Taking ponies fronts off, failed last time.. Try again?

T

thatsmygirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 May 2010
Messages
4,341
Visit site
Back in the winter I took my daughters ponys front shoes off due to lack off work but had to re shoe after he became very sore, and the farrier said he had worn down his hoof wall and walking on his soles!! He wasn't even sound in hoof boots so I put fronts back on him and within a few days he was happy and back to normal. He's not shod behind and never needs trimming behind they are left and don't seem to grow. Now my daughter has said she's never going to ride again and after 6 weeks she's still saying that so I would like to take the ponys fronts off as he will now go into retirement. He's 19 yrs old blind in one eye and has 2 old tendon injuries ( 1 on both front legs) and not the easiest to keep as he won't say in a stable on his own and can be funny at times so he's stabled with a youngster and has settled well to this.so he will stay as a pet as I would hate to say what would happen if I sold him. and as I'm on diy livery could do with cutting his costs. I would like to take the shoes off and try again as he's
never going to be ridden again ( he's welsh x Arab) looks Arab. So any tips to help? He's out by day if I'm honest on over grazed field as it's the only turn out I have, in by night. Limited on hay at night. Feed 1 meal a day off fast fibre with a mug off micro linseed, 1 scoop off naf general purpose, yea sacc and devils claw root for his old man joints. Now what can I do to stop his hoof wall wearing down quicker and weight barring on his sole? He walks over gravel to his field each day and along a Tarmac track. I don't want to do forage testing as im going to have to keep costs low to keep on but pts is NOT a option as he's fits and healthy so he will stay put but just cut costs on him. Please help me to hopefully make it work this time.
 
I'd have thought if he isn't doing any work he'll be fine without shoes.

How much gravel/track does he have to negotiate to get to the field?
 
Now this might sound strange, but when I took my mare's shoes off she was footsore for about three to four months. She was on the same diet as yours and I couldn't figure out what the problem was - she is a TB, crap grazing, not overweight etc. The only thing I have changed is that I have taken out the devil's claw and within a couple of weeks she made an improvement. I can't say for definite that was the cause, but I can't find any other explanation....
 
He hasn't got a great deal off track to get to the field but wasn't in work last time and was v sore. He wasn't on devil claw last time either that's somthing that hasn't long been started as his hard worked legs started to show and has really helped him.
 
Has he been tested for Cushings or Insulin Resistance? If you don't want to test him and treat him, if possible, for those conditions, then I would not take off his shoes.

He does not necessarily need to be showing any other symptoms but the foot soreness to have either of those conditions, but a pony isn't overfed who can't stand around in a bare paddock with no shoes on is pretty suspicious.

Just want to say too, that the key is that your pony is sore, not that his feet were short. It is completely normal for barefoot horses to have very little hoof wall, if any, and to walk on their sole callous, frog and heels.
 
Last edited:
Cptrayes hello, :) I was hoping you would pop up and Oberon at some point. No he hasn't been tested but tbh iv never had anything to think he could be. Interesting point to think about. Why would he wear his Walls away so quickly? He was fine in the field on the soft but other than that he was v uncomfy and so no improvment with boots. Trotted up lame but once shod he was fine.
 
Hoof wall wear - depends on the wall.

Some walls can become soft, for environmental or dietary reasons. This is not 'fixed'. They harden up beautifully and pretty quickly if the diet is right for the horse and they get an opportunity to build up their workload on a variety of surfaces. This is why more experienced barefooters love tarmac. Used wisely it can contribute to great bare hooves.

Some people don't allow the hoof to adjust sufficiently and this can cause problems.

For example a horse I know of went from being 24/7 in a water logged field to being asked to school for 45 minutes on a really abrasive surface. No time allowed for build up. (This is not just bad for hooves, it can't be very good for bodies either.)
 
Ive gone barefoot with 3 of mine, 2 appy mares and 1 welsh pony, ALL went footy for about 2-3 months, and even after that I had to be careful where I rode, as its stony here, but now 6 years on they are all fine, I did use hoof boots, and a hoof hardener to begin with..

Im sure diet makes a big difference, you might need to do some googling
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top