taking shoes off for winter advice please?

PurplePickle

PurplePickle

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 October 2007
Messages
2,298
Location
Midlands
www.ipcmedia.com
Ive decided to semi retire my WB which means he will get most of winter off, however hes a swine for loosing shoes so I'd like to take them off, last year we took the backs off and he kept loosing the fronts.

Last time I tried barefoot he didnt come around he spent about 4 months without shoes but had a laminitic type stance throughout and as i wanted to ride him we put shoes back on. I have a good farrier now who can trim very well so Im hoping she will be able to help shape his feet to get used to going without

Is there anything else I can do to help the transition?

Also as hes been shod most of his life and hes 15 how long should it take for him to be happy without shoes? Also lastly hes got arthritis in the hocks although has been successfully treated with injections and supplement is it better to be without shoes than with? ive had conflicting advice

thanks in advance
 
Firstly, how nice that you are going to give your horse a good retirement - I have a field full of retired ponies and to my suprise really enjoy them.

When I first took the shoes off my horse, the mud balled up in them (like snow does) and that caused him to adopt a laminitic stance. He had been shod (and therefore trimmed) the week before but that sorted itself out by leaving a little bit more hoof.

Another horse has to have front shoes on in the summer as her feet fall to pieces, but is fine in the winter.

So my only advice is to make sure you have a really good farrier/barefoot trimmer as it is such an individual judgement, especially if your horse feet aren't great to begin with.

It might also be worthwhile searching the threads on here for horse boots and seeing whether that could be an easy way for you to add extra protection if the ground suddenly goes hard?

Good luck.
 
thanks, his feet are fairly solid, he does get nail cracks, but he had no back shoes for a while last year and the cracks etc disappeared . I thought also about keratex hoof hardener and as you suggest a supplement
 
get hold of a copy of Nic barker's Feet First - it's excellent ! It stresses that the main thing is diet, and if you follow the advice, your horse will probably come right barefoot.

I hope that helps - the book's my bible. sm x
 
shysmum said:
get hold of a copy of Nic barker's Feet First - it's excellent ! It stresses that the main thing is diet, and if you follow the advice, your horse will probably come right barefoot.

I hope that helps - the book's my bible. sm x
Click to expand...

i would say same - get the book - also get him on the magnesium, linseed, seaweed supplements thats suggested in the book now before you take shoes off. - and cut out the sugary feeds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top