HGG Community Forums

Quite often horses can be sore for a few days after being trimmed especially if it’s been longer between trims.

Most of my horses have been barefoot (most because of living in a remote location with very few actual farriers so we ended up trimming them ourselves)

My cousins QH mare I had for a few years was shod on the fronts only and mostly just the summer/fall months. She tended to chip badly if left barefoot but was fine over the winter months as her feet slowed down (spring was hit and miss with the mud trying to keep shoes on)

My current horse is 10 and has been barefoot the whole time but there was a few times the farrier and I discussed shoeing him as he has a tendency to crack on the back (his full brother has the exact same feet but they’ve kept him mostly shod and have had many lameness issues throughout the years.) but we are trying to stay on top of the farrier appointments booking them closer together instead of shoeing Riley for now but I wouldn’t hesitate to shoe him especially if I actually get my butt in gear and start riding and showing him more. The one show ground we go to is horrible on his feet and he chips out so badly every time we go.

He also has had issues with farriers (I’m not sure what happened as I missed the last 2 farrier appointments with our last farrier and he went from standing rock steady to rearing back and pulling away) so haven’t wanted the farrier to be in danger by working on his feet longer. It’s been a long slow road to correcting the behaviour and it’s just been the last few trims this year that he’s mostly stood still without pulling back at all.

We also had a horse at the barn with navicular and would go lame when unshod and preferred a combination of eggbutt shoes and a bit of a wedge pad to lift his heels up a bit and snow pads in the winter.

You would have to research boots but I would be concerned about them keeping them on in the pasture (most of the horses I’ve known or worked with are Aces at being Houdini and getting whatever they have on off if they feel like it. I’ve come across completely buckled (and properly fitted) blankets and fly masks and bell boots in the field)

Also if they are on 24/7 would they rub on the horse and give it sores.

@bandit1119

My horse has never been sore after being shod, but now that he’s been lame, he’s sore after the farrier. And he also been resisting it (which he never use to do) I also get my horse done every 5 weeks because he grows his foot fast and I want to make sure it’s at the correct angle to keep him comfortable if he does have navicular.

And yes! The boots being on 24/7 made me nervous about leaving sore marks on him. I know people who use it on their Cushing horses, and was curious how long they keep them on and if they have any problems with them.