Would you shoe this pony?

Toffee_monster

Toffee_monster

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Was just wondering what you would do in this situation.

Harry is 12.2hh, broken to drive and is ridden by my toddler once a week. We drive out around 3 times per week and up to 8-9 miles quite often. Lots of usual trot work on the roads but I do have to be careful as I worry abut his feet, and his workload is only going to increase as he gets older and through summer

He has never been shod but he also has only been trimmed twice in 9 months as his feet keep well trimmed with his work. I have been putting easyboots on him every other ride but they are rather a faff, a bit of a pain in the bum when having to put harness on anyway. H also isn't that keen on me putting them on

His backs look great but his fronts do wear down quite short and boxy and a couple of farriers have said he would need shoes on but I've persevered. We have our first show next week with a 5 mile road drive and I know that we can't wear his boots for showing, although I want to do quite a few shows through summer

Farrier is at the yard next week and he said he would put fronts on him for me, but I feel like I am giving in a bit. What do you think ?
 
A pony doing regular roadwork should grow enough hoof to replace what it is wearing down. I would say as long as he is comfortable, to leave him be. If you google wild mustang hooves you will see they look completely different to our horses and ponies. They are short and upright and pretty much perfect! xx
 
Yeah I'll put fronts on. I've heard that back ones are more expensive to shoe than front ones anyway so if his back feet are ok then at least you're saving some money.
 
I don't think I would shoe if he's going ok. I'd jus do what you are doing nd see how his feet go when you do up the workload.
 
Why would you shoe him if he is not uncomfortable?

Barefoot feet are very often very short. If he is not unsound, then listen to the horse not the farrier.
 
cptrayes said:
Why would you shoe him if he is not uncomfortable?

Barefoot feet are very often very short. If he is not unsound, then listen to the horse not the farrier.
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Ditto. Why waste money and potentially ruins really good feet if he doesn't need them?! Has he ever shown signs of footiness or soreness?
 
If he's not footy then I wouldn't shoe either. Sounds like he's getting plenty of work and his feet will only get stronger.
 
I think that unless he's struggling (becoming footy/tripping) then he should be fine left unshod. Unshod hooves are usually much shorter than shod ones, so unless he's showing signs of discomfort I would personally persevere with the shoe-less approach. If when he's in harder work, he begins to look footy, then pop some fronts on, but for the time being it sounds like he's managing just fine :) x
 
If you are gradually upping his workload, this will give the feet chance to keep pace and grow faster to replace any worn away.
Also if you are doing lots of trotting on roads, shoes would dramatically increase concussion and would start all sorts of other issues up the legs and body.
If you're already using boots, yes they are a bit of a faff but could be saving you days off with lameness and also vet fees if it gets so bad.
And, if we're talking about saving money, bare is cheaper, especially if the pony is self trimming.
Just boot for an outing or two if he gets a bit sore and leave them off for competitions. Just imagine how good it feels when you've had a hard day and you take off your shoes and relax - you wouldn't be able to do that for him if they are nailed on.
There you are - five good reasons to not shoe :);)
 
Just keep a really close eye on his soundness. Driving ponies are harder to spot for lameness sometimes as you arent riding and cant feel when they are lame like you can a ridden horse.

But if he is ok, I would carry on...

why have you been using boots? Is it to stop him being footy?
 
muff747 said:
If you are gradually upping his workload, this will give the feet chance to keep pace and grow faster to replace any worn away.
Also if you are doing lots of trotting on roads, shoes would dramatically increase concussion and would start all sorts of other issues up the legs and body.
If you're already using boots, yes they are a bit of a faff but could be saving you days off with lameness and also vet fees if it gets so bad.
And, if we're talking about saving money, bare is cheaper, especially if the pony is self trimming.
Just boot for an outing or two if he gets a bit sore and leave them off for competitions. Just imagine how good it feels when you've had a hard day and you take off your shoes and relax - you wouldn't be able to do that for him if they are nailed on.
There you are - five good reasons to not shoe :);)
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I totally agree with this post!! I have found it true from experience as well!!
 
I don't think it's necessary to shoe him yet, as he's coping well without any shoes. Once he does become sore, either use the boots every time you do roadwork or have him shod then.

What a shame that boots aren't allowed in competition - hopefully this rule will change at some point in the future!
 
i have got 2 unshod commercial driving cobs
the welshie does about 30 miles a week and is sound has a set of cavallos but only tends to need them on stoney ground
the trad cob goes well for the same mileage on flat tarmac, but footy on gravel he has boas when needed bu he was in shoes for years and he was unshod till 6rs old had fab hard feet would go over anything went sore when i upped the work so i shod him then at 15yrs was on off lame front feet went long oe no heel so is still recovering but has been a year out of shoes now
within 1 year of shoes being fitted he threw a splint on both fore legs, and got windgalls , the windgalls have now gone
he will never be shod again and both horses pull wedding carriages so a lot heavier than what youre pulling
hope this helps
 
I would keep going without the shoes but perhaps lunge him on a hard surface to check soundness now and again as it very hard to see lameness when you are driving. boots are a bit of a faff but IMO the benefits outweigh the faff.
 
I wouldn't shoe untill he was footy- we've had them doing nationals unshod :) Then go for fronts, and if still issues hinds :)

I think it's very easy to see most lameness from driving :o Apart from forelimb lameness on a circle ;)
 
rara007 said:
I wouldn't shoe untill he was footy- we've had them doing nationals unshod :) Then go for fronts, and if still issues hinds :)

I think it's very easy to see most lameness from driving :o Apart from forelimb lameness on a circle ;)
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Subtle bilateral fore foot lameness is difficult to assess in a carriage hence my advice to lunge now and again
 
Thank you all, I am surprised by the amount of replies and I really appreciate it

I bought boots for him as he was always a bit footy on stoney ground when we broke him in and started work. He doesn't show any signs of footinesss whatsoever now and his feet are going nicely concave. They sound rather hard on the roads so I think he has very good feet.

I just don't want to make him lame with showing, but it's not like we will be doing a LOT more so hopefully he should be fine.

Am going to ring farrier and tell him what I have decided, and that is to leave them off :)
 
Toffee_monster said:
They sound rather hard on the roads so I think he has very good feet.
Just think then how hard it will sound with steel hitting the road at the end of his hoof :eek: At least his feet can function exactly how they should in that they will be absorbing the concussion instead of being restricted and it going up his legs.

I just don't want to make him lame with showing, but it's not like we will be doing a LOT more so hopefully he should be fine.
Can I ask, do you show on the roads? I'm not familiar with driving showing but I have seen shows with driving classes but they are in a show ground field.

Am going to ring farrier and tell him what I have decided, and that is to leave them off :)
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Yay, well done you, your pony will thank you for his comfy feet:D:)
 
Wiz201 said:
Yeah I'll put fronts on. I've heard that back ones are more expensive to shoe than front ones anyway so if his back feet are ok then at least you're saving some money.
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Eh... cost of shoeing hind v fronts, where are you coming from , sorry but that is madness.....are you feeding vitamins and minerals, this will help hoof growth.
btw a driving pony should be pushing with hinds,, so if they are OK, the fronts should be too, if you have boots on when driving, he should not be wearing the fronts.
 
Miss L Toe we don't always use the boots hence why they were wearing down before i used them for a couple of weeks solid. Harry is fed a low sugar diet with a broad spectrum balancer and seems to suit him well.
Cost isn't an issue here at all, what needs doing will be done, but you have put my mind at ease about leaving him barefoot.
...... but that wasn't my post above about cost :)

Muff - yes they do a 5-8 mile road drive at a lot of them :)

Anyway, this evening I trimmed him up ready for our show next week and I can see without the extra feather that he doesn't have short feet at all (very embarassing) but they are a little boxy on the front, the backs look great I think. Will post a couple of pics

Hinds (a little bruised but no footiness)
380367_10151702649657837_1879462033_n.jpg


Fronts
547405_10151702650547837_1225665961_n.jpg
 
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Toffee_monster said:
Was just wondering what you would do in this situation.

Harry is 12.2hh, broken to drive and is ridden by my toddler once a week. We drive out around 3 times per week and up to 8-9 miles quite often. Lots of usual trot work on the roads but I do have to be careful as I worry abut his feet, and his workload is only going to increase as he gets older and through summer

He has never been shod but he also has only been trimmed twice in 9 months as his feet keep well trimmed with his work. I have been putting easyboots on him every other ride but they are rather a faff, a bit of a pain in the bum when having to put harness on anyway. H also isn't that keen on me putting them on

His backs look great but his fronts do wear down quite short and boxy and a couple of farriers have said he would need shoes on but I've persevered. We have our first show next week with a 5 mile road drive and I know that we can't wear his boots for showing, although I want to do quite a few shows through summer

Farrier is at the yard next week and he said he would put fronts on him for me, but I feel like I am giving in a bit. What do you think ?
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Of course you should not shoe him.

Boots being a bit of a faff is the worst reason I've heard for shoeing.

I bet the farrier offered to put fronts on!!
 
muff747 said:
If you are gradually upping his workload, this will give the feet chance to keep pace and grow faster to replace any worn away.
Also if you are doing lots of trotting on roads, shoes would dramatically increase concussion and would start all sorts of other issues up the legs and body.
If you're already using boots, yes they are a bit of a faff but could be saving you days off with lameness and also vet fees if it gets so bad.
And, if we're talking about saving money, bare is cheaper, especially if the pony is self trimming.
Just boot for an outing or two if he gets a bit sore and leave them off for competitions. Just imagine how good it feels when you've had a hard day and you take off your shoes and relax - you wouldn't be able to do that for him if they are nailed on.
There you are - five good reasons to not shoe :);)
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+1 :) build the workload up gradually. Ensure he gets a good quality diet (sufficient good quality protein, vits and mins, high fibre low sugar). Keep an eye on him.
 
Thanks, i have been building his work up gradually dont worry :) I am very paranoid at the moment, had a number of years off horses to have a family and worry if anyone says i should be doing things differently. But i AM happy with how i am managing him, i just need to trust myself :(
 
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