Viewing question please and shoeing?

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indie999

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Hi

A stupid question not sure what to do....

Going to see horse with only fronts on(never had backs) needs someone to be with farrier then is ok

I prefer to have option of full set just in case & prefer to have horse who is use to having this done..

1. Do I pay to get a farrier to hot shoe with me watching to make sure the horse is ok(my farrier has suggested I do this as otherwise he wont risk getting hurt if its not use to it)

2. Not bother going to view as is above acceptable to expect someone to agree to having done to their horse?

Obviously I will pay and please not interested in the barefoot v shoes(if I dont need to shoe I wont) but am finding lots of horses are not use to having shoes on...we have lots of flint in our fields and bridleways

What do I do really is the question?? Sorry so pathetic I know!!
 
Dont understand post either. Why have full set when you can save money having just fronts on?? (unless you are planning to do lots of roadwork).
 
I don't think as an owner I would want you shoeing my horse behind if he was OK with out them. Could you simulate shoeing? Pick his feet up, bang them with a hammer a bit?

I guess it depends on how desperate the owner is to sell the horse.

ETS - Do you think the horse may have shivers and that is why it is difficult to show behind?
 
If it was my horse, I wouldn't let someone coming to view put on back shoes! He obviously has no problems without backs - a lot of horses only have fronts and they don't have problems with their back feet... Can't you just ask if he's fine with his back feet being handled? :confused: I imagine if he is fine to have his feet picked out etc, he will be fine to shoe behind...
 
Hi, I can understand why you are worried but if the horse is ok with having front shod as long as farrier is willing no reason to think wont be ok. Mine is much better with backs than front (less smoke in face i think)

I would not want to have my horse shod behind as a test for a potential purchaser and I think I may be a bit put out if someone asked. Saying that if you really like the horse you could put down a substantial deposit or purchase the horse on the understanding that it comes to you shod behind and that you be present when it is shod at current yard - having it done by existing horses farrier and on its current yard should ease any stresses. you could ask that if it is dangerous to shoe or cant be shod then you want money back.

Good luck.
 
MrsD123 said:
OP wants to buy a horse which has never been shod behind, but wants the horse to be shod behind in case it all goes t""ts up, so can she pay for a farrier to do it while she is there.
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Thanks v much ....must be all the Grazon I absorbed today...but yes this is my dilema! I need to know the pony can be shoed on all four feet!

Thanks Mrs D123
 
& your farrier wont shoe him if hes never been done before?? How on earth does he manage if he has to do a youngster? You have an odd farrier lol.
 
Are you asking - Should I ask the owner if I can get the horse shod all round as part of the trial?

If so, I sold a horse last year with front shoes only and if the person buying had requested as part of the trial to have her shod all round as part of the trial, I would have agreed as long as was farrier of my choice and I was able to be present. I knew mine would be fine.

If I thought she was going to be a twit to shoe behind I'd have said no as wouldn't have wanted her misbehaving in a trial situation and would want to have made sure she was going to behave (as much as you can before actually shoeing) before farrier attempted to put hinds on.

Also there is the fact that I would be unwilling to have sold her to someone who wasn't keen to take the time to prepare for hind shoes if the horse needed it (assume it is young?) and it shouldn't be a deal breaker if everything else was OK. And um.... surely someone should be with the horse while it is shod anyway? My farriers insurance requires it I think I remember him telling me.

Either way, couldn't hurt to ask..
 
I really don't see any reason to worry to be honest. If horse is fine to shoe in front and good for feet trimming etc behind, there is no reason there would be a problem.

But I don't particularly think the owner would want you having the horse shod behind just to satisfy a whim - after all, if you do not buy the horse, then they have to have the shoes taken off again further down the line, potentially affecting the horse slightly if its got used to being shod behind.
 
The reason I am wanting to know if it can be shoed x4 is that they dont do a lot of road work but I might . They told me they have to stand at the head end to reassure it when its having the fronts on. It isnt sedated & i asked why they didnt just give it a hay net to eat.?? But they told me its fine having its back feet trimmed etc & as long as the farrier just gets on with it then the horse is fine.

So many horses are not being shoed usually as they dont go out on the roads but call me very old fashioned but I think they should be well behaved and be able to accept having shoes on as to me that is part of being an allrounder??? Its one of my own requirements.

I would only ask to see it shoed with their farrier and have backs IF I was definitely going to purchase the horse and only after I had it 2 stage vetted and doped test. It would be my final requirement.

The horse needs someone to stay at its head ie hold the rope whilst being shod. My farrier is brilliant but no longer young and will not shoe anything that is likely to injure him(& why should he..he has done all the race yards in his lifetime etc etc met nut case horses and owners). I am so use to well behaved horses & I expect that of them.

Anyhow its all speculative as I havent seen the horse yet..its a concern.
 
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indie999 said:
The reason I am wanting to know if it can be shoed x4 is that they dont do a lot of road work but I might . They told me they have to stand at the head end to reassure it when its having the fronts on. It isnt sedated & i asked why they didnt just give it a hay net to eat.?? But they told me its fine having its back feet trimmed etc & as long as the farrier just gets on with it then the horse is fine.

So many horses are not being shoed usually as they dont go out on the roads but call me very old fashioned but I think they should be well behaved and be able to accept having shoes on as to me that is part of being an allrounder??? Its one of my own requirements.
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Bare foot horses are really good on roads and the more roadwork they get the better. It might be better for both of you if you looked elsewhere for a horse, that may better suit your own requirements.
 
you really can not ask/expect a seller to put a set of back shoes on a horse your looking at buying. If im honest..

If you said that to me Id be telling you its the wrong horse for you. And wouldnt want to be wastin gmy time again.

now.

so what it has never had backs on if you buy it and they need it, then mildy sedate the first time and work on it over time, get the farrier whilst trimming to have a hammer about the hoof etc so horse gets used to the feel.
 
jhoward said:
you really can not ask/expect a seller to put a set of back shoes on a horse your looking at buying. If im honest..

If you said that to me Id be telling you its the wrong horse for you. And wouldnt want to be wastin gmy time again.

now.

so what it has never had backs on if you buy it and they need it, then mildy sedate the first time and work on it over time, get the farrier whilst trimming to have a hammer about the hoof etc so horse gets used to the feel.
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ok thank you will see how it is with its feet etc and if its friendly type first then go from here. The horse had some remedial shoeing as a youngster so hence this is why I am having a doubt moment. But thanks for all the tips and good advice will take on board.
 
It does sound a bit as though the horse will have some issues about being shod, and as though your farrier won't do it if it does (as you say, fair enough, his choice, and there are plenty like him around). That does leave you with a horse that he won't shoe, or having to find another farrier.

I'd have a look at the horse - see if you love it in all other respects, then have a good chat with the owner - tell them what you've said about worrying that you will do more roadwork etc and see what they say/suggest..

Generally, a horse that is a problem to shoe/box/clip etc is a pain, and I'd be looking at other horses unless I absolutely loved it - let your head rule your heart.
 
ahh.. id be more worried about the remedial shoeing as a youngster to be honest.

honestly even if it is with a hoof pick give the hoof a good hard tapping all over and bring the leg forwards, and backwards like a farrier would.

I know its a long road for op, but honestly dont worry about things like this to much, if its a nice horse and is safe and what you want ridden wise id say that is far more important things like ground manners.. shoeing etc can all be worked on.
 
Honey08 said:
Generally, a horse that is a problem to shoe/box/clip etc is a pain, and I'd be looking at other horses unless I absolutely loved it - let your head rule your heart.
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see that last bit id disagree with , op is not a total novice, and IMO issues with the above are man made, and if somebody is willing to take the time then easily resolved, id rather have a horse good in traffic and i had to work on the other things.

and again. with babies id normally expose them to a farrier shoeing so they get used to smoke/smell/noise and do some work myself on the feet with a hammer etc (not full on sledge hammer before some muppet thinks that:p) and if needed i would sedate the first couple of times. kinder for the horse, and the farrier ..

all im saying is i dont think lack of back shoes is a reason for OP not to view a horse she potentially thinks ticks all the boxes.
 
Thank you soooo much for the replies I am really truely grateful. They are all really valid responses & I take on board all criticisms and recommendations etc

My gut impression is that the horse just wasnt handled properly by inexperienced people as a youngster..it was a first horse etc. But they seem to have progressed it slowly?? The remedial shoeing was a temporary thing and due to this I will certainly have a vetting done. It passed a vetting after the remedial work a few years ago.

BUT I will go with an open mind etc. ALSO my experienced chaperone is on holiday hence the post! Just having night before questions.......and need reassurance that I am going with my eyes wide open! All eventualities etc. Jo I do plan to bang bang sorry tap tap with hoof pick!!

But thank you all very much.......I will be back with the outcome!

To be continued...........
 
My girl had never had shoes in before when she came to me (as an 8yo). I handled her feet a lot and then used hoof boots to maximise hoof handling and as she was doing ok without shoes in general. When she had shoes on she was absolutely fine, and when I mentioned to my farrier it was her first full set he was really surprised as she was so good

What I'm getting at is that unless the horse has an underlying illness / health issue, there is usually no reason, with good consistent practice and handling, that the horse shouldn't accept being shod. My girly was cold shod a few times, but is fine with hot shoeing now :)
 
calm down woman! :D

yes obviousley ask owners if they mind, but a good hard tapping around outter hoof, start of gently but then increase, you have to remember a farrier isnt exctley gentle when putting nails in.

THEN.. try the inside of the foot but be a bit gentler as normally there would be a shoe between the tapping in of a nail.
 
I am very surprised about the number of replies that are "If the horse is OK with fronts - he will be fine with backs". My friends horse is a perfect gentleman with fronts - but when farrier tried to shoe the hinds the horse was - shall we say - a little upset, and this has nothing to do with handling hinds, tapping with hoof pick or anything else, but down to arthritic changes in his hocks which cause him discomform when being shod behind. Not a problem for my friend, but could be a problem if you wanted to do more and needed studs.
 
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