been shod previously if barefoot can magically resolve everything that can possible go wrong with a horse. It shouldn't matter - because barefoot can fix it!
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And as I said, it isn't magical enough because he believes the damage has already been done. Hence he won't buy another horse who has been shod previously.
 
Spring Feather said:
And as I said, it isn't magical enough because he believes the damage has already been done. Hence he won't buy another horse who has been shod previously.
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But he has sworn blind in the past that barefoot is the answer to everything. I reckon he's back pedalling subtly. His horses will be in egg bars and pelhams by this time next year - you mark my words ;-)
 
It wouldn't put me off if one was shod and had good feet. It would put me off it it was shod and that had caused its hooves to deteriorate. Unwormed or had been living in a ragwort patch would put me off though.
 
Auslander said:
But he has sworn blind in the past that barefoot is the answer to everything. I reckon he's back pedalling subtly. His horses will be in egg bars and pelhams by this time next year - you mark my words ;-)
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Ahh okay, sorry I haven't read most of his posts so didn't realise he said that.

Well I wouldn't buy a riding horse who'd been shod, if that helps any :smile3: shoes aren't the norm in the area I live and definitely raise eyebrows for most buyers.
 
I'd prefer if it hadn't been but as most people shoe as a matter of course it would be very difficult to avoid.


However the feet are one of the first thing I will look at in a horse and the state they are in will make a big difference on whether I buy or not.

I have 2 ex racers both unshod and while the feet improved beyond recognition once the shoes came off, one in particular would have had much better feet if he hadn't been shod between at 19 months when the feet where at a crucial stage of development.
 
criso said:
However the feet are one of the first thing I will look at in a horse and the state they are in will make a big difference on whether I buy or not.
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Oh golly, me too! Feet and legs are probably the most important thing to me when looking at horses. It's interesting to read what others determine as more important though.
 
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