*Sez*
28th Dec 2007, 11:41 PM
Some of you will recall that I was having a minor "shoe or not to shoe" debate while Salsa is turned away for six months or so. In the end, I decided to have the back shoes off, as he will be integrating into a new herd which includes two foalies and they are all unshod. He had his hind shoes over over the spring and part of the summer, and was sound in the field, but not when ridden. He will just be away at grass, with no gravel, roads etc. When he comes in, the ground around the field is all earth.
As my farrier rarely sets a time (and even if he does, he is invariably late), I left Salsa in with a note tacked to my door explaining that he's being turned away and could I please have his back shoes off. I even underlined "back".
I went up this evening to muck out again and feed him, and discovered him completely barefoot! His feet have been trimmed and generally tidied up, but it was a bit of a shock! I'm guessing that my farrier misinterpreted my note somehow :confused:or had his apprentice do Salsa and only told him to take the shoes off.
So we'll see how he goes - if he's too sore and footy after a few days out, I'll have to have the farrier back to put the fronts back on. Fingers crossed that he will be okay, as he has ripped off that many shoes recently that his hooves could really do with a break.
Moving day is coming up. I'll post again when he's actually gone to his holiday home.
As my farrier rarely sets a time (and even if he does, he is invariably late), I left Salsa in with a note tacked to my door explaining that he's being turned away and could I please have his back shoes off. I even underlined "back".
I went up this evening to muck out again and feed him, and discovered him completely barefoot! His feet have been trimmed and generally tidied up, but it was a bit of a shock! I'm guessing that my farrier misinterpreted my note somehow :confused:or had his apprentice do Salsa and only told him to take the shoes off.
So we'll see how he goes - if he's too sore and footy after a few days out, I'll have to have the farrier back to put the fronts back on. Fingers crossed that he will be okay, as he has ripped off that many shoes recently that his hooves could really do with a break.
Moving day is coming up. I'll post again when he's actually gone to his holiday home.