Barefoot or not

[Framewhite]

Hello I got my new horse earlier in the year. She had previously always been barefoot but her hooves got in to a state last year and she had to be shod for the first time not long before I bought her. I removed the backs and she has been fine. I’m finding that she is so slippy all the time and wondered whether I should remove the fronts. They are in good condition at the front so can be removed, I just don’t know if the slipping will be made worse?

I would, removing the shoes was the best thing I did for my horse.

If she struggles at all you can get hoof boots to provide protection.

I find my mare slips much less than the shod horses. She's got great grip bare on slippery tarmac or concrete, boots have less grip than bare hooves but more than shoes (even with road nails or road studs) on tarmac and concrete.

The only downside is than you can't stud to compete on grass, but few people do that, and bare is still better than shod with no studs for grip on grass.

Depends on the horse. I have generally always shod in front but not behind, which has worked well. I find shoes provide better traction on some surfaces and bare feet on others so best of both worlds!

Both mine are barefoot & definitely less slipping compared with other shod horses on the same ground.

Our pony had all 4 shoes removed when we bought him 10 years ago.
We have never looked back. We gradually acclimatised him - lots of in hand walks on the concrete path by the yard building up distance as his feet hardened.
Regular trims with a barefoot trimmer.

Within 6 months he had rock solid little feet.
Dd has done pony club, sponsored rides etc. Being barefoot (and he is bitless too) has never held them back.
He slips much much less.
Dd uses hoof boots when riding out on a stony part of the woods, but apart from that he is barefoot at all times.
I am not against shoes. For some horses they are a necessity. For our pony they were not and we are pleased we removed them.
You can always remove them and see how it goes?