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Elizabeth Ann Walker (Event)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2000 - 12:43 pm: |   |
I own a 14 year old t.b. cross gelding that never wore shoes until my trainer acquired him about four years ago. When my trainer had this horse he went lame in front because of a bruised coffin bone. In my opinion the lameness was caused by being ridden too hard over uneven terrain as a training level eventer and in addition my trainer outweighs me by at least 100 lbs.
Knowzy has been sound everyday for the past two years and last week my farrier pulled his shoes since my eventing show season is over. I'll only be riding in a high quality sand dressage arena and if I wish to trail ride I have easy boots.
My trainer is very worried that the horse will go lame without the support of the shoes and that going barefoot causes coffin bone and lameness problems.
My question is once his feet have toughened up and he's no longer tender (I'm using the venice turpentine daily to help this process along and can see an improvement in the way he moves on a daily basis) can I leave him barefoot indefinately and show him next year without shoes? I'm very picky about the shows I attend and base my decisions to show or not on the facilities footing anyway, even with the shoes on in front. I always thought that going barefoot was better for them as hoof contact with the ground made for better blood circulation.
Would you be so kind as to give me your professional opinion as a vet about my novice eventer going barefoot full time even during show season? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Thursday, Nov 23, 2000 - 8:57 am: | |
Hello Elizabeth,
Though not impossible, it seems unlikely that the amount of training required to be a eventer wil allow a TB to remain barefoot. It would have to be an unusually good footed TB.
DrO |
Elizabeth Ann Walker (Event)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2000 - 4:38 pm: | |
Thanks for your reply Dr. O - I've decided to leave the pads off for now but have my farrier put his shoes back on the front feet. I'd rather pay the $50.00 every six weeks for the shoes than have a horse that is too sensitive being barefoot to ride. After 2 weeks of him going barefoot, I can tell simply by observing the way he is not reaching out at the trot and canter like he does when he is wearing the shoes in front that he needs the support. And I'd hate myself if I caused him any pain since he's fast become my best horse ever! Once again Thanks! |
Sheila Benner
Member
Username: Sheilab
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 2, 2003 - 10:32 am: | |
Dr O - I'm curious about what your opinion is to leave a horse barefoot who has excellent hooves and is used 100% for dressage in rubber/sand footing indoor arenas and is turned out 5-8 hours daily in very grassy pastures. My mare's shoes were just pulled this morning, in fact, for the first time for the season as I don't intend to do any x-country or trail riding throughout the winter. |
Sheila Benner
Member
Username: Sheilab
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 2, 2003 - 10:48 am: | |
Dr O - I'm curious about what your opinion is to leave a horse barefoot who has excellent hooves and is used 100% for dressage in rubber/sand footing indoor arenas and is turned out 5-8 hours daily in very grassy pastures. My mare's shoes were just pulled this morning, in fact, for the first time for the season as I don't intend to do any x-country or trail riding throughout the winter. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9563
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 2, 2003 - 6:04 pm: | |
Hello Sheila,
I think you will find the feet grow even healthier. Traditionally we would have said that your horse would lose some of his "action" or "brios" or "extension" (depending on your background) because the weight of the shoe causes exaggerated motion. But I have heard of some dressage and seen with other breeds more animation when barefoot. They seem happier. If you find some shortening this may be a reaction to pain and stop work and let me know if this happens.
DrO |
Sheila Benner
Member
Username: Sheilab
Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 4, 2003 - 11:46 am: | |
The shoes came off Tuesday morning and I rode her that evening in the rubber footing in the indoor arena. Her walk and trot strides were fine but her canter was definitely short and seemed 'ouchy' so I quit working immediately and gave her Wednesday off as well. I'll put her on the lunge tonight before getting on and if she's sound, we'll be back in business! I suspect she'll be just fine and going barefoot is going to save me a ton of money too!! |
dina
Member
Username: Paix
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 18, 2005 - 6:04 pm: | |
I have a 3y/o Andalusian Stallion. He is doing moderate ground work daily. The round pen has excellent sandy footing & the arena has "good" sandy footing - he does get small chips here n there.
I plan to show him in Halter classes soon. This guy has great legs and feet! On the "Andalusian-leg-feet-continuum," he is likely in the upper 20% of good legs & feet for this breed.
Id love to keep him barefoot for another year, until I am riding him frequently. Ive been researching this topic for weeks... I get mixed information. There seems to be good points for both sides of the issue.
Most people Ive talked with at shows say, "He must be shod for showing!" Often the reason being based on "looks" rather than well-being.
Ive read MANY of the Hoof Care posts & articles from this site. Im still undecided.....arrrrgh!
Please, any feedback or direction is very welcomed. Just trying to piece together as much info to make the best informed decision possible.
THANKS!
dina |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 586
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 18, 2005 - 6:35 pm: | |
Unless there's been a change in the rules that I'm unaware of, the horses doen't need to be shod, but may be shod if over 2 yr. of age in an Arabian halter class. You can check the rules on line if you don't have a current rule book.
About the only reasons I can think of for shoeing for a halter class is if he has poor feet or is worked on poor footing; or if you want a longer foot than he might have naturally - that is a longer natural hoof protected by a shoe so it doesn't chip off. A lot of show peope like as long a hoof as allowed (4.5 inches I think, again check the current rules) because they think it either makes the horse look better or move better. I've always shown our younger horses barefoot and never felt like it negatively affected their placing. |
Carla McKenzie
New Member
Username: Jivete
Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 - 11:18 am: | |
I wouldn't shoe my Andalusian if I were you, you really shouldn't need to. I have a half Andalusian filly who has the most amazing feet. As long as she is trimmed on a regular basis (less than every four weeks in the summer) and trimmed short enough (In my experience most farriers leave the feet too long and then they chip) her feet never chip and look amazing. Plus she could gallop over gravel and never flinch. She's also kept in a pasture though and that helps keep her feet tough. Her daddy (the Andalusian) has the same feet. I'd keep the shoes off if I were you. |
Cheryl Hohler
Member
Username: Chohler
Post Number: 278
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 - 1:35 pm: | |
By all means go barefoot if you can, just remember when showing that you take the extra effort to make sure his feet look nicer than the shod horses. It may not be a rule to have your horse shod, but the judge will notice so you have to make those feet look awesome. |
Susan Bilsky
Member
Username: Suzeb
Post Number: 395
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 - 2:36 pm: | |
Hello Dina,
Perhaps you could have a chat with your farrier about this issue. If he/she is any good, they could say that your horse does or does not need shoes.
Hoof quality can be wonderful, but depending on what type of work you will be doing with your horse, you may need more supportive measures than protective measures.
If he is travelling soundly then I wouldn't mess with it and not shoe. Get up close and personal with your farrier and talk about your concerns. He/she could offer you some good advice also. In my opinion, it is better to feed the foot than to try and dress it later.
For that dress and show shine, try a chamois cloth on the hoof. Use it like someone would who was polishing your shoes.
Hope this helps,
Susan B. |
Sylvia Pemberton
Member
Username: Sylvy
Post Number: 21
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 4, 2006 - 3:03 pm: | |
I have been told that horses need to be shod if they are jumped in a sand arena. True? |
Erika L
Member
Username: Erika
Post Number: 323
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 4, 2006 - 4:38 pm: | |
Hi Sylvia
Me again...I ride my mare cross country and jump her with no problem barefoot. If the footing is bad I use EasyBoot Epics, but we can do hunter paces just fine barefoot so I would think a sand arena would be fine.
Erika |
Melissa Boschwitz
Member
Username: Amara
Post Number: 160
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 4, 2006 - 6:36 pm: | |
i've worked horses in just about every type of footing, including jumping in sand arena, and as long as the horse has a foot that is accustomed to going barefoot, i've never had a problem... most of the time when you see problems are poorly balanced feet/bad hoof conformation and horses whose feet havent toughened up (can take a year or more in some cases) |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: Vickiann
Post Number: 324
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 4, 2006 - 8:27 pm: | |
My farrier trims horses who regularly jump 6' barefoot without problems. |
