Hoof boots for sand arena/grass - should I bother?

[BatataHead]

I pulled my horse’s hind shoes recently, and was shocked that he immediately moved better. He’s had minor chipping etc but the farrier has stopped by a couple of times to check and smooth it out and he’s doing great.

Now, I’m seriously thinking about pulling the fronts. I understand that hind feet are way easier to transition than fronts. I’ve read about using hoof boots for the transition, but since I ride in grass and sand arenas, I’m wondering if that would actually be necessary or even a good thing? I can see hoof boots for riding on hard or rocky ground. But for soft surfaces, I’m wondering if the hoof boots won’t bog him down in the sand, or get sand inside.

Would you bother? Does anyone in here use hoof boots for riding in a sand arena?

[Scribbler]

I think a horse with normal hooves should be fine barefoot on sand and grass, also riding barefoot in sand will give his feet a chance to wear down and scour out naturally.

[Sansena]

Agree Scribbler. Just be sure to ask your farrier to bevel the edges of his feet after the shoes are pulled, so as to eliminate a sharp edge for anything to break off on…

[BatataHead]

Thanks for the quick responses! I’m feeling pretty positive about the possibility of him being totally barefoot given the type of riding we do and how well things went with the hinds. Luckily the farrier is at the barn couple of times each week and can always swing by and put shoes back on if it is terrible.

[StormyDay]

I have gone shod to barefoot on two horses. One took about 2-3 weeks to be completely comfortable to the point that I rode again, the other got his shoes pulled and I rode him immediately after, he never took one ouchy step.
The boots can help ouchy feet, but I would wait to buy them until after you measure his feet unshod. The shod measurement may be way off.

[Scribbler]

He may need a week or so to feel fully OK about striding out without shoes, even if he isn’t sore. And don’t worry about seeing wear patterns on the hooves from the sand. The hooves will grow to catch up with the wear. If the edges of the hooves are bevelled there should be nothing to chip off until he starts to grow more wall and needs a trim. Expect the sole to build up more callous over time, and the hoof to expand.

[Sabine77]

I’m a professional farrier. Most horses with reasonably healthy feet do fine of soft surfaces barefoot. Just take it easy the first few weeks. Don’t freak out when the feet start to chip and break apart… this is normal and in a few months they will look better. A good farrier or trimmer will know to take very little material from the bottom of the foot and just round out the toes and hoof wall.
If you do plan to trail ride, you really should get a pair of hoof boots. I like the easyboot back country glove. They stay on!

[JB]

You’ll just have to do it and see. Not all horses are sound on surfaces you’d think were “safe” when shoes are pulled. Sand is probably the more likely surface to be sound on, as a grassy surface has “harder” with more lumps and bumps that could be a problem for feet that might be tender.

What’s his turnout situation like? You do want him to be comfortable enough to move, lots, so wherever he is sore enough, use boots.

If you decide to pull the front shoes, make sure the turnout situation isn’t going to suddenly become rock hard (and isn’t currently).

As well, the farrier should, IMHO, either trim nothing other than to roll the outer walls if the feet are in decent shape, or do a “lite” trim to take off gross excess and then roll the walls. THEN, in 2 weeks or so, come back, assess how the feet are wearing, and do a more complete trim.

Very often the transition goes a lot better if there’s some extra wall left. And definitely do not allow any but the most obvious shedding sole to be removed and then only if its presence could cause some pressure. They usually benefit from the bit of extra protection from that sole.

[BatataHead]

JB I think his turnout will be good for barefoot transition. It is dry lot - not sand, but kind of sandy dirt. No rocks. I’ve never seen it get super hard because it rains fairly often year round here - in fact we are more of a danger of it being very muddy, but it is rare for ALL of it to get sloppy - it has some slope/highs and lows so part of it stays dry no matter what.

[JB]

That sounds perfect! Then if you have more challenging surfaces you can slowly acclimate him to, even better!

[ozwelshcobs]

Just be careful with sand arena, sand is very abrasive and if very course you will find the feet will wear very quickly. I have been riding on same sand arena daily for 2 years but sand has not been topped up and the fine sand blown away leaving courser sand.

So now, 2 times this year the sand has now worn away his rear toes to the laminae. I am trying to get boots for his rear feet. He moves good and through from behind, he is a rock cruncher and goes on all terrain with out missing a beat, my trimmer is the one of the best on the east coast of Australia but still the wear on his toes. I had glove boots for him but they come off in the sand when he canters.

Anyway the point is sand can wear down the hooves if too course if you ride daily

[Bogie]

It’s hard to predict. I had one horse with thin soles. He was okay barefoot behind but he was never comfortable in front. One time he pulled both front shoes in the mud and I had to keep him in hoof boots just to get him to keep moving! My draft x mare is shod in front for hunting but she never takes a bad step when I pull them for the winter. My TB needs hoof boots to be comfortable when he’s not shod and I want to do more than ride him in an arena.

[ToTheNines]

In addition to what others have said, you will need to pay more attention to the wet/dry condition of the feet. Wet weather will make them softer and less comfortable. I recommend Durasole. Keep those feet nice and dry and hard!