Transition shoed to barefoot

[juli]

My horse have been shoed for 9 years now, but due to an injury I'm turning her out for a year so she can stay outside 24/7 with friends. I think it will be good for her mentally because she is about to explode at the livery yard we are stabled at now. The heard she is turned out to are all barefoot and it is a requirement for her to be as well. So the question is; how to make this transition as good as possible? I don't think it's possible for me to slowly transition her because her paddock today is consistent of only gravel. I will have the farrier out to take the shoes off and trim her feet like barefoot feet and then haul her to the new place. Will that cause much discomfort for her? I am so worried she will get sore on all 4 feet and be in pain but I guess it will pass rather quickly? The new place consists of gravel around the gate and feeding place and the rest is grass

 

[soloequestrian]

You could look at hoof boots for her to transition although it might be difficult to judge size with shoes in place. A cheaper alternative might be to get some pads (like these https://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/p...l-easycare-hoof-boots-including-trail-and-mac) and then bandage/tape them on the way you would a poultice for a hoof abscess. You could have those on stand-by - she might be fine, she might be sore on the gravel and then fine in the new field. I think I'd leave as much foot in place as possible to begin with i.e. take the shoes off and do nothing else. I took shoes off a TB recently and she's not keen on going over stones but she's absolutely fine on the grass and quite likes a good gallop.

 

[Red-1]

If her feet are OK and the new field is good (as in not rocky and with some grass cover) then there will likely be little issue.

However, if the new field is challenging, would the new livery yard allow you to remove backs only to start with? That way, she will become comfortable on the backs before the fronts come off. If she is immediately comfortable on the backs, the fronts can come off two weeks later. Leaving fronts on is relatively safe for other horses.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

May I signpost you to an excellent FB group "The Barefoot Horse Owners Group UK". If you post your enquiry on there you will receive the very best advice.

All I will say is that yes your current farrier may do a "trim", and for the year she is resting it will be perfectly OK to have a farrier do a "field trim". However if you DO start her with ridden work again there is a huge difference between a "field trim" and a "barefoot trim" and if you are riding you will need the latter. Sadly the vast majority of farriers IME just don't understand the difference, or even worse, do what they'd do in prep for putting a shoe on, which will result in the horse being uncomfortable and the hooves splitting off.

If you do intend riding after the year's rest I would strongly suggest you engage the services of an EP (Equine Podiatrist) OR a farrier who is sympathetic to the barefoot ethos. Sadly not all of them are. Not wanting to farrier-bash please note.