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| Shod/Barefoot | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15th, 2011 11:20 pm |
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1st Post |
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fireandice G.O.G Community Member 
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I am curious how many members here shoe their horses versus those who ride barefoot. Please limit your contributions to your horses who get rode/worked and not those who are retired or 'pasture ornaments'. Nothing wrong with pasture ornaments/buddies, we all have them. However they are not fair 'pollsters'. Thank you for taking part  I'll start: Tina
____________________ My pony knows all my secrets. I braid my tears in his mane and whisper my dreams in his ears. |
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15th, 2011 11:28 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Pharmgirl G.O.G Community Member 
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Actually the 3 TWHs that we have right now all had front shoes when we bought them. We had them taken off and their feet have done just fine. Certainly, if they needed them we would have them shod, but they are okay without them. I really have mixed feelings about putting nails thru their feet....
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15th, 2011 11:29 pm |
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3rd Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss 
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I won't vote because I haven't ridden for a couple of years but I plan to do it again and I have had horses for more than 20yrs before I got myself cripped up. In the 20 years of riding horses, I was blessed to have and use the same farrier all that time. My horses were kept shod. All Four Hooves, all year long, every year.
____________________ Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16th, 2011 01:24 am |
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4th Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand 
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Since my first horse 35 years +, my riding horses have been shod. Usually all four. This year we haven't traveled and camped much so they only have fronts on for the first time. Husband (farrier) is getting older and this seems to be working out okay for us. My mom never could understand why mine and the kids horses always had new shoes every 6-8 weeks and the kids got them once a year!
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16th, 2011 01:53 am |
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5th Post |
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TN Trailrider G.O.G Community Member 
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My horse is usually shod (currently unshod because I don't ride in the summer). He will be reshod fronts only in Sept as I don't have time for a lot of riding. Planning to shoe all 4 feet for the EF ride. Then, I'm considering transitioning to barefoot. I have finally found a hoof boot company that can probably fit him (HoofWings). She said they can, and will stick with me as his hoof changes shape from being unshod. If I find he can't go it unshod, then I will at least have a boot that fits for a spare.
____________________ Lynne |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16th, 2011 04:07 am |
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6th Post |
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prairiesong G.O.G Community Member
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I try to run my horses barefoot if I can. The only horses I've ever kept shod consistently were our show horses, but they were barefoot after show season ended and before it began again.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16th, 2011 04:52 am |
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7th Post |
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GypsySusan G.O.G Community Member 
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My riding horse (and my whole brood but they aren't ridden yet) are unshod and will remain so. The last trail ride was just before their regular trim and they all (mine and my boarders, who have been barefoot for two years now) had some chips along the front edges but nothing major. Our irrigated pasture is full of lava rock and has two major outcroppings that the horses walk through periodically and they are on dry lot for 12 hours per day. My trimmer says they have the toughest feet of most of his clients. My horses are Missouri Fox Trotters and my boarders have an American Paint and a Thoroughbred. We don't do enough rocky riding to ever warrant shoeing but if we did, I would look into boots.
____________________ Susan http://www.gypsytrotters.com Phil 4:11-13, 19 Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One. |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 01:37 am |
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8th Post |
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quaillady G.O.G Community Member 
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All mine are unshod. The two Arabs have never had shoes on. The TWH hasn't needed them yet, but if he does, he will get them. The Paso is currently unshod because I've barely been riding, but come end of September/first of October, he will get shoes again, or he will have a miserable fall/winter season. He did SO-O-O much better last year after having his shoes on- all four- it's unfair not to shoe him.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 01:42 am |
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9th Post |
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karenlexsc G.O.G Community Member 
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We have one who wears shoes only on the front all the time. The other is barefoot. But I just talked to our vet and asked her what she would recommend for the barefoot one when we come to East Fork and she said to put shoes on her - all around. I am sure our farrier would agree w2, so am thinking that's what we will do. She recommended that Domino get rear shoes also, for the ride.
____________________ Karen No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 03:03 am |
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10th Post |
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TN Trailrider G.O.G Community Member
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One thing you might want to be aware of is when they shoe the horse, they normally trim out the sole and frogs a bit. She might be a little ouchy when her shoes are pulled off.
____________________ Lynne |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18th, 2011 02:16 pm |
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11th Post |
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Baron G.O.G Community Member 
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Two of our three are barefoot because they do not need shoes. Our oldest is pigeon toed and was wearing her heel down. We put from shoes on her to give her feet a chance to grow and give them some shape. We had gotten her from some traders and she had not been shod for quite some time. Also, it seems she has had shoes before because she was not fased by the the shoes put on her.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23rd, 2011 05:31 pm |
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12th Post |
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LezleJ G.O.G Community Member 
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My Sadie is barefoot and does well around the farm even on gravel. I use easyboot epics for off property trails where we might encounter large rocks or long gravel roads. Her feet are beautiful, healthy and strong.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23rd, 2011 06:38 pm |
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13th Post |
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NOELLEE G.O.G Community Member 
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I am still in transit stage, having taken 5 horses from shod to barefoot over staggered times. But finding barefoot works for us. I am learning more about the hoof structure, how to rasp off between trims, and plan to learn trimming my own horses. It is not so complicated after all, especially when you take five horses barefoot and have to maintain their hooves, get up close and pay attention, plus see the individual process of each horse, yet find the similarity. **********Took River, my 4yr QH barefoot 4mos ago... he was barefoot up to 3yrs old, then shod on front for 6mos, reoccurring mystery lameness, took him back to barefoot, no more lameness issues. His front feet did a fast transit back, stay balanced naturally, no chipping or flaring. Great frog area, thick walls, good sole. Currently riding him, and if in rocky areas, use Easy Boots on all four, but he also rides barefoot on non-rocky ground. **********Took Bo, my 10yr QH barefoot about 3mos ago... he was shod on all four up to about a year ago, pulled shoes due to a shoulder injury that needed rest. Put front shoes back on him this last spring for light riding, then took barefoot over the summer. He did well, little chipping around the old nail holes that rasped off, hooves stay round and he has been good. Great frog area, thick walls, good sole. Currently riding him, and if in rocky areas, use Easy Boots on all four. He LOVES wearing his boots, even though farriers have told me soles are hard and his feet are very nice. He also rides barefoot on non-rocky ground. *********Took Moon, our 4yr TWH mare barefoot about the same time as Bo. She was not trimmed, just pulled off shoes and put in big hilly, rocky, pasture for movement. Her feet trimmed up entirely on their own, look great, rounded up, flares grew out, she shows no ouch. She will get her first trim this week to get ready for riding again and a boot fit. *********Took Rain, my 11yr TWH gelding barefoot midway thro summer. He was the one I was most concerned about, having been shod on all four most of his entire life and was shod when I got him. Had already transit his back to barefoot over the winter, this went good. When pulled off front and trimmed naturally, including correcting heels that had contracted, a case of deep central sulcus thrush became evident when I opened up the contracted heels. He never showed lameness, but I believe this was his chief cause for the persistent pawing previously. It has been nothing short of an amazing healing process to work thro this, including getting greater frog width, new frog growth, and better heel first landings while barefoot. He rarely paws now, just for a second, then stops himself. Before I always had to distract him to stop. He gaits (run walks) in the pasture when I call him up to the barn, previously in shoes he might go lateral or gallop up. He was my biggest lesson in learning barefoot soundness, and I am very thankful this big goof is getting out of the woods and gaiting again. He always gaited great under saddle, but now he is naturally doing a run walk or rack in the fields or corral off lead. Can't wait to get him in boots for the next step and back to our "parade". *********Took our 10yr QH, Big John, back to barefoot last week. He was barefoot off and on over his life, sometimes shod, always had great feet, so he will do okay and we will use Easy Boot Trails, as needed. He is your very laid back walkalong trail horse, prefers to not run or trot, but easy trail it. I always kept my horses barefoot growing up, rode them nearly every day out in the deep bush and woods, and fields about 30 minutes from this area I am now. I started shodding a few years ago when I got horses that were always shod, one that needed shoes to walk without lameness, but back to my roots now with these horses listed. I read that summer was the better time to transit to barefoot because of the faster hoof growth. So it worked out. Not costing me less yet, lol, due to trims and boots, but I feel better because I too, don't like driving nails into the hoof unless I got to. Rain, I am most proud of. He is a real trooper, and he is so happy now, very playful and funny thing is, no longer camera shy?? Go figure! Last edited on Tue Aug 23rd, 2011 06:40 pm by NOELLEE |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24th, 2011 12:47 pm |
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14th Post |
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fireandice G.O.G Community Member
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11 responses, 8 votes Wonder what happened to the other 3 votes? This poll isn't yielding the information I was looking for. Whatta: I think I may try another simpler one. Thank you for participating. T
____________________ My pony knows all my secrets. I braid my tears in his mane and whisper my dreams in his ears. |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24th, 2011 01:56 pm |
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15th Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss
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If you want this one locked or removed, let me know.
____________________ Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25th, 2011 01:16 pm |
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16th Post |
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dawnrider G.O.G Community Member 
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Hmmmm I voted and didn't post a reply. Dawn has been barefoot year round going on 4 years now. Before that shod all four, all year round with boron and caulks on heels. I ride all year round, as much as I can, weather and work permitting. He seems much happier now, even more athletic than when shod, and I have no plans to go back to shoes. I did buy boots a few months ago for the trip to EF, just in case, but haven't used them as yet, just let him get used to them and put 'em back in the tack room. Haven't ridden as much off the farm this year, We are both out of shape, so gravel will probably cause ouchies. Will use boots if so. In years past with riding lots of different terrain, his feet were tough as rocks and nothing bothered him. Peg Last edited on Thu Aug 25th, 2011 01:29 pm by dawnrider ____________________ "And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stone, and good in every thing. I would not change it." ~As You Like It, II.1~ |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25th, 2011 01:21 pm |
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17th Post |
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LezleJ G.O.G Community Member
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If you aren't used to the larger round rocks you would do well to use the boots at EF. Many of the entrances and exits to streams are lined with these and they can be harsh on hooves. Also there are miles of gravel roads that run down the center of the property and connect many of the trails. It's great riding!
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26th, 2011 05:28 pm |
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18th Post |
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crs trail rider Ranch Hand 
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Barefoot all the way! even my flat footed Appy is barefoot! My RMH's have wonderful feet (ok Jenny has this perpetual chip in her front hoof - but doesnt bother her and the farrier says its just her "conformation" or the way her foot is. Has been that way for a couple of years- we trim it out it comes back) But she is sound and has hard feet. I have boots if I need them but I rarely ever do.
____________________ Its rarely the horses fault- Its usually a failure of the rider to communicate their requests in a manner that the horse can understand. Lisa |
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26th, 2011 11:26 pm |
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19th Post |
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curliesrule G.O.G Community Member
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Hi Lynne, you're right. Farriers are taught to concave the sole, and trim the hoof walls square. If you go bare foot it's best to have a natural bare foot trimmer do the trimming. We only trim the debris off the sole and frog and put a mustang roll on the hoof walls, the walls will chip when they get long but usually will not spilt. If you go on rocky trail, Easy Care makes many models of boots, they have just come out will Easy Boot Trail. Greetings from Knoxville. Deb
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27th, 2011 01:23 am |
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20th Post |
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TN Trailrider G.O.G Community Member
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Deb, just curious. There was a gal named Deb on the board a couple of years ago who was relocating from up north to Knoxville to take a job with the Post Office. I had given her some names to contact about possible horse boarding. Are you her? I had never heard how it went or if she found a place to live.
____________________ Lynne |
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| Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Brenda Imus Questions and Answers > Hoof Talk > Shod/Barefoot | Top |
