What surfaces can barefoot horses work on?

hunters are on totally different ground hence don't need studs. This is an example of bf shooting themselves int he foot-they tried to say horse didn't need studs as they wouldn't slip with the extra grip being barefoot gave them, then a lot realised that actually there are times when to compete you need studs-hence the backtracking to then you need shoes. Yet some still argue you won't need studs ever being barefoot, regardless of level. So conflicting arguements.
So what about flinty tracks, and not just for one or two strides, for a couple of hours hack-has anyone got horses hacking over these? Not gravel forest tracks, the next level up so to speak?
 
SusieT said:
hunters are on totally different ground hence don't need studs. This is an example of bf shooting themselves int he foot-they tried to say horse didn't need studs as they wouldn't slip with the extra grip being barefoot gave them, then a lot realised that actually there are times when to compete you need studs-hence the backtracking to then you need shoes. Yet some still argue you won't need studs ever being barefoot, regardless of level. So conflicting arguements.
So what about flinty tracks, and not just for one or two strides, for a couple of hours hack-has anyone got horses hacking over these? Not gravel forest tracks, the next level up so to speak?
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The video clip above is of my ISH who hacks for miles barefoot on stony tracks and roads.

Having said that, I don't always think he is comfortable and so as his workload is seriously increasing he is having his shoes on this week. I also declined to SJ on muddy ground at the weekend as I was scared without shoes/studs... Probably unwarranted but logic dictates to me that shoes create more cut in the ground.

He'll have his shoes off when he is doing a bit less work, or when I am broke
 
Ignoring the fact that in this photo I've clearly sneaked onto the verge, I ride mine up and down this track all the time - it's a mile or so of sharp gravel (not fine small gravel!) and they're all sound as anything trotting up and down it (in fact they're more than happy to canter on it, though I'd rather they didn't :cool:)

528010_536490788787_278600097_1130125_824445517_n.jpg
 
SusieT said:
hunters are on totally different ground hence don't need studs. This is an example of bf shooting themselves int he foot-they tried to say horse didn't need studs as they wouldn't slip with the extra grip being barefoot gave them, then a lot realised that actually there are times when to compete you need studs-hence the backtracking to then you need shoes. Yet some still argue you won't need studs ever being barefoot, regardless of level. So conflicting arguements.
So what about flinty tracks, and not just for one or two strides, for a couple of hours hack-has anyone got horses hacking over these? Not gravel forest tracks, the next level up so to speak?
Click to expand...

They are not conflicting arguments they are different ideas and views and I have never said that completly shoeless is the answer all the time . Why should all people who work there horses without shoes have to speak with one voice and have one view ?We are not like the moonies you know .
No my horses shod or unshod don't do two hours work over one step up from gravel forest tracks can't see what it would gain them.
However we frequently go on stone forest tracks near here and my shoeless one joins in with the others no trouble but he is a dressage horse so is not doing this everyday shoeless works for him in his life .
 
JFTD said:
Ignoring the fact that in this photo I've clearly sneaked onto the verge, I ride mine up and down this track all the time - it's a mile or so of sharp gravel (not fine small gravel!) and they're all sound as anything trotting up and down it (in fact they're more than happy to canter on it, though I'd rather they didn't :cool:)

528010_536490788787_278600097_1130125_824445517_n.jpg
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Very nice horse.
 
This is always my test to see how Pinto is doing:

Gravelhill.jpg


Thegravel.jpg


The yard is a lot of:
Driveway2.jpg


Which gets loads of gravel chucked in the holes which appear after heavy rain

Driveway2closeup.jpg


This was coming out of winter last year with minimal farrier intervention:
Pintobackfeet06Apr2011.jpg


P4060334.jpg


Pinto has had shoes on for almost a year at vet recommendation for a spavin. I'm determined they're coming off again. I ride a lot on tarmac, and I just find with shoes on I can't trust the footing. I felt much more secure without shoes on :)
 
SusieT said:
So what about flinty tracks, and not just for one or two strides, for a couple of hours hack-has anyone got horses hacking over these? Not gravel forest tracks, the next level up so to speak?
Click to expand...


Yes, we are on the South Downsand the South Downs Way and the flints are sharp and huge, we regularly hack these flinty paths (but we are lucky to have great headlands and gallops too so we don't have to stick to them), my Tb copes with them in the winter and is less good in the summer and my haflinger is now doing really well on them, but galloping over the flint covered stubble of which there is one field in particular (and I do mean covered!) is still not possible but I don't think I'd do that with shoes on either.
 
My two (as below in my sig) work on ANY surface I take them on. From Tarmac roads, gravelly paths, sand, rough woodchip, through big flints on the bridlepath to the millions of stones on the beach between Dover and Deal.
Jas's feet are perfect, beautiful and granite hard. Blaze's fronts look good but her hinds deviate (she walks on the outside of both, due to a congenital malformation of her back legs.) She may look a bit wonky, but her feet work 100% for her!
Both live out 24/7, on reasonable grazing (not lush) hay in winter when the grass disappears, no hard feed at all. And we do some serious hacking! :D
 
SusieT said:
hunters are on totally different ground hence don't need studs. This is an example of bf shooting themselves int he foot-they tried to say horse didn't need studs as they wouldn't slip with the extra grip being barefoot gave them, then a lot realised that actually there are times when to compete you need studs-hence the backtracking to then you need shoes. Yet some still argue you won't need studs ever being barefoot, regardless of level. So conflicting arguements.
So what about flinty tracks, and not just for one or two strides, for a couple of hours hack-has anyone got horses hacking over these? Not gravel forest tracks, the next level up so to speak?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have two that hack EVERY day, sometimes for up to 7+ hrs in summer (3-4 atm) on very flinty tracks, for miles. One chunky cob and one TB.
 
Hiya!!

Here's what my barefooter walked on... for hours on end and could still manage a trot/canter on the roads when we were nearly home. No new photos this was Dec last year although still doing xc and dressage now.

photo01931.jpg


photo01921.jpg


photo01911.jpg
 
Alfie - 5 years old never had shoes hopefully will not need them!! we go all over the place. The car park they are stood is is very rough and stoney although the pic doesn't show it well. He also hacks on the downs, areas of which are flint based. He is never foot sore, but is like a mountain goat!! he seems to self trim on the roads and the farrier just balances as needed when he takes a look at Alf while shoeing my cob. He has different shaped feet to other, shod, horses on the yard which can make some people look twice!! But they do the job and do it well, so we don't interfere!! Here he is ridden by a friend, Alfie is the lightweight on the right.

DSC_0008-2.jpg


And hacking with his friend

DSC_0031.jpg
 
cptrayes said:
Mr Farrier is unlikely to be able to help unless he's a gem that knows about disease and nutrition. It's rare to be able to take something off horses that mince and improve them with a trim. It might possibly be that he is taking something off that should be left and he can leave it, but since the others are OK it seems unlikely. If she was mine I would be testing her for Cushings and for Insulin Resistance, unless she is fat in which case I'd be getting the fat off pronto first.
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She's not in sensational shape as she'd been a brood mare and had four foals... Weaned the last just before coming to us two months ago - although she's not carrying excess weight as we have no grass coming through at the moment... Musculature should improve as we get out and about more...

Mr Farrier seems pretty decent compared to the last one... He's the one who suggested taking backs off the TB to help his hooves improve... He trimmed her after she arrived as she was overgrown but is due out next week on the regular schedule... Figured I'd see what he thinks first... She's fine out in the turnout which is pretty much the side of the mountain and has rocky terrain... Just seems to hate walking on the drive... Not lame or footy in general - just minces up and down the thing hopping onto any grass when she can...
 
SusieT said:
novice is 3"6 isn't it? not quite 4 foot..
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Susie why do none of your posts ever seem constructive? Is it the way you are wired, because you're like it on other threads too. :(

Maximum height of the fixed fence is 3ft 7. An additional 4 inches of birch or other material that can be "brushed through" can be added to cross country fences, making any birch topped fence generally 3ft 11. These fences are normally created by loading the carrier with birch and then chainsawing it down to height. "brush through" is rather a misnomer.
 
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abitodd said:
And this is part of the grazing,a stony track. The field is also quite stony,so I am very lucky.
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I begin to understand why they think we are barmy Abitodd, saying how lucky we are to have stony fields - it must sound very odd to anyone who isn't onside with barefoot :D
 
I just spotted the grey pony in the tree! :D

It's great looking at all your pics, we are only on tarmac atm really (day 22 ;)) so not quite as interesting yet!
 
'Originally Posted by SusieT View Post
novice is 3"6 isn't it? not quite 4 foot..
Susie why do none of your posts ever seem constructive? Is it the way you are wired, because you're like it on other threads too.

Maximum height of the fixed fence is 3ft 7. An additional 4 inches of birch or other material that can be "brushed through" can be added to cross country fences, making any birch topped fence generally 3ft 11. These fences are normally created by loading the carrier with birch and then chainsawing it down to height. "brush through" is rather a misnomer. '

cptrayes-why do you always have to be defending random things you say? There don't tend to be many brush through fences do they? and they don't tend to be thick so are brushed through if they are the full 4inches.. So please, just say to people who don't know that novice is 3"7 rather than 'nearly 4ft' unless you have a complex about 'only' jumping 3'7 the majority of the time?
 
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