Removing back shoes (retirement)

[Fallenrose]

Hi, I'm retiring my mare and one of the retirement liveries I've looked at requests they have their back shoes removed (or all).

She has good feet but is always quite sore when she loses a shoe so I'm a bit worried about doing this.

She isn't ridden, so do I just have the back shoes taken off and see how she goes in the field? Or is there more of a process to it?

Thank you.

 

[Shooting Star]

Taking back shoes off tends to be easier than fronts as they bare less of their weight on their hind limbs.

Ideally make sure you’ve treated any thrush before you take them off and keep her diet low in starch & sugar. If you ask the farrier to leave a little bit of height to the foot when they remove the shoe initially, so just a light trim, it should help make her more comfy.

If she will be walking from a stable to the field over stoney ground you can always get a pair of hoof boots to use just to walk to the field.

I keep my horse at a livery where no back shoes are allowed and it’s rare for new arrivals to be sore from having them removed.