I am new to horse ownership. I have had my boy Cooper for about a month now. He previously worked in a therapeutic riding barn. The barn manager and farrier at his previous home kept him shod in the front because he has soft feet (he is a flea-bitten grey with white hooves). I was advised to keep him shod in the front.
At his new home, we do not have an indoor arena. When there is snow on the ground I have not been able to ride him because he gets ice balls. In the pasture this has not been a problem as his feet get sand/mud in them before they get snow in them. But when I clean his feet to ride, he gets ice balls.
My barn owner suggested I try taking them off, since she is a proponent for bare feet. Yesterday she called the farrier while I was there to set up an appointment for her two horses. She then told the farrier about Cooper's situation and how I was told to keep him shod.
Her farrier responded by saying what he likes to do in this situation is take the shoes off, see how the horse does and go from there. You can always put them back on. And he said it is healthier, even to have them off for a short period of time.
But I am concerned. I read that horse's feet can be very sore after having their shoes removed. And his previous caretaker seemed to think it would be a bad idea to take them off.
Should I have the farrier remove his shoes? Should I have winter shoes put on him? How sore will he be and for how long if his shoes are removed?
I would greatly appreciate any advice I can gather before the farrier comes next Wednesday.
At his new home, we do not have an indoor arena. When there is snow on the ground I have not been able to ride him because he gets ice balls. In the pasture this has not been a problem as his feet get sand/mud in them before they get snow in them. But when I clean his feet to ride, he gets ice balls.
My barn owner suggested I try taking them off, since she is a proponent for bare feet. Yesterday she called the farrier while I was there to set up an appointment for her two horses. She then told the farrier about Cooper's situation and how I was told to keep him shod.
Her farrier responded by saying what he likes to do in this situation is take the shoes off, see how the horse does and go from there. You can always put them back on. And he said it is healthier, even to have them off for a short period of time.
But I am concerned. I read that horse's feet can be very sore after having their shoes removed. And his previous caretaker seemed to think it would be a bad idea to take them off.
Should I have the farrier remove his shoes? Should I have winter shoes put on him? How sore will he be and for how long if his shoes are removed?
I would greatly appreciate any advice I can gather before the farrier comes next Wednesday.