A lot of people around here take their horses shoes off during winter to let their feet rest. I'm considering it with Jackson and wanted to know peoples opinions on it. Do you pull shoes in winter? Why or why not?

I guess it really depends on what you do with your horse in the winter and where you live (weather conditions) and if your horse can go bare foot with out getting sore. Ideally it is nice to pull their shoes and let them go o'natural if you do not use them during the winter, but some horses just can't so intern you have to make sure that you have a good farrier that puts big shoes on your horses.

As for me we do our heaviest riding in the winter as that is when our weather is beautiful (Arizona). Then our problem in the summer is that the ground gets so hot that horses can develope what is called heat founder or Heat laminitis, from standing on the hot hard ground with no shoes. So My horses all wear Front shoes only year round, since they bear the most weight in the front. But all of my horses have large expansive shoes with plenty of growing room and heel support. I would prefer them to be barefoot and they use to be but since moving here the ground is not forgiving enough to allow that.

Hope this helps

Well, most of my riding during the winter will be in the pastures and the indoor arena. It gets pretty snowy and icy at times here in Indy, and the wind is horrible. He'd never had shoes until late June, I started riding him and wanted to give him support and shoes help w/gait in the beginning. Of course, it'd be nice to not spend the $85 every 6-8 wks, but I really just want to do what's best for him.

Well, If he never had shoes until a few months ago I would go ahead and give it a try. Now he may be a little tender when the shoes first come off as he has gotten acustom to having the shoe as a bit of a buffer between the sole and the ground, but he should toughen the soles rather quickly and go back to being normal. I just wouldn't ride him on super hard or rocky ground the first couple of weeks after you pull the shoes. But, As long as he is trimmed the correct way it should keep his gait the same, you don't trim them different for shoes than barefoot. Anyways they shouldn't the foot should be prepped the same as far as balance and angles. I wouldn't want to pay $85 dollars either. Is that for a full or 1/2 set of shoes? Like I said I only shoe the fronts since that is where they bear the most weight and for front shoes only and the backs trimmed it is $55 and that is by one of the top farriers in the area.

Good luck with your choice.

I am glad I am here where the sun always shines?

WOW !!! First let me start by saying find me property I need to move.
Front shoes $95 All-round $150 and anything special I have 2 of those 1 in 4 keg shoes with stud holes for eventing $200 and the other in aluminum Bar shoes for Navicular $225

If you take the shoes off he should be fine. A secret for winter riding/turnout pack the whole bottom of the foot with vaseline or coat with a cooking spray, it helps keep snow/ice from packing in there.

Wow!! Maybe $85 isn't so bad!lol. He has a full set right now. He's a bit trotty and the ferrier shortened his toe in the back and gave him trailers so that it'd help him gait. He's an excellent ferrier, good with the horses(added bonus, he's nice to look at,lol). I am a little choosy, I have seen some nasty ferrier work. Correct angles are very important with gaited horses,(Never had non gaited but I'm sure it's important for any horse) and he works with most of the big gaited farms around here.




Unrelated, but I had a trainer get on Jackson last night and discovered one of the reasons I've had a hard time getting him to gait. Normally when training a young gaited horse I start at a very slow gait and just try to keep them at a consistent speed, then work on speed later because they'll fall out of it if you ask for speed too soon. Well, of course Jack has to be different!! He gaits better at a higher speed, just before a canter. He still wants to break gait, but it's easier for him faster. Go figure. The trainer is going to work him again Saturday and then I'll take over again.

Ltc4h, you need to move- plenty of property down here and full-set of shoes ranges from $45-60 here.

Jen, most of the time our horses go without shoes. They're on a barefoot trim program and the riding horses range from 3-5 miles 6 days a week, over gravel, rocks and dirt. Sometimes if a loooooonnng trail ride comes up I shoe or bring some easyboots along. Around here we get hairline fractures and flares but not terribly. I do the shoeing and trimming so it's (thankfully!) no longer a problem to go shopping for a good farrier.

I wouldn't forsee a problem pulling his shoes for winter, I would just take it easy with him until he grows a decent sole callous.

Well, You can move here great winters and lots of riding time, Awesome property around now if you can buy. You just have to put up with the 3 months of 110 degree dry heat!!!!lol.

I wish my horses had the feet of my friends horse that boards with me. He is an appendix bred gelding that gets his feet trimmed 2-3 times a year. He is turned out all the time and on hard ground and he takes care of his feet beautifully. He is retired so he isn't ridden anymore due to an injury, but the thought of only trimming a few time a year would be great.

Thanks for the advice guys! The ferrier won't be out for a few more weeks and by then it'll be good and nasty out anyway so I'll have them pulled and give him a few weeks to adjust. I was leaning that way, thanks for helping me make up my mind!!

Your welcome! Good luck!