Do You Pull Shoes In the Winter? Even If You're In Training?
This may be boring, but I'd really appreciate knowing what others think, or hearing about your experience. It occurs to me that I should have looked into this a lot more in the past, but I took advice (although not from the farrier come to think about it, who said nothing) and honestly didn't think about it much until yesterday...
We've pulled our horses' shoes for the winter this year and for the previous two years, because we had no access to hacking out and only rode in rings with good, soft footing. The horses get turned out in their bare feet. Spring, summer, fall they are shod.When we had the horses home in the winter I trail rode a lot (on Dan and Savanah) and we kept them shod, with snow dams and studs.
Now I'm wondering about this. To make a long story short, I'm getting their shoes put back on. For one thing, water leaked into the arena and the footing is kind of hard and frozen at one end, and now I'm wondering if it is even a good idea to be taking shoes on and off like that when the horses are being ridden through out. Even with good soft footing, would it be better for them, when they are used to shoes to keep shoes all the time? I know bare foot can work fine for some horses (and promote soundness for some horses) when they are slowly and carefully conditioned and trimmed specifically for it. I'm respectful of that but for various reasons it isn't right for our horses, so maybe that means shoes all the time if they are being ridden?
We started pulling their shoes in the winter at the same time we switched farriers, so she showed up for her first visit and we asked her to take them off and trim only. She didn't offer an opinion, and has been doing it since, because we kept asking and on the surface it seemed to be working. Now I'm wondering...
I think the horses have given us clues and we didn't notice until it became more pronounced. They aren't lame, but Savanah began to not want to canter since her shoes came off, and Rogo's working trot went down hill, among other things. Yesterday I hand raked the 'tracks' out of the arena while they got their trims, and then rode. I think the combination of raking and the farrier being there made me more conscious of the situation all of a sudden a light bulb went off and thus I'm wondering what others think. If you feel like telling me I'm an idiot not to figure it out sooner please be gentle.
Now, for something completely different, here is a link to a write up a friend posted on Facebook today and coincidentally it turns out the horse in question, Rigo, is a half brother to Rogo. They are both sons of Rotspon, a Rubenstein 1 son. I didn't know Rigo existed, but the name similarity is striking. Rigo has a very impressive show record:
I started looking and found this about him as well:
Of course Rotspon has lots of offspring, but I think this may be one of the most successful and of course the names make me smile. Another very successful Rotspon son, who's becoming a successful sire on his own is Rascalino. But I'm getting off on a tangent. Maybe pedigrees and discussions of the line would be fun to research for another post. A final forum discussion I just came across, that may explain Rogo's super temperament.
I certainly can't train to be in a league with Rotspon's top offspring, but I sure have a sweet boy who makes me happy every day - that's success.
We've pulled our horses' shoes for the winter this year and for the previous two years, because we had no access to hacking out and only rode in rings with good, soft footing. The horses get turned out in their bare feet. Spring, summer, fall they are shod.When we had the horses home in the winter I trail rode a lot (on Dan and Savanah) and we kept them shod, with snow dams and studs.
Now I'm wondering about this. To make a long story short, I'm getting their shoes put back on. For one thing, water leaked into the arena and the footing is kind of hard and frozen at one end, and now I'm wondering if it is even a good idea to be taking shoes on and off like that when the horses are being ridden through out. Even with good soft footing, would it be better for them, when they are used to shoes to keep shoes all the time? I know bare foot can work fine for some horses (and promote soundness for some horses) when they are slowly and carefully conditioned and trimmed specifically for it. I'm respectful of that but for various reasons it isn't right for our horses, so maybe that means shoes all the time if they are being ridden?
We started pulling their shoes in the winter at the same time we switched farriers, so she showed up for her first visit and we asked her to take them off and trim only. She didn't offer an opinion, and has been doing it since, because we kept asking and on the surface it seemed to be working. Now I'm wondering...
I think the horses have given us clues and we didn't notice until it became more pronounced. They aren't lame, but Savanah began to not want to canter since her shoes came off, and Rogo's working trot went down hill, among other things. Yesterday I hand raked the 'tracks' out of the arena while they got their trims, and then rode. I think the combination of raking and the farrier being there made me more conscious of the situation all of a sudden a light bulb went off and thus I'm wondering what others think. If you feel like telling me I'm an idiot not to figure it out sooner please be gentle.
Now, for something completely different, here is a link to a write up a friend posted on Facebook today and coincidentally it turns out the horse in question, Rigo, is a half brother to Rogo. They are both sons of Rotspon, a Rubenstein 1 son. I didn't know Rigo existed, but the name similarity is striking. Rigo has a very impressive show record:
- Regional Championships at First Level in 2007,
- Second Level in 2008 and
- Fourth Level, as well as Fourth Level Horse of the Year, in 2009
- In 2010 he won the USEF National Developing Horse Championship and Region 2 Prix St Georges Championships
I started looking and found this about him as well:
- 2009 USDF Dressage Horse of the Year at Fourth Level
- 2008 USDF Dressage Horse of the Year (Reserve Champion) at Second Level
- 2008 American Hanoverian Society Horse of the Year at Second Level
Of course Rotspon has lots of offspring, but I think this may be one of the most successful and of course the names make me smile. Another very successful Rotspon son, who's becoming a successful sire on his own is Rascalino. But I'm getting off on a tangent. Maybe pedigrees and discussions of the line would be fun to research for another post. A final forum discussion I just came across, that may explain Rogo's super temperament.
I certainly can't train to be in a league with Rotspon's top offspring, but I sure have a sweet boy who makes me happy every day - that's success.
Comments
I pull shoes in the winter, mainly because I don't ride in the winter, and I board, and it's icy, and I don't trust the people in charge to put studs in when needed etc. I think if I rode in the winter, I'd keep shoes on her.
Thats interesting information about Rogo's brother. When I'm not at work I'll go investigate a bit more.
The main reasons for people to take off shoes in winter is to save money when they aren't working the horses or to prevent snow balling up for horses that live outside. That's not you. Your horses are being ridden, they are sound with shoes, I would leave the shoes on. When my horses lived in a barn and were ridden in indoor arenas and showed heavily, they all wore shoes all the time. I would never have thought to take them off for winter, since they were in full training all winter.
That's really neat about Rogo's brother! My Vinny has a famous sire, and several famous siblings. Unfortunately, Vinny himself is only infamous! ;)
I strongly encourage you to learn as much as you can about hoof function and learn to monitor their hoof health. Know what it looks like when their toes are too long and their heels underrun. These problems are very common in shod horses and can lead to tripping, interference, and horses that don't want to go forward. In worst case scenarios these can cause chronic lameness.
Basically: Learn enough so that you can tell if your farrier is doing a good job.
The best part about this trim, aside from not worrying about sprung shoes -- they expand and contract naturally, so ice and snow pops out as the horses walk around!
I do think it's most fair to the horse to be consistent -- changes should be based on what their feet need, not the season.
as for the shoes, i'd say keep them on. if the horses are reluctant to canter etc then they're probably a little uncomfortable. maybe the soles just need to callus (sp?) a little as they get used to being barefoot.
i can take shoes off oscar and he is fine, but my thoroughbred has to have them all year round. it just depends on the horse, but you should go with your instinct. you know your horses so you'll end up making the right choice :)
Sovey's shoes were pulled the morning of the day he arrived. There was zero adjustment or lameness at liberty in the field. I started riding him in a month (walking) - again, no problems.
Their feet are perfect now. I am having our new boy's shoes pulled hopefully tomorrow. I don't know how that will go for his transitioning.
Definitely ask your farrier and other farriers about your specifics. I just now found a barefoot trimmer and he is the one coming out tomorrow.
That is so great about finding Rogo's half- brother. I wonder if he is a sweet as your big boy?! I doubt anyone could be that wonderful!
It took us most of a year to make the adjustment, and my farrier was skeptical due to his shelly tb feet, but he looks great now. Still tender working on hard surfaces due to thin soles - we live in sand here - but I've been reading up about how to toughen his feet up gradually.
Barefoot Horse Blog is very informative about barefoot trimming and health of hooves generally. The labels section in the sidebar is especially helpful.
So much depends on your farrier + I feel better studying up a bit on my own so I can ask intelligent questions :)
http://www.appliedequinepodiatry.org/iaep/locate.html
I get called to work on horses that need shoes on "barefoot" horses, but don't get to trim them in the winter. I refuse to do that anymore. I will agree that not every farrier will pay attention to a proper barefoot trim, but most will. A premium quality farrier may be hard to find in many places, but will do the best job and offer the best advice without the "barefoot" agenda.
I'd may try barefoot someday (I'm very impressed with what some people can do barefoot), but I don't want to take the amount of time it would take to acclimatize and their feet are good, so why mess with them.