Shoes off or not?

[pip]

Farrier is due this afternoon and I am in a complete dither, and keep changing my mind about having shoes off or a new set.

I think if the weather was worse I would have them off without a thought, but I keep thinking that the weather is so good we should be out and about doing things.

My horse was barefoot all last winter and doing well until we had that funny weather in February/March and I decided the strain was too much, and had them on again. I have gone over all the pros and cons many, many times and I have about 4 hours left to decide.

Every time I think they will come off I remember all those things I wanted to go to. Also, as last year, he might be going into livery in the not too distant future, so I don't think I can ask the livery people to deal with a barefoot horse if they are not used to it.

Help, help.

[companymagic]

Personally, if your not totally sure you want them off, which as you know requires work to keep them in good barefoot condition I would keep them on.

If you only planning to take them off for winter even more so. But if you want a total change to bare foot, then maybe have this set and talk to your farrier about the changes you need to make to get yourself ready to have them off next time. Far less stress

Good Luck with it.

[bertie666]

From the tone of your post - no

You dont sound committed enough to it, or sure enough of yourself and your knowledge to do it properly.

Id also want a good diet in place before the shoes came off to give the best chance of him not being footy.

What did you mean the strain was too much because of the funny weather last feb march?!

[Deleted]

I think if the grass growth in feb/ mar was too much for him then shoes on in summer and off in winter is a really good compromise, it benefits the foot to be unshod for a period each year yet allows you to get out and about in the summer.

[Azrael]

Probably too late by now anyway to be any help with a decision but if they aren't problem feet and the horse isn't in hard work then is there any point shoeing? If the feet are decent and the horse isn't in hard work then it shouldn't be much of a faff to not have shoes on.

[papershoes]

I had this dilemma when I took my lad's shoes off, just bit the bullet and went with it...haven't looked back

[mandal]

What did you decide in the end pip?