winter shoe reset

[Tyler Fournier]

What is the longest you would go without resetting shoes in the winter? I realize, ideally, a trained eye should look at the hooves and then determine whether or not they need trimming. Just looking for a ballpark range.

Thank you,
Tyler

[Anonymous]

I aim to reset mine ever four to six weeks but some times depending on the horse I’ll let it go eight weeks.

Tristan

[chrisf.]

I usually aim for 8 weeks but have gone as far as ten. I once had to put it off longer than usual and cracked a heal. Won’t do that again.

[LongViewFarm]

This is my first winter with shoes on the team and I am VERY glad for it. It’s amazing the confidence they get with the suds, and now when the rest of the herd is slipping around the barnyard (is anybody’s yard not ice?) my guys are moving easier, which makes me sleep easier with less concern of an injury. It’s just not nice out in the wood or pastures right now.
As for time, I went six weeks the first time and didn’t even have enough growth to require loppers. We just trimmed frog and sole, rasped the bottom, and rasped toe after resetting shoes. We’re trying for 10 weeks this time after I saw how good the feet looked when the shoes came off last time.
Now, I probably don’t get as much use out of my team as a lot of folks, so shoe wear shouldn’t be a problem. I may and up going 8 or 9 weeks instead of 10. We’ll see what March looks like and how feet go.

[Author]

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