30+ years of loving, riding and owning horses mean that I am relatively confident horseowner. I’m also confident that there is always more to learn and areas where I’m always going to need expert help.
Shoeing, and hoof management in general, will always be an area where I need expert help.
Fortunately, Elf has required pretty basic farrier care in the 5 years he’s been with me. There have been some pulled shoes (he tends to grab himself when he’s starting to get fit). I’ve learned that he does best with a bit of a rolled toe in the front to improve his breakover, which is a bit on the slow side. But no big deal.
Until the last few months.
This winter has been the Season of the Lost Shoe. We’ve shortened the shoeing cycle, added quarter clips, tried three varieties of bell boots, went barefoot on the hinds and used copper nails. My wonderful barn cleans his feet every day when he comes in from turnout. Nothing has worked.
The last 2 shoeing cycles, he took less 4 days to pull a shoe and managed to leave his bell boots untouched in the progress. His farrier finally started suggesting that pulling his shoes all around might be needed to save his feet, which are starting to be impacted by the ripped off shoes.
Elf, for all his wonderful qualities, is not the most stoic of creatures. His dislikes include rain, high winds, any kind of flying insect landing on him, temperatures outside his preferred range of 55* and 85*, and hard or rocky ground. Our previous attempt at going without shoes left him with bruised soles and significantly chipped toes from stomping flies on the hard ground of Texas.
The farrier was out last Monday and Friday brought the unwelcome text message that he had, once again, pulled a shoe. It’s been incredibly wet here, with no real end to the mud in sight.
Lost shoes happen, but – real talk – this is getting both expensive and damaging Elf’s feet. He’s only working lightly right now, so I made the decision to try pulling his shoes.
Sunday, I went out to see how he was doing and found an ouchy-on-gravel, short striding horse. So, we meandered around the indoor bareback and worked through lateral work at the walk. I’m hoping that with a little time (and drier ground) we can either toughen up his feet a bit or get shoes back on.
We might have to stay in the indoor arena or take it easy for a bit. We might do a little more grooming or practice my braiding instead of working on leg yields and 10m circles.
But that’s ok.
We’ll manage this season as it goes.