Taking back shoes off a TB...

[HelenBack]

Is it really that big a deal???

I'm only thinking of doing it for the winter for now to help sort his feet out, although obviously if it worked well and I didn't need to put them back on I wouldn't. He's new to me in the past couple of months and his feet are okay but he's just got no heals.

My other horse is barefoot and taking his shoes off was the best thing I ever did for him. I've not ruled out taking this one fully barefoot at some point either. At the moment though I'd rather just stick to trying the backs and seeing how he gets on.

My farrier will support me either way but does think he'll struggle at first without shoes. He doesn't push for shoes for the sakes of it and I think would probably rather do no shoes himself really. The other option he gave me is those 3D pad things which I wouldn't be averse to as I've read good things about them.

For those who've done it with a TB do they tend to struggle more than other breeds or is it just the stereotype? The horse is already on a low sugar and starch diet including one of the Progressive Earth balancers. But obviously it will be time before a more healthy hoof grows down as a result of his better diet.

 

[paddi22]

I’ve a tb currently barefoot and I’ve had no issues. With correct management it hasn’t been as issue for us. I just pop on boots when needed

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've asked my farrier about removing hind shoes on my tb and he wasn't keen. He said we could try but obviously if the foot breaks up we possibly couldn't get shoes back on. Mine gets ridden several days a week and competes year round so I don't him getting sore. In my view if it ain't broke don't fix it so I've decto keep shoes on

 

[HelenBack]

I’ve a tb currently barefoot and I’ve had no issues. With correct management it hasn’t been as issue for us. I just pop on boots when needed

Thanks. Do you find the horse can ride on a surface without boots and does it accept the boots okay? My horse makes a big fuss if I put things like brushing boots on so I have wondered what he'd make of boots. I do have some that I could pop on to see what he thinks or at least to get him used to the idea. I do want to keep riding and training him on a variety of surfaces over the winter though hence why I'm not just jumping straight in.

I've asked my farrier about removing hind shoes on my tb and he wasn't keen. He said we could try but obviously if the foot breaks up we possibly couldn't get shoes back on. Mine gets ridden several days a week and competes year round so I don't him getting sore. In my view if it ain't broke don't fix it so I've decto keep shoes on

Thanks. I want to keep riding and training over the winter too so also don't want him getting sore. The trouble is though the way his feet are if it ain't broke now it probably will be in the future. The foot balance needs to improve somehow and he needs to grow some heels so I do need to consider the different options.

 

[Mrs G]

My TB hasn’t had back shoes on since he came out of racing and 10 years on (touch wood!) ive never had a minutes bother with his back feet. He’s been been barefoot all round the last 7 years with Hoof boots on the front for our stoney hacking routes but is fine barefoot everywhere else and he’s ridden 4/5 times a week all year round. With a good diet, a supportive farrier and patience it’s definitely possible!

 

[HelenBack]

My TB hasn’t had back shoes on since he came out of racing and 10 years on (touch wood!) ive never had a minutes bother with his back feet. He’s been been barefoot all round the last 7 years with Hoof boots on the front for our stoney hacking routes but is fine barefoot everywhere else and he’s ridden 4/5 times a week all year round. With a good diet, a supportive farrier and patience it’s definitely possible!

Thanks, that's good to know. To be fair my other horse had terrible feet when he came out of shoes and I never expected him to cope as well as he did so I did wonder if it's all hype with the TBs. This one definitely has the flattest feet I've ever seen though but then I would expect that to improve once the shoes came off and that being part of the point of doing it anyway.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have just removed mine 4 weeks ago, he is doing fab! Used boots for a few weeks until growth on hoof happened and it rubbed, so farrier told me just leave them off now

 

[HelenBack]

I have just removed mine 4 weeks ago, he is doing fab! Used boots for a few weeks until growth on hoof happened and it rubbed, so farrier told me just leave them off now

Oh yes, rubbing will be a dead cert if I use boots on this one! Will definitely be looking at gaiters or socks or something. I must admit that we have quite a lot of off road hacking by us so I was hoping that if I did it when the ground has softened boots won't then be necessary.

 

[Barton Bounty]

they are doing well though

 

[HelenBack]

Has he got the typical TB collapsed heels? I can't tell from that photo. And do you think having the shoes off is improving things if so?

Do you think you'll take the fronts off at some point or are you waiting to see how it goes?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Has he got the typical TB collapsed heels? I can't tell from that photo. And do you think having the shoes off is improving things if so?

Do you think you'll take the fronts off at some point or are you waiting to see how it goes?

He has particularly flat feet but not sure the front would cope. He has very small feet as well. We will see how he goes, his feet are good as I feed from the inside out , he needs shod every 4/5 weeks . His heels haven’t collapsed as far as I know

 

[HelenBack]

Yes mine has small feet and flat feet too. I'm feeding a hoof friendly diet too but have only had him a couple of months so need more time for the benefits of that to show. And we have just shortened his shoeing cycle too as we went six weeks and it was clearly too long. I think I will try taking the backs off over the winter. If he doesn't cope I can always put them back on again but even if I don't do it permanently then I can't help but think the break will do them good.

 

[Barton Bounty]

If you keep on top of his feet you will be fine, ?

 

[paddi22]

Thanks. Do you find the horse can ride on a surface without boots and does it accept the boots okay? My horse makes a big fuss if I put things like brushing boots on so I have wondered what he'd make of boots. I do have some that I could pop on to see what he thinks or at least to get him used to the idea. I do want to keep riding and training him on a variety of surfaces over the winter though hence why I'm not just jumping straight in.

Thanks. I want to keep riding and training over the winter too so also don't want him getting sore. The trouble is though the way his feet are if it ain't broke now it probably will be in the future. The foot balance needs to improve somehow and he needs to grow some heels so I do need to consider the different options.

I just stick the boots on for very stoney sharp tracks like forestry, rest of the time he is fine. give the boots a go and see how he gets on, he might surprise you.