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Post by tikkatonks on Jan 12, 2013 17:43:03 GMT 1
Both have just front shoes at the moment, but next time one will have no shoes. I just put shoes back on for jumping on grass this summer as he seemed to need them (previous years he did xc/ jumping with no shoes). This time of year he only works on a surface so no point in the shoes really.
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Post by floydsmum (aka LesleyfromKent) on Jan 12, 2013 17:54:25 GMT 1
Floyd has been barefoot for 9 months now. Had a bit of a tough time for the first 6 months as although his feet were growing well and the transition from shoes to barefoot was going to plan, I couldn't get him totally sound. I did use boots on him when working on stones or hard ground but then found out he had Cushings disease. Since he's been on medication he's come totally sound and is able to work on stones and Tarmac without too much trouble.
His feet are in great shape and I've also noticed an improvement in his gaits and general attitude to work.
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Post by jennyg on Jan 12, 2013 18:55:02 GMT 1
Barefoot for almost 3 years but did recently get front shoes put on so we could do a ride that involved a lot of rough tracks. Only kept shoes on for 2 weeks and then had them pulled. Struggled last summer with footiness (prob diet related due to wet weather and grass growth) but have had a real headache with hoof boots. Every single type I've tried have twisted on her off fore. Not sure what I'm going to do long term as I don't think she's always completely comfortable barefoot and if I haven't got boots to fall back on then not sure how sustainable it will be for us.
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Post by kizi on Jan 12, 2013 19:09:15 GMT 1
All barefoot. My own mare will need boots to get her riding properly for a while as they are not long off and I need to get her working soon to see if she is sound (unrelated!) and to keep her weight good when spring comes. But I aim to not need boots eventually with her... Hopefully! The rest of the ponies 13-2 and 14-2 are all barefoot and always were (except 1 had 2 fronts for a while at last home) they have just had 2 months off work, brought in last week and on second day back (not super unfit as live out on a hill!) went for a 1 hour hack on all road, twice in one week actually, second time out they also had some stony forestry tracks and zero issue.. Their feet are so hard they sounded like they had shoes on the road! They live out in horrible mud at the moment, but have hard standing in the field and once a week they graze the lanes which are mixed surface from grass to hard to stony, they also come in maybe 2/3 nights a week into a loose barn with a hard earth surface. They just keep getting better and better! They get fed for their feet, healthy hoof chaff with different supps as needed, magnesium, kelp, salt and all get apple cider vinegar.. Seems to be working well... Touch wood!!
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Azrael
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,733
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Post by Azrael on Jan 12, 2013 19:26:09 GMT 1
One barefoot, never shod and never needed boots. One barefoot due to feet falling apart and failing to stay sound in shoes, occasionally wears boots in front for long or stoney rides.
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Post by Mellymoo on Jan 12, 2013 19:45:53 GMT 1
Going to buck the trend - shod all round. It is the only way to keep him sound - he was sore walking 10' across the yard to his stable with no shoes. I would love to have him barefoot, but it just doesn't work for him.
Please no one lecture me about how he can be barefoot - have tried for 3 years now and never managed it, even following all the advice given by all the barefoot experts and forums. If anyone wants to pay for him to be taken barefoot at Rockley farm we would be happy to be proved wrong ;D
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