shoeing vs barefoot question

Fuzznugget

Fuzznugget

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Our little mare came with front shoes. Previous owner said they didn't generally shoe her, she was at a riding school for a while and they put them on. Her feet are due for a trim/refit but I'm thinking of having her shoes taken off as she's not going to be doing a lot. Mainly walking around the field with my kid on. I figure if I do take her down the road or whatnot, I can get her some boots. The only thing is, she has a club foot in front, and is prone to laminitis. So what do you all think - keep shoes, or try without?
 
Doesn't sound like you have much to lose if you try without. If you do a search here there is loads of advice about diet, trimming, hoof boots etc. You can always put shoes on if she needs them, that's one of the great things about going barefoot - you can change your mind. I haven't done so far though ;) Good luck! :)
 
May be far better off. You can let the club foot grow the way it needs to as long as you keep it in check.

I ride on all surfaces, including roads unbooted, so they are only essential if you feel you need them.
 
I'd try without from the workload that you describe.

The club foot correction/maintenance needs to be done with trimming anyway, but shoeing (unless you have extensions on....). It can be done more frequently and cheaply without.

I try and manage laminitics without shoes...again much better frequently trimmed and avoid the concussion, and if active I either use foot support like styrofaom pads/Newmarket sole support system or go to Imprint shoes. I alway liken shoeing the laminitic (especially removing them) to having you're nails bashed with a hammer and then pulling your false nails off....:eek: Not nice.

go barefoot....:D
 
Exactly. And the club foot needs to be trimmed by a very experienced trimmer

I have always struggled with the simple conceptual problem of quite how peripherally supporting the hoof wall can possibly make life better for a laminitic -I know, here's a good idea. let's suspend the weight of the pony from the walls and see what happens....:( Change the role of the sole form supporting to bridging....um?

We have a couple of lamis - one who does it for a hobby and one who is a professional. Neither are shod, both are out there doing great stuff on the roads and the worst of tracks. It can be done if you work at it.

Hoof boots are a Godsend.

But I'm also of the "leave that damn hoof alone" brigade - no trimming unless it is really necessesary. Of my 4, one has had 2 light tidy ups in the last 12 months - and I mean light - literally just redoing the roll - he is almost completely self maintaining - he wears what he grows and grows what he wears.

One cob needs trimmed quite frequently becuase he is throwing out lots of hoof as he tries to regrow poor quality hooves. My laminitics need only light attention every 6 weeks.

Trimming may be necessary in some cases, but over-trimming the hoof, or trimming too frequently can really hold some ponies back.
 
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