I actually question the idea that because a horse is shod you won't spot lammi so quickly. Personally I think you would if you know your horse and his way of going well enough you will very quickly pick up even the slightest bit of unevenness or footiness, shod are unshod.
Don't beat yourself up if you do need to shoe , every horse and all circumstances are different, and just go with what your instinct tells you would be right for you and your horse. I did try to take dolly barefoot when I first got her (she had dreadful brittle feet and flat sensitive soles.) Unfortunately it just didn't work for her, her feet just didn't grow quickly enough to keep up with even the lightest work load. And she hated boots, no matter how many pairs I tried on her!. But she is now shod all round, has fantastic feet and I am happy I tried my best without shoes, but it just wasn't going to work for us.
If she's wearing her backs are you sure its not as she's dragging them slightly? Perhaps back issues or stiff hocks or just the way she walks?
QHs that are shod in sliders for reining can be shod behind only but those shoes are specifically to increase the length of the sliding stop and reduce jarring on their back ends. Horses wearing them never get turned out as the shoe protudes an inch or two beyond the back of the foot and have no grip. They would never be used in barel racing.I've just read that some QH's are shod backs only when they are barrel racing or something, apparently it offers better slippage in the sliding stops and saves them pulling fronts off as there aren't any.
What's peoples thinking on shod on front only? I know some farriers don't like it. I only boot the fronts if I do. If I had to shoe I would only want fronts.
What's peoples thinking on shod on front only? I know some farriers don't like it. I only boot the fronts if I do. If I had to shoe I would only want fronts.
Oddly though it's the backs which are wearing more than the fronts and the backs she is 'pecky' on, anyone ever shod backs only?
Could someone explain footiness please? .