Unshod behind, how many miles road work per week?

Spyda

Spyda

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My 5 year old 16.3 WBxTB didn't do much over the spring/summer so I had her hind shoes removed earlier in the year. (She's remedially shod in front for severe bilateral offset knees.)

At first she struggled
2e696a2b-3.jpg

but after having my forage/grazing analysed by Forageplus and following a diet plan, her hinds are ever so much better and we have plenty of good growth between trims.

I'm just bringing her back into work and we're now doing between 40 mins to 1 hour road work 4 times a week, along some fairly hilly lanes at mainly walk but introducing some slow periods of trot now. We're week 3 of our fittening plan.

My question is, realistically, how many miles hilly road work per week (at walk and trot) can the 'average' hind hoof stand? At the moment her hinds are starting to 'square off into a slight roll' (don't know correct term, sorry) the front toes of both hinds. Right now the feet look fine length wise but I am wondering if I should consider shoeing her behind as I do want to increase the distance and speed of our riding as she becomes fitter. And much of our work will be road work, as any off road tracks are several miles away via the lanes.

I have Cavallo Simple boots but dislike using them for off road work because the tracks around here become very heavy mud in winter and the boots just become filled with mud and make the mare nervous and uncomfortable (she has a 'thing' about mud and panics).
 
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Have a look at the training that barefoot endurance horses do in UK AND the US.

With enough time to get used to the workload and the right diet, you will wear your backside out first.

Can't see the pic so clearly on my phone but her sole still looks pancake flat and her frog looks pared?

As long as she is sound and happy, cool. But keep an eye on her sugar intake :)
 
Last year did 40- 50 miles per week on two TB X mares with hinds unshod, probably 60% of it on roads and the rest on stony tracks and grass. Both mares are now unshod all round.
Usually, completely unshod cob does as many miles as me or someone will take him, could be 50 -80 miles, again mostly on roads and hard tracks. He's been off work lately but normally, this lad could do any amount.
TBH, his feet are like rock and grow like weeds. Its only time that stops him doing more.
 
Oberon: she isn't fed any sugar and her grass is limited. Her hay is also soaked. The photo in my OP was one taken right at the beginning of the year when her hinds were really suffering after the shoes were removed and she was being worked regularly in our sand school. Her feet are looking 100% better now. And the farrier is learning to leave the paring knife in its box!

So, basically, carry on and play it by ear then? Be good not to have to shoe behind or rely on hoof boots if I can.

Shysmum: This was her foot when I wasn't happy either! Her feet were suffering a lot back then. Her whole foot is looking a lot better. The frog is fat and healthy and she's far from walking on her soles now.
 
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