Road hacking & no shoes

[only_me]

Don't you just love the July fortnight??!! Great news that you've started him, I've nothing useful to add except you are perfectly capable of knowing how the increased workload is affecting his feet .... after all you have been on HHO for years so you must be an expert in everything by now ;-)

Made even more difficult when Dublin is early! Farrier in high demand - teaching & doing horses! great to have such a good one but can be hard to book in with lol.
Of course I'm an expert in all things - why cobs are awful, franch, dressage judging etc. not forgetting troll hunting

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

That's great that your horse hacks out happily barefoot when fit, and you find it easier. As I've said previously, I know lots of horses who hack/compete etc. without shoes and they do so happily. However they've done that for years.
My question was more focused on my newly unshod horse (i.e. Has only had shoes off for 10days or so) so is completely new to hacking without shoes and I wanted to know if it would wear foot down (or excessive shortening to be technical) if he's hacking 1hr a day on purely roads & signs I would need to look out for.
Added to that he is coming back into work from injury (so completely unfit) & I didn't want to cause any further damage. He'll be getting a set of shoes on when I can get him booked in with farrier.

But I will keep doing what I'm doing then from advice of others; build up work slowly and just read my horse to make sure he's happy

If you think about what I have posted then you will see that I did go through the whole newly barefoot and hacking transition in currently helping my friend transition her warmblood who has spent his life in shoes and was truly crippled when he lost a shoe and I mean hobbling. He is now barefoot a good few months and there were a few weeks that he was most Uncomfortable and she was giving him half a bute daily for a couple of weeks to help him over this. The change in his feet honestly is truly astounding considering the conformational issues he has (one foot markedly upright and smaller than the other) and how unsound he was without a shoe.

Curious though as when I was rehabbing my mare who had blown a tendon I was told that barefoot was the best thing to rehab it....... Much easier on the mechanics and they can balance themselves better and adjust better. This was my vet speaking as well. Also I took my old boy barefoot behind when he was diagnosed with arthritis at 15 in his hock because is was better for his joints, on advice from both vet and farrier. This was ten years ago btw so not a new thing like people are saying barefoot is.


It won't be easy but nothing worth it is. My older guy was footy for a few weeks after the shoes came off but I gradually built him up exactly the same way i do every year when fittening him. Much better for his older joints and much better for my pocket

 

[only_me]

I can see how no shoes can help with a tendon rehab, would reduce the weight on the foot so less tension/stress on the tendon. Mines not a tendon, he had a hole in his thigh from a sheland - quite possibly impaled himself on a big rusty gate! 30 stitches later & his leg is holding well enough to hack so shoes wouldn't affect his healing, I just don't want to make him foot sore and possibly irritate healing

Someome has messaged me reminding me of an important thing to remember - careful I don't hack too much as they will shorten to work initally, which could cause issues if trying to get a set of shoes back on in a couple of weeks. If he reminds with no shoes his foot will grow to match work but takes time. Something I hadn't really thought about but glad they reminded me!

 

[Rowreach]

Someome has messaged me reminding me of an important thing to remember - careful I don't hack too much as they will shorten to work initally, which could cause issues if trying to get a set of shoes back on in a couple of weeks. If he reminds with no shoes his foot will grow to match work but takes time. Something I hadn't really thought about but glad they reminded me!

Good point.

 

[Kezzabell2]

I'm struggling to do enough road work to keep my horses hooves trimmed, as he's self trimming! we did 10 miles on sunday and still needs to do more

 

[smellsofhorse]

He should be fine if he feet are cared for properly and he has the correct diet.

Continue to build up the work steadily and he will be fine.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

That's great that your horse hacks out happily barefoot when fit, and you find it easier. As I've said previously, I know lots of horses who hack/compete etc. without shoes and they do so happily. However they've done that for years.
My question was more focused on my newly unshod horse (i.e. Has only had shoes off for 10days or so) so is completely new to hacking without shoes and I wanted to know if it would wear foot down (or excessive shortening to be technical) if he's hacking 1hr a day on purely roads & signs I would need to look out for.
Added to that he is coming back into work from injury (so completely unfit) & I didn't want to cause any further damage. He'll be getting a set of shoes on when I can get him booked in with farrier.

why would you shoe if he is coping barefoot?