To boot or not to boot?

[Nudibranch]

Had my CB mare almost a year. She has been shoe free for four years, but arrived with a little flare, and slightly stretched white lines. I immediately ditched her very sugary diet, added PB+ and now she has pretty good feet - tight white lines, flare has grown out and strides out well. She is slightly careful over sharp stony ground and big gravel - not pottery, just a slightly shortened stride. All other surfaces are good though. I keep wondering whether to boot or just to continue? We meet this kind of terrain for maybe a couple of minutes per ride on average, and it almost seems a shame to boot just for that. Would a truly successful barefoot horse still stride out exactly as normal on really stony ground or would they be expected to adjust their stride?

 

[LucyPriory]

Shortened stride is common sense for horse, but be observant for any signs of ouchiness

 

[kobi]

I wouldn't bother booting. You could get off and lead over the more difficult bits.

 

[Kikke]

See, I did boot my mares fronts for precisely this.
Just felt sorry for her and now she is happy as a clam on those bit as well as anywhere else and I don't have to worry.
But like today we did just road and grass work and I didn't bother putting them on at all and she was happy as a clam.