??should i put shoes on my pony??

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minnierosie

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Hello, :)

I have a 12.2 Welsh pony. He turned 20 on the first of January (by the racing age). I got him last, last winter as I was looking for him for the summer we just had. He came up so we got him. When we got him he didn't have shoes on as he wasn't working or anything. We got told by the previous owner that he went better when he had shoes on. As we weren't doing anything on the roads it was suggested by our farrier not to shoe him as his hooves were sound.

Recently we moved to an area where the tracks are made of brash. Naturally he doesn't like rocky tracks and going on roads so we try not to do it very often. However, I have started going hunting more often and we are doing quite a bit on these types of surface. As he doesn't like it I don't know what to do.

A friend of ours said though that where he has had shoes on for most of his life his joints have grown used to having shoes on. I was thinking about getting him shod but I don't know whats best, for his sake and ours. I don't want to waste money but at the same time I want to do what is best for him.

Who should i listen to?

Thank you for reading :)
 
I think you've answered your own question! Your pony is uncomfortable without shoes - get some fronts put on and see how he feels.
 
Listen to your Pony get some shoes on him. I wouldn't just go for fronts either id be happier with him having a full set but that's for your farrier and you to discuss.

Talk to you're Farrier, tell them exactly what you want to do with him and ask for honest advise not driven by money :)

but I too think you have answered you're own question, trust me you will see a big difference in how he goes if he's a bit footy.
 
Thank you all for your answer. It means a lot to me. I will discuss with the farrier when we make contact with him as we have just moved.

Thanks again minnierosie
 
First I'd have a think about why he's uncomfortable on the roads. He certainly shouldn't be! The stoney tracks is to be expected if he's not used to it.

The average pony should be comfortable working on roads for hours so if he's not, look into his diet and management. Boots are easy and quick for the times you'd be on stoney tracks.

That said, out hunting you'll need to cross all sorts of terrain and unless you're able and willing to put a huge amount of effort and faff into conditioning his feet, it'll be easier and kinder to put shoes on. It's more than possible to hunt barefoot (I and many others do so) but it does require a fair bit of faff unless you're lucky.

Shoe are damaging for their feet though so if you shoe, make sure you make arrangements for him to have time out of them later to recover.

P.s I certainly wouldn't hunt even in the newest best boots. You'll loose them in the mud within the hour.
 
Make sure he isn't footsore due to low grade laminitis. We had a thread on here recently where a hose was footy, so was shod and then developed laminitis. In hindsight it's highly likely that the footyness was the start of the laminitis.

As Kalibear says - unshod horses/ponies should be able to walk on tarmac with no trouble at all and many can cope with stony tracks too (if built up to it slowly).

Shoeing might be the best answer for your situation though. You can always take the shoes off again when the hunting season ends.
 
minnierosie said:
are they the plastic boot kind of thing. Sorry haven't really heard of them before.
Click to expand...

No. Essentially they're like trainers for hooves. Google easyboot transition and they'll come up. There are lots of boots around, but I like these as they go small enough for Diddy feet and also you can use them with studs. Until this winter I've had to shoe in the summer as my boy has EMS, but now I have boots small enough for his hinds, so can choose whether to shoe or not. You might decide of course it's too much faff, in which case I would shoe!
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
I just want to say OP that your friend is talking nonsense about joints. Shoeing would increase concussion which is not beneficial to the joints.
Click to expand...

^^This^^
Shoes stop the hoof doing what it's supposed to do. Flex. Which is vital for blood circulation & shock absorbing.
Look for a good barefoot trimmer if possible and have his bare feet well
Looked after. They may be able to advise on diet etc to keep them strong too :)
 
I agree that the best thing to do would be to shoe him during the hunting season and then take them off the rest of the year if he seems happy enough without them. No point letting him suffer on the stones. Hoof boots are completely inappropriate for hunting.
 
The hoof needs conditioning just as the rest of the muscles do - you wouldn't get him out of the field after 6 months and expect him to be hunting fit would you? In the same way you can't expect his feet to suddenly cope with rough and stony terrain if you've only been working him on soft ground. As others have also said assess the diet, a good hoof comes from a good diet. Having joints used to shoes is a load of rubbish. And loads of horses hunt barefoot. However if it's easier to just put shoes on him then go ahead.
 
Thank you :)

We are trying to contact the farrier. Went hunting yesterday. Didn't like the stones at all and so I ended up getting wacked in the face :(a bit by trees as he wanted to stay on the softer grass.

Thanks again for all of your reply's. minnierosie:)
 
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OP, you cannot be half hearted about barefoot for your horse, it's not fair on him. Either go properly barefoot, diet, boots the works, or put shoes on. In the long term he would be better barefoot done right, in the short term if you think it's too much "faff" shoe him and risk the long term effects, which may never happen.
 
You could post some pictures of his feet , including sole shots, so people could see if there is anything obvious about them that might be the reason he is footsore.
 
Sorry everyone I have changed from minnierosie to minnieminster1 this is only because I have changed my email address. So if it is minnieminster1 that replies it is the same person who started the thread.

Sorry for any confusion
 
minnierosie said:
Hello, :)

I have a 12.2 Welsh pony. He turned 20 on the first of January (by the racing age). I got him last, last winter as I was looking for him for the summer we just had. He came up so we got him. When we got him he didn't have shoes on as he wasn't working or anything. We got told by the previous owner that he went better when he had shoes on. As we weren't doing anything on the roads it was suggested by our farrier not to shoe him as his hooves were sound.

Recently we moved to an area where the tracks are made of brash. Naturally he doesn't like rocky tracks and going on roads so we try not to do it very often. However, I have started going hunting more often and we are doing quite a bit on these types of surface. As he doesn't like it I don't know what to do.

A friend of ours said though that where he has had shoes on for most of his life his joints have grown used to having shoes on. I was thinking about getting him shod but I don't know whats best, for his sake and ours. I don't want to waste money but at the same time I want to do what is best for him.

Who should i listen to?

Thank you for reading :)
Click to expand...

My pony is 12hh as-well, she is in training to drive, and I have been told she may end up needing shoes at some point. She has always been BF. I want to keep her that way as long as poss, her feet now are strong , no brittle no cracks ridges etc..

She is on a good diet with added F4F,as your pony is barefoot now I would get advice from a nutrition person for diet and good supplements and make sure you have a good farrier for the feet. Try before you buy ------- shoes.
 
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