What is your personal view on ......

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Scoopy

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Working a horse without a hind shoe ?
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Just being nosy !
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Depends where and what sort of work. If its gentle work in the school and the feet are quite strong then I can't see a problem. I wouldn't hack out or do anything to damage the foot, and would be more inclind to work a horse that has lost a back shoe rather that a front shoe!
 
Unshod behind or just lost one? In both cases I guess it depends on condition of horse's feet, and whether they were footsore of not.

Any sign of sensitivity then it wouldn't be worked at all.

If a shoe had just been lost then I'd go in the school/on soft ground only.

If it was deliberately unshod behind then I would work as normal, but take care on stony ground and not do as much trotting on roads.
 
Id do it providing the horse was on a good surface, grass or sand and wasnt foot sore or likley to become foot sore.
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I was thinking about this last week when my horse lost a shoe behind. I decided against riding her and gave her a few days off till the farrier came. It would just be sods law that the one time I rode her with a shoe missing something would go wrong lol. I didn't think it was worth risking.
 
I once worked a horse without a front shoe. He was all over the place!! Depending on the horse I might do though, but I don't think either of us enjoyed that schooling session!
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If the horse had lost a hind shoe I probably wouldn't - it depends on the horses feet but I find they tend to crack and you can make quite a mess of the foot. If it was imperative the horse was exercised then I would do gently on soft ground, but only if really necessary.
 
I've ridden a horse without a front shoe before - was on a good surfaced arena and he felt the same as he does with all 4 shoes

Think it depends on what you're doing and what you're riding on surface wise
 
providing the foot is in good condition i continue to work my horse in the school with a missing shoe

we are dressage orientated , he works just fine

i wouldn't jump , hack etc

if however the foot is damaged i go to the other extreme , he is kept in until the farrier arrives as ultimately his soundness & ability to work in the longer term is the most important issue
 
I don't work Chex (not that he's lost a shoe in the last 5 years or so), but he acts like his leg has been chopped off when he loses a shoe
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. I would ride if the horse wasn't feeling it a lot though.
 
my horse is cob and has brill feet but he half pulled a shoe on his hind on sunday so a friend had to take it off, the farrier is coming tomorrow to put it back on, i would of ridden him in the field if i had to wait longer for farrier or if the weather hadn't been so s**t this week!! but would never hack out as if something went wrong id never forgive myself!! im too soft on my horses!!!
 
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