So I can't jump my horse without him having shoes?

asommerville

asommerville

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According to the farrier if I want to jump my 6 yo he'll need shoes on?! Surely not? I plan to hopefully show and event him and really don't want him shod. Is he pulling my leg?
 
:confused: Is your farrier very young and inexperienced?!

Of course you can jump your horse without shoes!
 
In general, no. However, there will be times when the ground needs studs. This point comes at a different time for different horses. See how you get on but if your horse is struggling with the footing then either shoe and use studs or decline to jump in those conditions. You won't have any problem on an artificial surface though!
 
My cob jumped all surfaces and ground conditions with just a front set on for many years and this was because I couldn't have him bare in front.

When I get my next horse it will be young and if it oesnt need shod it won't be. However should it need shoes then they will be put on for both our sakes.
 
I would listen to your farrier! He is very experienced, been doing it for many years and wouldn't say to do something if it wasn't needed.
He has told me things to do that I have thought were rubbish, but in the end he was right!
 
My daughter jumped her pony with no shoes as do many other people I've known- is he trying to get you too shoe giving him extra money?
 
asommerville said:
According to the farrier if I want to jump my 6 yo he'll need shoes on?! Surely not? I plan to hopefully show and event him and really don't want him shod. Is he pulling my leg?
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Complete and utter ******.

My friend has competed in ODEs sans shoes and didn't have any problems.

Your horse will have less problems slipping without shoes than with.
 
Unless there is a reason your horse needs shoes (conformation problem etc) then absolutely not, happy barefoot jumping!
 
LynneT said:
I would listen to your farrier! He is very experienced, been doing it for many years and wouldn't say to do something if it wasn't needed.
He has told me things to do that I have thought were rubbish, but in the end he was right!
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How do you know he is very experienced?? and of course farriers might say shoes are needed when they might not be (they may not be fully informed as to what a barefoot horse can do or they might want another horse to shoe).

What has he told you to do that you thought was rubbish? just out of interest?
 
Have a look at the H&H vet article in the issue which came out yesterday about competeing - and indeed keeping - barefoot. Very interesting.

There are so many issues and things to consider around the deicicon to compete barefoot - not to mention the fact that there are some high feelings around this -that it isn't really something a forum can give advice on. You will be better off seeking advice from a professional who knows your horse.
 
A member of the Worshipful Company of Farriers would never be biased towards shoes would they?.... oh hang on.... :p


The H&H article was a start, however..

'For most horses working regularly on firm or abrasive surfaces, shoeing with steel shoes remains the the most viable and common option'
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So that's saying that if you hack regularly, you need shoes. Despite mounting evidence that shoes cause bad concussion on hard surfaces and that as long as you build up distances slowly, there is no problem at all with hacking sans shoes. In fact tarmac is great for BF hooves.

'A large proportion of the UK equine population, however contains thoroughbred breeding'
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Oh dear. Now they're repeating the TB's have crappy hooves and can't go BF lie, but are extending it to horses with TB blood. *sigh*

As said in earlier posts - Yes, you can jump BF and you don't need to stick to an arena either. There are members on here that event and hunt BF.

I agree that each horse should be treated as an individual, but while Vets and Farriers are so biased (and under-informed about working unshod horses) and owners trust them implicitly, when will things change?
 
Faracat said:
A member of the Worshipful Company of Farriers would never be biased towards shoes would they?.... oh hang on.... :p


The H&H article was a start, however..



So that's saying that if you hack regularly, you need shoes. Despite mounting evidence that shoes cause bad concussion on hard surfaces and that as long as you build up distances slowly, there is no problem at all with hacking sans shoes. In fact tarmac is great for BF hooves.



Oh dear. Now they're repeating the TB's have crappy hooves and can't go BF lie, but are extending it to horses with TB blood. *sigh*

As said in earlier posts - Yes, you can jump BF and you don't need to stick to an arena either. There are members on here that event and hunt BF.

I agree that each horse should be treated as an individual, but while Vets and Farriers are so biased (and under-informed about working unshod horses) and owners trust them implicitly, when will things change?
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There are a lot of good TB barefooters out there and plenty of horses of many breeds inc. TBs that do hours of roadwork. Maybe the HH editorial team and the FRC etc should visit Houston for an example of just how many hours of road work can be done bare and with fewer soundness problems than when shod?
 
What exactly did the farrier say the function of the shoe was, that would make jumping possible where it would be otherwise impossible?
 
cm2581 said:
In general, no. However, there will be times when the ground needs studs. This point comes at a different time for different horses. See how you get on but if your horse is struggling with the footing then either shoe and use studs or decline to jump in those conditions. You won't have any problem on an artificial surface though!
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I did BE to Novice on two horses and lower levels on three others in all ground conditions with no shoes on. No hunters stud and I hunt with several barefooters and I personally jump the biggest of hedges from approaches and ground worse than can be found on any BE course.
 
Would love to see a horse jump because it is wearing shoes if it cant jump barefoot it has even less chance wearing shoes.
Bit like the piano joke
 
Having spent 20 minutes getting two ponies out of the flowerbeds after they jumped the garden gate this morning (GRRRRR!) I'd say the little blighters can most certainly jump without shoes if they want to.

I shall now go and give them a lecture about how they can't be proper ponies as they are jumping without shoes on.;)
 
Thanks folks, I'm baffled! Newbie to barefoot having one shod and one unshod so I like to check things out on here!

He's a new farrier, has a brilliant rep and currently fixing my broken mare. Keep meaning to put pics of her on here for advice actually.

He said small horse has excellent feet, but if I want to jump on grass he'll need shoes as he might slip....I asked how come he doesn't fall over in the field then but no answer!
 
Erm.......so I shouldn't be able to do this then????????????

935120_10151429007083499_399260663_n.jpg


gratuitous photo... sorry and BTW she is full TB
 
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I think you do have to be more carefull BF on long and wet grass and you can't stud to improve grip turning sharp on hard fast ground .
But OP is not going straight to jumping BE intermediate and trying to do the time it's ridicoulous to suggest the horse can't jump unshod.
 
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