Hoof question?

Question

I just started breaking my 3 year old paint gelding. I've been on him about 30 days. He has black hooves and he does not have shoes. I notice that when we ride on gravel he acts like we're walking on hot lava. I was wondering if his feet will get more tough as we ride on it...kind of like humans do. I would perfer not to shoe him because most of my riding is done on grass and soft ground.

Answer 1

Go to www.easycareinc.com for "Easy Boots". Removeable shoes for horses.

Answer 2

He is not ready to be ridden on gravel.    

You have several options:

- put hoof boots on him, at least on his fronts, when you plan to ride on harder/gravel surfaces

- avoid riding in gravel

- add gravel to his paddock and put it somewhere he's got to walk on, so he can slowly get used to it without the weight of  a rider on his back.  Some people put it around water troughs or at openings between fields.

I'd also talk to the farrier about this or even consider getting a 2nd opinion from another farrier.  I hate to say it but not all farriers are great.   He might be getting too much sole taken off and he's not able to grow more sole to keep up with the farrier's knife.

Answer 3

My girl is coming 5 yr and when I started riding her at 2 1/2 she was the same way, near the end of last yr and all this yr she's good.  I keep her bare hoofed:)  She's got blk and one white (really no difference) but I say give it time.  Like up going bar foot at first we are tender and then we get used to it and our skin makes changes:)  Hope I explained this correct?

Answer 4

Keep him barefoot!  His feet will get used to it, and will eventually be as hard as rock.  Until then, put boots such as easyboots for bare feet on him when you ride on gravel at any gait other than a walk. (http://www.easycareinc.com/Our_Boots/eas...  If he ever gets turned out, put some gravel thinly either over the whole space, or just half.  Good luck!

Answer 5

Look to hour horse for the answer to this.  My gelding I ride bare foot unless I need to correct something with his feet.  [right now his left front heal is low because he sprained his right front hock]  My oldest saddle mare wears shoos because her feet brake down.

As with anything alive your horse will get used to the work he has to do.  give him time.

Answer 6

he is a little sensitive but he should toughen up. don't shoe him unless you are planning on walking him over that gravel briefly but often, or if you are planning on doing trails on him on ground that can be rocky or gravelly.

Answer 7

If he's only used to soft ground...yes his feet will be sensitive at first.  The more he is exposed to gravel...the harder his feet will become...IF they are going to do it.  Some hooves don't.

You can help this by putting a layer of gravel like....around the watering trough.  Somewhere he hangs out alot.

It is like you going barefoot at first on gravel...if you've only been walking on carpet and grass.  The hoof needs time to 'callous' and harden for the enviroment the horse is on.  The more he is exposed to it...the faster his hooves will adapt.  I wouldn't trot and gallop at first on gravel...that hurts if the feet are sensitive.  It hurts anyways at a walk.  If you notice NO improvement after a week or two on gravel...then I would consider shoes.

Is it only on the front?  That's the usual...and many horses are only shoed on the front because they are too sensitive and can't adjust to gravel.

If you only go on gravel occasionally...I wouldn't shoe.  And just let him tippy toe through it until we got to ground that is easier for him to walk on.

Answer 8

Hmmm....I always have my horses shoed in the summer....its always a good idea. But i mean you dont wanna hurt him anymore than it hurts him so I think you just better get him shoed....

Answer 9

My horse has been riden on our dirt road for ever... he has the same problem. He can be somewhat good about it... but he trips alot... Majors problem is that our hoof trimmer does his feet wrong. That could be your case. Major used to have front shoes. but once they came off we never put them back on. And i ride in dirt and grass alot too. But the hooves dont cooperate with the roots out on my trail. I have to find a new hoof trimmer.... haha.. its SO hard to find one!!!!

Answer 10

It just depends on the horse. My sister's horse is 10 years old and he's still sensitive on gravel, but my green 4 year old horse is fine on it, although if he had the choice he'd rather walk on the grass...but then again he prefers the road to deep sand LoL. Either he'll get used to it, or he might be a bit sensitive or he may not just like it..just like we don't like certain things. Hope I helped. :)

Just make sure you always make him walk slowly and carefully on surfaces like that so it doesn't cause any damage.

Answer 11

In my experience, some horses are just tenderfoots when it comes to gravel.  The issue of chipping and cracking hooves is more related to whether to shoe a horse than this hot lava dance thing.  Even with shoes, the tender soles are still exposed to the gravel. If his walls are sturdy and can take the hard surface, then I see no point in shoeing him.  I keep mine barefoot at all costs, since I see shoes as something for city horses on the asphalt 8 hours a day.

A good farrier (worth his weight in gold, in my opinion) can trim the hooves according to how the horse will be used---riding on gravel included.  But no shoe or shoer can fix tender soles unless you are going to fill the whole foot with pads and cushions and take out a second mortgage to affort it! Someone here suggests putting gravel in his paddock...good idea...see if he can toughen up.  Even packed ag lime would help some.