We are hoping to do a bit of jumping this year as I have found out Magic quite likes it. So far we have only jumped in our indoor arena. Most of our local shows are on grass so I was wondering if Magic will manage ok with no back shoes. She has never been shod behind. Would she be more likely to slip or do they have grip barefoot?
Drongo used to jump affiliated and was very fast against the clock. He did not wear back shoes and did slip a little bit on a grass arena if it was a bit bald but that was only in jump offs and never to a point that slowed him up. We used to get people ask what studs he was wearing and they were shocked to find out he no hind shoes to put them in! He still does un-affilated and cross country with no hind shoes. We have a New Forest pony jumping Pony affiliated and he also is fine without hinds.
The other side of this is that if you shod him he might over reach and injure himself if he made a mistake while he is learning. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.
I was always told that being unshod would offer more grip as there is more of the hoof in contact with the ground. On normal grassy ground i suppose that may be true but you may have to be more careful if muddy and wet. My boy is unshod behind and has never been a problem for us Emma x
if your not doing handbreak turns on him i think he will be fine, just assess the conditions to how tight you turn on him. There is a few people at my local shows where there horses are unshod and as long as rider is sensible they dont slip much x
Depends where you are as to jumping on grass *this year* - if you are in the east, be careful, as the little rain we've had is only going in a couple of inches and underneath is like concrete. My farrier is expecting to see a record crop of splints this year!
We are in the E.Mids and if I was jumping I'd be sticking to proper arenas until we get some REAL rain.
Jumping question
England
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 2:44:18 PM
Jodie xx
