Taking shoes off a working veteran?

M

MM&PP

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Hello,

Potential addition to the herd in a couple of months. Said horse would be on loan to myself. He's my uncles horse but i've had enough of seeing him in RS' and messed about by loaners. Uncle would pay for livery, but I *think* I would be paying for shoeing.

He's 21yo and had a full set his whole life. He would be used for hacking/light schooling around 2-3 times a week to keep him ticking over. For that, I can't really warrant £70+ on a set when my two who have a much more hectic work schedule are shod infront and barefoot respectively.

Is it possible? Has anyone had expereince of something similar with an in-work veteran? He's fit and healthy in all other respects. Would I do backs off first then fronts? Any supplements I should be feeding him prior to shoes coming off to give him a better chance? Would prefer not to use boots.

Thanks.
 
Hiya, I took the fronts off my 19yo last year, he has always been shod. Have never looked back, everything has improved, his feet, his way of going etc. I am no 'barefoot' evangelist and it is all very matter of fact. Took some weeks and hoof hardener but he hacks out for miles now. A trim every 10+ weeks is £20.
 
I had the shoes off my 17yo warmblood and he's quite happily hacking out without them. We did an hour and a half today on roads and tracks and other than when he actually trod on a couple of biggish loose stones you'd not have known he was feeling anything. He seems absolutely fine.

He isn't fed any special supplements for his feet and has a bog standard farrier trim.
 
I took the shoes off my native mare at around 19. Initially she went out in a set of 4 boots, then down to fronts only, now she goes everywhere barefoot. No trouble at all and she was the only one on the yard hacking out in all the snow! :)

No special supplements or food and my normal farrier trims her.
 
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