joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473 
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Post by joandlad on Jun 3, 2008 9:26:32 GMT
Brig - Hoofboots can be a nightmare. You really don't have any choice in the style you get unfortunately, it's all down to the shape of your horse's feet. Some boots suit feet that are wider than long and some the other way round. Get them measured next time they are trimmed (good instructions on saddleryshop website) and see what ones will fit best.
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fallible
Apprentice Poo Picker
Chase the clouds across the sky and terrorise the sun
Posts: 269
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Post by fallible on Jun 3, 2008 11:00:09 GMT
I used to always go barefoot in the winter or at least just have fronts on. It worked very well. I always used a good farrier to maintain the balance.
I've heard that it can take up to a year to get get your horse really established barefoot.
Fal was barefoot for a while with her origional owner. Don't know if I am brave enough to try it all round this coming winter, will prob just do fronts as usual.
Don't ask why the winter. Old habits die hard and was the way things were done by people around me when i was a kid. No jokes about fossils please!
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Post by brigadier on Jun 3, 2008 14:45:17 GMT
Must be because the ground is softer- normally I would have done this in winter but its been brewing in my mind since last winter!! I just procastinate a lot!
brig
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Post by shearer on Jun 4, 2008 16:07:17 GMT
Shearer's barefoot mainly because he's an bottom in the field and he'd injure the other horses, but he doesn't do a great deal of roadwork anyway so doesm't need shoes and he's coped fine without them for a while now. Not really had problems with him slipping, if anything he's the only one who doesn't slip. It saves the hassle of farriers who, to be honest are a pain in the bottom!
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Post by brigadier on Jun 4, 2008 17:59:36 GMT
Agree with the last- he has been trimmed up today and because his hoof was cracked where he spread the shoe- he's taken the wall too short so now he's as lame as anything. poor thing and Im so p****** off! ah well.
brig
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 4, 2008 18:13:19 GMT
oh dear...poor Basil.....Murph tried to kill my farrier yesterday (again!) ...it's a good job he keeps coming back.
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abi
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 593
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Post by abi on Jun 12, 2008 20:51:02 GMT
be careful of scamming farriers, always watch your horse being shod.
my friend trusted her farrier (as we all should) and as her horse was good, she would muck out while she was shod, about 4 metres away. the farrier was actually putting her old shoes back on, and saying they were new ones, and charging for new ones.
he also said my pony MUST have front shoes on, but the one we've used since this scamming B****** said that was rubbish, and shes been fine barefoot for the last two years, which has saved me over £700, she still gets a trim every 8 weeks with the other horses, and only gets tiny chips at the bottom about week 7.
we need more reliable, women farriers! x
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Post by brigadier on Jun 13, 2008 8:50:05 GMT
Its sad but there are conmen and women in all games- always check their work!
brig
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Post by Becca on Jun 16, 2008 13:56:04 GMT
I think my EP is the best think since sliced bread! Bernie now moves straighter, has barely any flare (work in progress) and hasn't needed his hips put back in place since using her. Also she saved my friends mare from retirement (sure i have gone on about the story loads so i wont bore you).
Farriers round by me don't have time for you if you don't have shoes on. i found Bernie "done" once, he had been trimmed too short, was foot sore and they hasn't even rasped!
obviously EP's aren't for everyone but in my case a definate yes, barefoot all the way
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flash7
Novice Willy Washer
"It is ok to be you....."
Posts: 804
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Post by flash7 on Jun 16, 2008 23:57:59 GMT
My hortse is barefoot at the moment but if he gets a stone in his foot he is crippled. I always give him time off shoes every year as advised by my farrier. I admire you all for going barefoot but I'm not brave enough.
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Post by maximum on Jun 17, 2008 8:43:22 GMT
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haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 17, 2008 20:13:51 GMT
Lucinda McAlpine is wonderful...if you ever get the chance to go to one of her course/demos garb it and don't let go!
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Post by aimee on Jun 17, 2008 21:27:34 GMT
Fern is barefoot and has been since a week after I got her. Every horse at our yard is barefoot. I'm all for barefoot unless your horse is in heavy work obviously. The hooves do toughen up after a while so dont panic over a few chips in the first few weeks just take it easy! I have had bad experiences with those boots, hacking out and then having to drive back out later to find the missing boot lol That was on my aunts tb as he is barefoot but now he is 30 he tends to feel the stones more. bless him.
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Post by brigadier on Jun 21, 2008 8:53:51 GMT
Well, I put Basil's new boots on yesterday. He was really good, having a sniff and a look and then tried them out- at first he did a spanish type walk which looked really funny then all of a sudden he seemed to grow a couple of inches as he realised his sore bits were not hurting anymore. Then he was a nightmare- trying to tow me down the lane and generally being full of himself! But they seem to fit really well so glad as anything.
But then I went to turn him out (bootless) and he was still full of it, as soon as I got the gate open- he leapt into the air- did a huge fly buck and galloped off down the field with his headcollar and rope still attached. He then galloped back up to me so I could take his rope off! Cheeky or what? I shall be putting a control halter on him next time!
Anyhow Im pleased with the boots and shall long rein him later to try them out properly!
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haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 21, 2008 9:52:04 GMT
Brig...I am so glad that you experts have naughty horses too...makes me a feel a whole heap better!
Glad the boots seem to be working for you so far too.
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Post by brigadier on Jun 21, 2008 15:13:10 GMT
Well Haffy I was going to long rein him today but the rain came so havent really tried them out properly- Im worried about them rubbing but they seem really well made etc but he was sooooooo naughty yesterday, he has got a naughty streak and I dont want to lose that as its his character but he proper went for the leap- clean pulled me off my feet but there was no malice it was just sheer naughtiness, my old horse would have given me both barrels but he leapt well clear before doing his kicks and then galloped back to me so I could take his headcollar off! Love him!
Such a fair weather rider these days- cant believe a bit of drizzle has put me off- must be old age!
brig
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haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Jun 21, 2008 16:02:13 GMT
It's summer, you can afford to be a fair weather rider (well at least thats what i tell myself!)
and the naughtiness well if were honest it justs adds to their character...I personally wouldn't like a robot (well sometimes it would be nice but you know what i mean)
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Post by brigadier on Jun 21, 2008 16:12:45 GMT
I think its because Im not in a rush. If I was turning him around to sell on then Id have done it but Basil is staying with me for life (hopefully as you never know what is round the corner) so there's no rush. Plus I dont want to compete properly- just some dressage if I can be bothered and if the beaurocracy doesnt put me off again (no hopes there!) so why put myself through the pain of getting wet and miserable- also its really started to team it down now so deffo right decision!
brig
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Post by brigadier on Jun 23, 2008 20:19:10 GMT
Yipee- boots fine- long reined him and he was really good if a bit forward going as he was so glad to get back to work! Only did twenty mins as i wanted to check his bots didnt rub but they were really good- very impressed!
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libbylover
Newbie
Beware Trolls Smell real bad!
Posts: 22
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Post by libbylover on Jun 24, 2008 15:45:09 GMT
I think you should put shoes on your horse its cruel not to. they get sore feet when theyr hacking on the roads.
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Post by Becca on Jun 24, 2008 15:55:13 GMT
it is definately not cruel! how do you think wild horses cope? and as for riding on the roads my horse manages fine
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libbylover
Newbie
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Post by libbylover on Jun 24, 2008 16:02:27 GMT
it is definately not cruel! how do you think wild horses cope? and as for riding on the roads my horse manages fine How often do you ride your horse on the road? If you only ride a tiny bit its probly ok. and in the wild they dont have roads. |
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Jun 24, 2008 16:05:54 GMT
libbylover - Are you Trolling? If not, accept my apologies. There are plenty of websites out there that show horses can perform perfectly well (if not better) over a variety of terrains (roads included) without shoes. Do a quick google on barefoot or shoeless. Just off now to hack my shoeless boy round the village.  |
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Post by Becca on Jun 24, 2008 16:07:06 GMT
We are lucky where i am not to have to do much road work at all, at my old yard there was quite a bit tho. I was just disagreeing with the use of the word cruel when i mentioned wild horses. lots of people on this forum have their horses barefoot so just careful incase people take offence
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libbylover
Newbie
Beware Trolls Smell real bad!
Posts: 22
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Post by libbylover on Jun 24, 2008 16:13:33 GMT
Well i didnt meen to be offending anyone i just have my opinion on it.
I'm very sorry if i upset you, i dont see why i did but soz, am always getting yelled at for gobbing off. Sory again.
What is trolling?
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
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Always saddle your own horse
