Riding unshod horse

[SSS2021]

Hello all,
My horse is retiring soon and going out to pasture. I’m having my farrier unshoe his hind hooves in a few days in preparation. The plan is to unshoe the front a couple of months later in order to give him the time to slowly get used to it. My question is: can I ride him this week still after he was unshod behind? Or should I give him a few days to get used it?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmmm...... I'd be inclined to leave riding for a while TBH as he is going to be quite footsore for a while. You may need to consider boots for the initial period. I transitioned my little 13.2 coblet to fully barefoot over a period of 3 months or so and you really need not to rush it.

I would lead out in hand and see how he's doing. If he is obviously footsore, then just let him eat the grass verge for a bit and then bring him home.

If you are going to transition to barefoot then may I signpost you to a very helpful FB group I'm on: "The Barefoot Horse Owners Group UK". (presuming you are in the UK!!). Going barefoot isn't just a matter of taking the shoes off and hoping for the best! You have to consider diet (may need supplements), as well as pasture management and workload. You say yours will be retired, in which case a "field trim" will be perfectly OK, however what frequently happens is that the farrier will do a "field trim" for a horse that is going to be barefoot, and then the owner will encounter problems - as there is a huge difference between a "field trim" and a "barefoot trim". I mention this is as this is where a lot of barefoot transitions fail and the owner decides to put shoes back on as the hoof starts splitting and the horse appears footsore: it is because of incorrect trimming. But sorry I digress! However if you ARE intending to ride yours, even just a little bit, then this is important. You may also find you need boots for roadwork.

 

[meleeka]

Each horse is different. Back shoes aren’t such a drastic change as fronts. I’d ask the farrier what he thinks, based on your horses hooves.

 

[splashgirl45]

I had my horses hinds off while I wasn’t riding due to an op. I started riding and wanted to keep them off but she couldn’t cope as we had quite a few stoney tracks , this was after she had 3 months to get used to no shoes behind. It does depend on the horse and what the ground is like, if it’s either road or grass it’s much easier for them..

 

[Arzada]

I'd keep his shoes on while you are still riding and wait until he is retired and not being ridden to remove the shoes, Either hinds first as planned or all together. The ground will be softer by then too.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’ve taken hinds off given them a week then started riding again. Just tell the farrier just to roll the toes and not take any height off.

 

[ycbm]

Ask the horse. I've had all sorts of reactions to shoe removal.

Have them taken off and take him for a short ride on a good surface. If he copes with that try longer rides or tougher surfaces. If in doubt, boot up.

I've had a 4 year old flat racer who had been in shoes since 2 years old not notice that I'd taken them off and known a 20 year old continuously in shoes for 15 years not notice.

Backs are almost always easier than fronts. Watch out for a strange footfall, where the horse picks the foot up higher than normal off the floor, moves it forwards and then drops it vertically back down again. That's a particular characteristic of sore barefoot back feet.
.

 

[SEL]

Make sure farrier leaves a decent amount of hoof when the shoe comes off and doesn't trim it as if he's putting one back on again. Frogs usually are fairly contracted so need time to sort themselves out.

I'd probably stay off anything stoney but otherwise you have to be guided by the horse