Well, I think it's a healthy thing to let a horse go barefoot when you can. I only keep mine shod all the time because I ride all the time. If you know 100% for sure you're not going to ride thru the winter, I'd pull the shoes. If for no other reason then to save the cost:)
Becky
We'll hardly ever ride much in the winter, unless we haul to an arena for lessons or something, which I've thought about. Even then, it'd be soft footing. The trails close, so it wouldn't be trail.
Marc's been and gone... reset Bay without change, trimmed Cyn, who remains barefoot. That probably will settle it for this year... His next visit will be October, when we'll be winding down from riding for the winter... Next spring, we revisit the issue.
For now, I think she can keep up with the horse I've got without a lot of discomfort... That may change if I get myself a younger horse one day :~)
Been wondering about whether we should breed Cyn. What do you think my odds would be of breeding her to get Bay's replacement? Bay's replacement would take 3-4 years to grow into the job if we did it that way, question is, will I have Bay for 3-4 more years? hmmmm. If we bred her next June it wouldn't take her out of light service next year, but the first few months of the year after.
You saw her... would you breed her? Or should I just buy a horse when I need it :~) It'd sure be fun to raise one with ecurbh. He's not seen that.