To Shoe or not to Shoe!

[madginger]

I am thinking of giving my horse the winter off as I dont have a school at the moment and dont go out on the roads, so I only ride in the fields and this will just be on the odd weekend. Does she really need to have shoes on for this or can I get away without them?

I am not going to be doing any shows or anything but she has always had shoes on so do I need to keep this up?

 

[kerilli]

no, not unless she has terrible feet. as long as your farrier rounds the edges off properly so that the hoof wall isn't in contact with the ground, and you have her trimmed regularly, she should be fine. my big warmblood has been barefoot since spring and his feet are the best they've ever been.

 

[DiablosGold]

If you want to cut back on bills a bit but are worried about taking them all off you could just have the backs off.

 

[madginger]

Well she lost one of the back ones yesterday and my blacksmith is being totally unreliable so I am wondering whether to take the other back one off anyway.

 

[foxviewstud]

if her feet are good then it shouldnt be a problem, i often ride my stallion round the fields and on road twice and he is not shod but his feet are fine, i also give him biotine to help strengthen them. i dont shoe him as he is always out with mares and foals so it wouldn be safe.