Question on Winter Shoes - Pics Added Post #1

[Nanerpus]

I tried searching this first and couldn't come up with anything. I really don't want a debate about barefoot vs. shod on this one, I absolutely understand BOTH sides of that.

That being said, I live on a HORRIBLE, side of a huge hill in New England and the winters are BAD. My paddocks are built on the hill, the barn is, and the indoor is down the hill.

Background: Pony has had front flat shoes all summer and done great in them. No problems barefoot, but I wanted to ride her on some trails and after 3 different types of boots failing, I had my farrier put front shoes on. I also ride her in my indoor, which is angular sand/rubber mix.

I had noticed she's been wearing her hind toes squarely and evenly, but quite a bit. So, when my farrier came out for the next appointment (yesterday), I decided to shoe her behind too, and he ended up putting the shoe just a bit further out to encourage her foot to grow back that way (nothing drastic).

He also put on winter equipment (rim pads and 4 small studs in each shoe for traction), which I had been planning on because winter is treacherous up here.

I put on bell boots in case she forged getting used to the hind shoes.

So, if you are still with me after that long introduction, here are my questions:

-Is there a period of adjustment for her to not only get used to her hind shoes, but also studs? (they are not big studs, very small)

-Is it OK to ride her like I normally do all winter in studded shoes? (In the arena I mean)

-I did ride her today. She felt fantastic and looked even better, but did forge a few times. She seemed more eager to extend (big moving pony) and forged less when she was moving out, more when I asked her to collect a bit. She also seemed to have more suspension and pause in her strides, yet seemed to get tired a bit earlier than normally and needed more breaks. She is not lame at all, I lunged her to look at her, posted in front of my mirrors on a loose rein changing diaganols, etc. and she on the contrary was loose, forward, and really pushing off/suspended nicely.

Do you think she's just adjusting to them and they are making her a bit more tired? I don't want to strain her at all...It was a very short ride, simple WTC with lots of walking before, middle, and after. Will she stop forging once she gets more used to hind shoes?

http://s826.photobucket.com/albums/zz190/nanerpus_photo/?newest=1

Pics above - I didn't pick her foot out and also had trouble w/the flash and getting light right. Hope this helps at all?

[rcloisonne]

I would never allow a farrier to INCREASE breakover behind. What does he think he's accomplishing by this again?

[Patty Stiller]

I would never allow a farrier to INCREASE breakover behind. What does he think he's accomplishing by this again?Even *I*, the Natural Balance breakover queen, ;-) will occasionally extend the toe very SLIGHTLY on a horse who has been EXCESSIVELY dragging them off.
Some horses can drag them off so bad for whatever reason(either lameness or laziness) that they then create secondary issues.
Not all gross dumping off of the hind toes by barefoot wear is beneficial.Most is not harmful but some is indeed excessive. Its that old "if a little is good a lot is better" fallacy.
The OP said her farrier extended the toe SLIGHTLY. I would assume that means maybe an eighth inch or so past the worn foot?

There are several reason the horse may be forging.
1) may be getting used to the added weight behind, which may have increased the stride length behind .
2) If the forging keeps up, then a rolled or rockered toe instead of a flat one on the fronts and hinds should help.
3) The studs may be stopping the front feet short instead of letting them slide forward slightly on landing, thereby getting the front feet in the way of the hinds.
I usually use tungsten tipped nails instead of studs on 'mostly ridden indoor' horses in the winter. They are a little less aggressive than studs.

[Mallard]

Our horses just got their winter pads/studs on this week too and we're all ready for the snow and ice.

My only words of wisdom are to be cautious if your barn floors are concrete.
The studs 'could' make her feet feel a bit 'unbalanced' - especially in the hinds - when coming from soft footing (sand/snow) onto concrete....the studs can be a bit 'slippery'.

[Nanerpus]

So my husband is running down to the barn to check/measure if he can so I have the best information of what it looks like, but it is VERY slight.

She had worn her toes (evenly on both feet) down significantly (ie, no trimming necessary).

She IMMEDIATELY felt and looked loose in her body, extremely forward (she is already, but this was different - she was really pushing off and had the trademark "pause" in her trot that I work so hard on with her in my dressage lessons - finding that tempo to create that.) Today it was just there. She was very free in her shoulders and body and my husband, who was riding his horse at the time, said she looked like she was trotting on air.

So, she's always been a big, generous-moving girl anyways but there is a change with the hind shoes.

She didn't forge in the walk or canter, if that matters. Only the trot, and more when she wasn't as forward and I was holding her back more.

My farrier also said she might be dragging her toes and that's why she was wearing them off, and although it was totally even and symmetical, it wasn't good.

OK hubby is back :)

His report is that the shoe follows the natural curve of her hoof until the apex of the curve and then, because of the extent of where it was worn off, her actually hoof toe is totally square. At that point, slightly more than an 1/8th of an inch is exposed of the shoe, but that is only at the absolute apex of the curve at that one point.

I will take pictures at nightcheck if that will help?

I did speak with my farrier, and he says to see if she just isn't used to the shoes yet and give it just a few days, and if the forging doesn't improve he'll be back out and we'll do something different.

[Nanerpus]

I added pics to my first post. And also thank you for all your information and replies thus far!