Thought I would toss this out to anyone who trail rides their horse. I have a gelding who has wonderful hooves, never really have had any problems with him in that area. This last time, farrier said that I really could go without back shoes, his hooves were nice, I dont' ride on overly rocky area's so I thought heck why not. I have since ridden him on our gravel road and let him choose his path.

So far, so good. Anyone else do this? Keep shoes on the front hooves as that is where they carry the most weight but let the back natural? I can rasp any rough edges off or if they chip so that isn't an issue.

What are peoples thoughts?

Heck, I've done my show horse this way - even put points on him with no back shoes. If he doesn't need them, it's actually better for his foot to go without. I'd listen to your farrier - if he thinks your horse's feet are good enough to go without, go for it. He *may* be a bit more prone to stone bruising if you ride on a lot of really coarse gravel; if you're going for a long weekend of hard riding through really rocky terrain you might think about offering him some added protection (shoes, easyboots or something like that) just for that time. JMO.

As soon as our babies enter training they get just front shoes...we leave the back open for as long as we can. As soon as they are ready to go to the track we put all of their shoes on. My broodmares go barefoot unless they REALLY need front shoes and my paint hasn't had shoes since I've owned him (a year +)

We don't have shoes on any of our horses. OUr farrier is of the opinion that if their hooves are strong and healthy and you are not going over rough terrain or doing heavy work, shoes aren't really necessary. Our horses have never been tenderfooted, and we trim them every six weeks.

we live in the Flint hills and I definately have to keep front shoes on one of my mares if I want to ride at all. But when I rode as a kid I kept my 3 day horse in front shoes only because where I kept him on pasture the lady wouldn't let him have back shoes w/other horses he never had a problem w/soundness and I rode him everywhere and all the time around here they refer to it as "cowboy shoeing"
I also use keratex on the hind feet if I dont have shoes on them and it will make them really strong... GREAT STUFF my husband is a retired shoer (after he hurt his back) and he swears by it

Lynn, what is Kertex and where do you get it? I keep all of mine barefoot. They have really good feet though.

sorry spelling error here is a link through valley vet greatest stuff ever dont get it on the frog though!
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=0f4b7bfc-4586-4c16-9f3c-491655652ba8

I have used Keratex on my draft mare's hooves and it does do a good job. In fact, I still have half a bottle left in the barn cabinet somewhere.

Thank's all for the replies. I really do trust my farrier, he hasn't steered me wrong in 3 years, and was the only farrier willing to take me on and do a draft with men issues. Has done wonders so every Christmas we tip him extra and a batch a cookies so he stays around.

Also glad to see that others do go barefoot in the back. I had the shoes pulled about 4 weeks before I actually went riding on him, so he could walk around, those soles to harden up some and did ride him a bit bareback before taking him out on a long ride. Nice to know I made a good decision on this.

Yeah, apart from your horse thanking you cause he doesn't have to get back shoes on, your wallet should thank you as well. Costs less to put 2 than 4 shoes on. I only put hind shoes on my reiner or sometimes on Vamp for running barrels.