Transition from fully shod to fronts only - what to expect?

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NikNak1

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I have decided to try and see if my mare will cope with front shoes only, she has as far as I know always been fully shod, certainly for the 2 1/2 years I've had her. She is on a diet of fast fibre, hi-fi mollasses free & spillers balancer and her hooves have certainly improved since we changed from (not so!) Happy Hoof last year!! So I was wondering what I should expect to happen when her back shoes come off (today) and whether there's anything I should look out for in particular or do to help with the transition? We have a school with a good surface so am hoping to carry on riding in there in the week and try hacking out over the weekend which would involve roads if all going well.

Any advice much appreciated! :) ... Shift+R improves the quality of this image. Shift+A improves the quality of all images on this page.
 
As long as the farrier doesn't do ANY trimming to the back feet, you should have enough foot to tide you over so she doesn't get footy. TBH I only noticed increased traction when my horse's back shoes came off 5 years ago, I don't think she noticed they'd been removed. The farrier hasn't needed to trim them since, he just rasps the edges tidy. Make sure you get out on all surfaces, the more she uses the hooves over the slightly more challenging terrain the better for stimulation.
 
So glad you are thinking about the diet first, it is so important to get it right.
Do remember though it is good to do any dietary change slowly so as not to cause any shock to the gut.
When I see referrals with collapsed heels in front, the hinds will often react to having the shoes off due to the weight loading they are doing.
If the feet are showing no sign of having to work harder than the fronts then the horse should not feel much change.
You will find (hopefully) after a period of time that the hinds will be set exactly where the horse wants them, and will usually be breaking over earlier than when shod.
Do keep in mind you will then have a horse that is doing one thing behind and another in front.
The main difference being the landing, you could have a situation where the hinds are landing heel first and the fronts either level or toe first, if this is the case just be aware that it will be hard for the animal to be totally balanced with itself.
Having said that I am a great believer it getting allot of my clients to take the hinds off first, but we do work as quick as we can to having all 4 off, don’t forget there are always boots/fiberwraps etc. for helping with transision.
 
Thanks everyone! Seems to be so far so good! Had a ride in the school this eve and she didn't seem to be in any discomfort so I am hoping for it being uneventful as predicted! Fingers crossed it continues in the same way ...
 
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