Saturday, July 25, 2009

Horse feet/hoof question? pleasE?

I have a thoroughbred and he has GREAT feet


he has black hooves, never worn shoes, and he's 7 years old


he is an ex race horse, he can trot on gravel because his feet are so good and strong...





but i'm wondering about shoes... would they help him or ruin his feet? and make his hoof wall weaker?? i am training him for jumping, so i dunno if i should just leave him the way he is? or get shoes?





thanks!

Horse feet/hoof question? pleasE?
I wouldn't shoe him. If he has great feet, and has regular farrier visits, you shouldn't need to. The only reason you should need shoes is if you are on hard surfaces a lot, like gravel or pavement. Shoes are for protecting a horse's foot, but they really don't give them any extra support. So if you are in a sand arena doing jumping, they really aren't necessary. There isn't anything to protect his feet from.





I shoe one of my horses who is ridden on gravel and pavement a lot. The other two, who are ridden in an arena 95% of the time don't wear shoes. And one of those does jump. The only time I've put shoes on them is if we are going on rocky trails in the mountains.
Reply:I am a farrier and I would recommend that you try the horse without shoes, if a problem presents itself then you can always shoe the horse. I have a gelding that hasn't had shoes on it for years and I trail ride a lot and have not had problems riding on any surface, you would have to just slow down on hard surfaces like ashphalt or concrete but small gravel and hard pack should be no problem.





Shoes would not ruin his feet but the nails through the hoof wall can weaken the structure. If you keep the animal trimmed properly you should not have problems going barefoot.
Reply:If you're going to have him on cement quite a bit, put shoes on. But if you're not, I would let him go barefoot, it's way better for their feet if the already have good feet. I ride my 26 yr old gelding alot and I haven't put shoes on him for two years.
Reply:You really need to consult a farrier on this one.





I am thinking with jumping shoes may be preferable, but DEFINATELY consult a knowlegeable farrier.
Reply:def. get him shoed! especially if your going to be jumping with him! and no it wont hurt him and it wont weakin the wall......





: )
Reply:Well im learning to be a vet and i think u should put horseshoes on him.Cause my friends mom rides horses and she said it would wair down the horses hooves
Reply:you should shoe him. He needs them if you ever take him on cement.
Reply:get the shoes, especialy if ur preparing for jumping
Reply:It seems a shame to put shoes on good feet - it would weaken the wall and, as you say he has never worn them it would affect his way of going as it's going to feel pretty strange to him.


What sort of a surface are you going to be jumping on, how big are you jumping - these details are going to make differences in the amount of stress that is going to be placed on his feet. Unshod hooves can flex under pressure and the frog is a natural shock absorber. The concussion caused by a shod hoof hitting hard ground sends a startling shockwave up the leg.


( please can someone post the link to that on Youtube ?)


As long as you are not jumping big on hard ground I'd be inclined to leave the shoes off.


If in doubt I'd discuss it with the farrier - after all he is the expert in these matters.





Edit - you do not need to have shoes to ride on cement or tarmac - it depends on the horse.
Reply:shoes willl help his feet a lot and i have 3 horses and i put shoes on them and they work great they help there feet stay very strong








p. dont walk on garvel with the hores i am a prfessonal and i know dont do that



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