Shoes off last Weds and going amazing!

cptrayes said:
Most horses, in my experience, will cope well with fields, arenas and flat tarmac without top dressing. But rough concrete, gritted roads and stony tracks will defeat most newly unshod horses with flat feet - which is an awful lot of horses :D
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don't really understand this. In your post of 5.35 you disagree with my comments implying everything in the garden is rosy and horses have no problems with gravel and stony bits then you seem to think there are problems in your quote above.

Of course horses are fine on fields, arenas and many on flat smooth tarmac. I was commenting that I thought it stupid to ride a horse immediately out of shoes on gravel and stones.
The reason I was originally suggesting against it is that I have seen too many people do it only to have their progress thwarted by abscessing.

In answer to the question on boots you usually measure after a trim and yes the feet can change shape so you may be better to wait and see if you need them. You may be able to avoid boots by being careful about the surfaces you ride on.
 
What's your problem with "no two horses are the same" Paddy 555? There's a whole spectrum of how horses manage without shoes. Many manage 100% right from the start. Some never manage it at all. The rest are in between.

Reread the quote, too, I specifically refer to horses with flat feet.
 
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I wouldn't get boots yet. My mare's feet changed a lot before I needed them and I reckon she will need a smaller size soon as well.

I got cavallo simples BNIB for half price on eBay, so you could measure and start looking to get an idea of price and what you want to buy but not actually buy til (if) you need them.
 
Forgot all about this post!

Not sure if I celebrated too early or just hit a snake due to the weather!

All in the garden was rosy all the time we had hard frosts! Sparks was stomping out over the rutty frozen ground happy as larry, then 3 weeks ago it thawed her field turned to bog! Her thrush as bad as ever (just as I thought I was starting to get there), and I'm kind off at a loss with what else to try!

She is in every night to dry her feet. Her bed is flax (full bed over rubber) and cleaner than clean! She is on a high fibre & low sugar diet and on Pro Hoof. I'm reluctant to keep her in 24/7 as feel she needs to be out and moving. I use NT dry and field paste to pack the deep splits in her frogs.

On the upside she is still 99% sound on tarmac/concrete and the scalpings/gravelly track to the field (just the odd dodgy stride when she stands on a larger stone on the track), but then her frogs aren't really on the floor yet............:o

Must get pics, but keep forgetting camera

Any ideas? Or just keep going and pray for dry weather?!
 
Hi OP

Cant' really advise, but least your still going, I gave up two weeks ago and re-shod my lad.. Everything was fine and going well until he got his feet trimmed then it was just horrible, he was mincing everywhere, it really upset me!!! I take my hat off to anyone that takes their horses shoes off and keeps going with it, not an easy choice on any level!
 
Don't lose heart, tackle the thrush. Perhaps iodine would help & I have also heard that iodine will harden the soles. Perhaps some more experienced than I in barefoot will comment on that. I took the shoes off my New Forest 18 months ago & he hasn't really noticed, he has always been on high fibre/low sugar & strip grazed in the summer. He has brilliant feet, self trims etc while out hacking, (not needed a trim or the farrier once)I am very lucky I know. I would stick with it a while if you can:)
 
Donkey said:
Hi OP

Cant' really advise, but least your still going, I gave up two weeks ago and re-shod my lad.. Everything was fine and going well until he got his feet trimmed then it was just horrible, he was mincing everywhere, it really upset me!!! I take my hat off to anyone that takes their horses shoes off and keeps going with it, not an easy choice on any level!
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Your trimmer was at fault, the horse should not have been sore after a trim if he wasn't before. He didn't need shoes, you needed a new trimmer.


Was your trimmer your farrier? Is he/she the same person who has now shod the horse?
 
it was my farrier (since changed anyway). I'm pleased his got his shoes on, I wasn't having any fun and neither was he. Not for me at the moment but like I said those of you who get there, new found respect its tough!!
 
My boy got his shoes off mid november 2011. He had 6 weeks off and then started being ridden again. It was originally only a temporary thing over winter - really to save a bit of cash.

13 months later he has the most beautiful feet out - he has done everything I have wanted to do this year including jumping, xc and pleasure rides. I did boot him for a while but now he doesnt need them.

I cant see me ever putting shoes back on - he has never gone so well and I've saved a fortune :D
 
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