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Putting shoes on the barefoot horse

Off Course
#1

Some of you may have read my previous post about choosing a trainer. I had a followup conversation with trainer 1 (who wants me to put shoes on my pony). Her feeling is that ALL horses doing any sort of regular work need at least front shoes for support. She feels that even though my pony is sound and moving nicely, he cannot possibly be performing at his best without shoes. She wants me to try them, insists that I will absolutely, no doubt in her head, notice improvement in his gait and the way he carries himself.

I also had a followup conversation with trainer #3 (the one that doesn’t like ponies). We discussed many things, but I also asked her opinion about putting shoes on my pony. She said she hadn’t even been aware he was barefoot, that he has nice movement. But she also made the comment that it doesn’t hurt to try a cycle of shoes and see if I notice any difference.

So… then I talked to my trimmer about it. She said that it’s not as simple as slapping shoes on him and seeing if I notice a difference, and taking them off if I don’t. She said that the trim to put shoes on him is going to be different than the trim she does to keep him barefoot. And once the shoes are on, she would recommend waiting at least 5-6 weeks before pulling them so that he gets some new growth and she can trim them back to the balanced and barefoot condition they are in now. And even then, she cautioned it could take 2-3 trim cycles (at 5 weeks each) before she has him completely back to where he was before shoes.

So what to do. This little experiment could end up costing 4 months of messing with his feet. Is it worth it? I’ve been googling and searching through COTH archives trying to find any information to help me make a decision, but I’m not finding much. I find situations where somebody was trying to do barefoot with a horse that has soundness issues, then put shoes on them and the horse improved. But my pony does not have any soundness issues. Does anybody have any stories they can share? I am not wanting to start a barefoot vs shoes debate, there is plenty of threads and info available on that topic. Specifically, I would like to know if there is anybody out there who had a horse that was barefoot with no soundness issues, seemed to be doing fine, then you put shoes on him. Did you notice significant improvement, and if so, in what ways?

Thanks

#2

I think you are way overthinking this.

Have you not previously said that you are riding for fun and self-improvement? That you are not interested in getting involved in serious showing? That you and your pony are perfectly happy to have him barefoot?

Then why on Earth would you even consider putting shoes on? Might it improve your pony’s movement? Sure, it’s possible. But to what end? If your goal is not serious competition and your pony is perfectly sound, why is some incremental improvement in his movement important to you?

#3

I’m all for putting shoes on IF they need it, but I’d keep yours barefoot for now. Why mess with it if he’s always been fine? Your lessons are most likely in an arena with good footing that shouldn’t make much of a difference. Now if you were planning on riding lots of rocky trails, etc, shoes might make sense.

I would first see if her lessons help you help your horse carry himself better…

#4

Don’t do it. If he can’t hold up to the work load with bare feet he’ll let you know. My horse is barefoot and I rode with someone who made me put shoes on him. Claimed he was hurting. It was all BS and then at one point he ended up twisting the shoe that had been put on two weeks earlier and now I can’t ride and I have to get someone out asap to fix it. Nothing but a hassle! In the end I went back to barefoot and it took a good 2 trims for him to be comfortable on rough ground. And btw, nothing moves better with shoes than they do barefoot.

#5

[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;7970122]
I think you are way overthinking this. [/QUOTE]

Well, many encouraged me from my last thread to ask more questions to help myself make a more informed decision. And soo I did. And now I’m trying to make sense of all the information I collected. In the end, I just want what is best for my pony (as I’m sure we all do).

#6

A trainer’s word is not LAW or a command. Weighing changing your (sound!) pony’s way of going via much higher farrier bill against some unnecessary and highly subjective “improvement,” I’d just tell her:

“That’s nice to know for the future, and we’ll see how things go, but just now managing her barefoot is working out fine for both of us.”

I hardly think she’s going to refuse you lessons for that! :wink:

#7

I am in no way one of the people who believes all horses should be barefoot, but if the trainer thinks that all horses in work need to be in shoes, that is equally ridiculous. If trainer can give you reasons related to soundness, foot quality, and performance of your particular pony, then fine. Those are worth considering and discussing with your farrier, and maybe a shoes experiment is in order.

Based on trainer #1’s explanation, I would keep shopping for a new trainer.

#8

If your horse is going well barefoot, keep him barefoot, you’ll find out soon enough if the workload is such that he does need shoes. Trainer is entitled to opinion but I wouldn’t necessarily consider it more qualified than a farrier’s, and it could simply be personal preference/prejudice. That aside, ‘you’ are hiring the trainer, not the other way around, and so simply state that you’d love the lessons and you’ll be keeping your pony barefoot for now and see how it goes. If it were me and the trainer balked at that, I’d take that as a sign that I wouldn’t want to hire that particular trainer.

#9

[QUOTE=tinyrider;7970099]
So… then I talked to my trimmer about it. She said that it’s not as simple as slapping shoes on him and seeing if I notice a difference, and taking them off if I don’t. She said that the trim to put shoes on him is going to be different than the trim she does to keep him barefoot. And once the shoes are on, she would recommend waiting at least 5-6 weeks before pulling them so that he gets some new growth and she can trim them back to the balanced and barefoot condition they are in now. And even then, she cautioned it could take 2-3 trim cycles (at 5 weeks each) before she has him completely back to where he was before shoes. [/QUOTE]

When I bought my horse, she was shod, although had been barefoot. She was on trial, and I think the owner felt better safe than sorry.

My farrier reshod her once, then said he didn’t think she really needed the shoes for the work she was in, so we just took them off.

Does your farrier shoe horses (you refer to her as a trimmer, so I wonder). Sure, it takes some time for the nail holes to grow out, but my farrier doesn’t have a completely different trim for shod horses. So…I think it’s a little over dramatic to make it sound like you can’t just take them off if you see no difference.

However, if you like trainer #1 the best so far, I’d just start taking lessons and say “I’ve talked to my farrier about this and we’re considering shoes” and leave it for the time being.

I did read your first post and wondered if you were going to board with each of these trainers or if you are trailering in? If you are not boarding with them, I’d just leave it as is and see if you even like the lessons before doing anything else.

#10

Can’t say I have ever slapped shoes on “just because”.

I did have one - that was going well barefoot, competing at training level eventing (3’3" jumps / dressage) - who I put shoes on before a big event on turf. We wanted to be able to use studs, and well that required shoes.

For the first week he had “knee action”. Walked out of the farrier bay high stepping - like “what the heck are these weights on my feet?!”

But after that first week? No didn’t notice any difference. He didn’t “go better”, his movement was not better - but now I had the added complication of pulled shoes. Took awhile to get them right, she he wasn’t grabbing the heels and pulling them off.

All of my horses have come to me barefoot. Some eventually needed shoes due to work load / gravel footing / thin soles etc.

My current horse is barefoot and works a lot - totally sound.

Personally, I would not put on shoes just because its a potential trainer’s preference.

Its a lot of money (if you are getting “cheap” shoes around here, thats $120. Every six weeks? Now looking at an extra grand of yearly horse expenses), can be a hassle, lost and twisted shoes etc.

#11

Don’t do it.

If your horse is perfectly sound without them, you’re opening a can of worms that you don’t need to open!

Shoes will help a horse feel more confident “pushing off” in the hind end if they need that extra oomph. Shoes can also add knee action that many people don’t want. With a shoe, you risk the chance of your pony pulling the shoe, and with that, a large chunk of their foot!

I am going to (tomorrow) face the issue of putting shoes on my horse because he is sore on the hard, icy ground. I WISH I could avoid putting shoes on him, for so many reasons. But he is a TB and if he tells me trimming just isn’t cutting it, then shoes it is!

Also, your farrier is right, it’s a totally different trim for a shod/unshod horse. A shod horse will have a flatter foot and usually they pare down the soles/bars a bit more than they would a barefoot horse. Your horse would indeed require some time to build a callous once the shoes are pulled. And you would indeed want to wait 5-6 weeks before pulling them, otherwise you will be putting your horse out on a flat foot (which will hurt and likely cause the walls to chip away if you don’t have the horse rounded up immediately after).

Don’t shoe if you don’t have to!

#12

[QUOTE=S1969;7970201]

Does your farrier shoe horses (you refer to her as a trimmer, so I wonder). Sure, it takes some time for the nail holes to grow out, but my farrier doesn’t have a completely different trim for shod horses. So…I think it’s a little over dramatic to make it sound like you can’t just take them off if you see no difference.

However, if you like trainer #1 the best so far, I’d just start taking lessons and say “I’ve talked to my farrier about this and we’re considering shoes” and leave it for the time being.

I did read your first post and wondered if you were going to board with each of these trainers or if you are trailering in? If you are not boarding with them, I’d just leave it as is and see if you even like the lessons before doing anything else.[/QUOTE]

Yes, my trimmer is a ‘farrier’ as well, I just call her my trimmer because my pony is barefoot.

For now, I am trailering in. If it gets to be too much hassle, I may move to the facility.

#13

Based on my experience -I agree with all of this. The “bare foot trim” my horse gets is significantly different than the trim they get for shoes. Not to mention the way the hoof interacts with the environment is changed. A shod hoof is not going to have as much frog and sole contact with the ground. The hoof will need to be re-accustomed to being barefoot after the shoes come off.

#14

Another vote for not shoeing, if you don’t have to.

If you are about to change your pony’s workload and/or surface he will be moving on, your farrier will notice her next visit or so and will be the first one to let you know, whether you need to make transition to shoeing. Most are very honest about it.

As for barns, BOs, and trainers, keep in mind, they have their specific “culture” and that environment will mold you one way or another. It is important to choose the one, you are more in agreement with regarding horse care and such, so that you can avoid unnecessary tensions and/or ending up in the place, you did not mean to (due to cultural pressure).

#15

[QUOTE=Appsolute;7970247]
Based on my experience -I agree with all of this. The “bare foot trim” my horse gets is significantly different than the trim they get for shoes. Not to mention the way the hoof interacts with the environment is changed. A shod hoof is not going to have as much frog and sole contact with the ground. The hoof will need to be re-accustomed to being barefoot after the shoes come off.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I don’t doubt my trimmer one bit. She’s awesome. I didn’t know any of this before talking to her though, so I’m very glad I asked. I thought trying shoes would be a quick and harmless experiment, but I’ve definitely learned now that is not the case.

#16

My farrier trims a hoof similarly whether or not the horse is shod, but I agree that taking shoes off does require some adjustment time for the sole and frog to reacquaint themselves with the ground. My mare is barefoot, has great feet, and is sound and comfortable on any footing we’ve met. If she was “ouchy” I would shoe her, but for our trail rides and arena work she doesn’t need them. My farrier agrees, and he is one to call a spade a spade!

#17

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…

#18

Shoes are used for 3 reasons: protection, correction, and traction.

First of all, congratulations on finding a good BF trimmer who is open to shoes if needed. Far too many believe BF is the only way.

I haven’t read your other thread(s?), but I would be inclined to keep the pony BF at first unless there is going to be a significant change in the footing s/he will be primarily working in.

Otherwise, just be very observant about changes in the pony’s feet or way of going. They tend to tell you what they need if you listen.

Also, don’t be afraid to try shoes if you think it will help. It might take a few cycles to get back to BF, but it isn’t that big a deal.

#19

Your farrier’s right: it’s a different trim for shoeing than for going barefoot, and it does take some time (depending on how fast your pony’s hooves grow) for the nail holes to fully grow out.

I shod Alex in the front when I first got him because he had typical TB feet and was very prone to abscesses. The farrier and I agreed that for him, for the time being, shoes were the answer. But we ended up pulling them during a very nasty wet/dry spell because his hooves weren’t growing enough between trims. It took quite some time to grow out the holes, and his hooves are in much better condition now.

Bodie wore shoes too, when he was working (he had wedges in the front due to issues), but he had huge problems with overreaching, and it was a constant struggle to keep the shoes on him. Now that he’s not in work, he’s fine w/o them.

If it was my pony, I’d keep her barefoot. It’s working. Some horses need them, some horses need them for a while, and some don’t.

#20

What kind of footing is she going to be working on. Some hard stone surfaces will wear down any horse’s foot if worked regularly enough on it…IF that happens, there may be a cause to put fronts on, you could be open minded just in case.

Shoeing is expensive so few legitimate farriers will recommend shoeing if it is not necessary.

I also think that fronts only encourage a horse to go more on the forehand if it is protecting its hinds at all.

Nah - I’d not shoe unless the horse indicates it needs it.

Some horses do go better once shod…if they are protecting themselves and some will go short strided, but the trainer sounds closed minded.

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