A big thank you to all barefooters

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dalidaydream

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Firstly, sorry but this is going to be long. I don’t post very often but I thought it was about time I thanked all the barefoot people on here who have helped me through a very difficult time without even knowing it. All the information on here has been invaluable to me over the last year as my pony has grown himself new hooves. Plus a special big thank you to Oberon who pointed me in the direction of a trimmer and without whom I probably wouldn’t have made the transition even though my heart was telling me it was the right thing to do.

Here’s my pony’s story:-

I’ve owned him for 10 years now. Over this time he has had several lameness issues – all in the RF. The first time it was blocked to the fetlock joint and injected but almost exactly a year later he went lame again. This time it was blocked to the hoof and an mri revealed a tear to his deep digital flexor tendon. The vet at Liphook recommended box rest (5 months) and raised heart bar shoes. I’m ashamed to say I knew no better and followed their advice. He came sound and went lame again, over and over again just as I was getting him back into full work. Always the same thing. My vet and farrier insisted the bar shoes were the right treatment and that no way would he be able to cope without shoes. Then he went lame again and although I was convinced it was the RF again my vet came out and decided it was arthritis in his hocks. Although I accepted he was a bit stiff I wasn’t convinced this was the main cause of lameness and got a second opinion from a new vet. He agreed with me that it was the RF and when he blocked the RF hoof pony did indeed come sound. He advised 6 months field rest. Pony remained lame, got fatter and we achieved nothing while my farrier still insisted on the raised heart bar shoes and started talking of adding pads. Every time he was shod he was more uncomfortable and it got to the stage where the farrier had to remove one shoe, trim that hoof and replace the shoe before moving on to the next hoof. All the time my instincts were telling me this was the wrong treatment but my farrier still insisted he would not go barefoot and as I watched how uncomfortable pony was standing with one foot bare I found it hard to argue. This made my decision so much harder as I’d started reading about horses with lameness issues that sounded exactly like my pony which were coming sound barefoot. I phoned my new vet and he agreed it would be a good idea to try taking his shoes off.

So I improved his diet as much as I could (I was another who believed the laminitis trust logo on HiFi Lite and thought I was giving him a good diet) and on 2.8.12 the shoes came off. I’m not going to say it’s been easy because it’s been a very long journey and he was uncomfortable for the first few days. I kept him comfortable in the stable and last year’s wet summer meant that the field was nice and soft. He soon became happy to walk on hard surfaces and I very slowly got him moving, only increasing times when he was ready. To cut a long story not quite as long, he is now sound (no sign of arthritis in the hocks), back in work and I’m so happy with him. My new vet came to vaccinate him in January and he was amazed to see how well he was doing and admitted that he’d thought there was no hope when he first saw him, so I’m not being melodramatic when I say if I’d left the shoes on the best I could’ve hoped for was a field ornament (I really did think it was the end for him). Obviously it is still early days (he’s just starting to school nicely) and I’ve no idea what will happen in the future but from the point we were at a year ago everything is a bonus.

Thank you for getting this far and thank you again for all the information you all give so freely.

Here are his photos for anyone interested:-

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dalidaydream/library/Barefoot diary
 
Marvellous news!!

Well done to you to. It can be hard and frustrating but you've seen it through and got your reward :)
 
Salcey said:
Thanks for posting this, its stories like this that keep those of us struggling going. Enjoy your pony!
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Happy too - it's exactly that - other people's stories kept me going (or I suppose got me thinking along the right lines in the first place as I don't think I've ever thought I'd done the wrong thing once the shoes were off). I think my big thing was going against the "professionals" but once I'd made the decision and watched his hooves change for the better I just couldn't go back.
 
dalidaydream said:
I think my big thing was going against the "professionals" but once I'd made the decision and watched his hooves change for the better I just couldn't go back.
Click to expand...

I dream of the day that the barefoot rehab becomes a mainstream treatment and considered as a genuine option by the majority of Vets and other professionals (and owners too).
 
A big "well done" to you, it isn't easy, but very rewarding.

Yours is not the first story I have heard of vet + remedial shoes = continued lameness. Barefoot + diet + exercise + dedicated owner = a return to soundness.

Good luck to you both.
 
It's fairly meaningless - feed companies pay c.£5k to use it. The Laminitis Trust do not test the product. Many barefooters find that LT endorsed products actually cause footiness rather than have any positive benefit.
 
Faracat said:
I dream of the day that the barefoot rehab becomes a mainstream treatment and considered as a genuine option by the majority of Vets and other professionals (and owners too).
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more - when I think of the years of pain and misery I could've saved it doesn't bear thinking about. I am considering sending Liphook an e-mail with my experience and all the pictures but I think I need to wait a while to make sure he stays sound.
 
Really pleased for you. I've had similar success with my TB who was written off by vets and I was advised remedial shoes were the only answer. I went against all their advice and have a rideable horse again. Keep up the good work it's definitely worthwhile. :)
 
Holly Hocks said:
Really pleased for you. I've had similar success with my TB who was written off by vets and I was advised remedial shoes were the only answer. I went against all their advice and have a rideable horse again. Keep up the good work it's definitely worthwhile. :)
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Thank you. You see I think that's really brave, I wish I'd been braver sooner.
 
....and looking at the photos I recognise these feet well as I am the trimmer :D

Hiya

Clients like you are a joy to work with because you have listened, learnt and given him the environment he needed to succeed.

Take care x
 
dalidaydream said:
Firstly, sorry but this is going to be long. I don’t post very often but I thought it was about time I thanked all the barefoot people on here who have helped me through a very difficult time without even knowing it. All the information on here has been invaluable to me over the last year as my pony has grown himself new hooves. Plus a special big thank you to Oberon who pointed me in the direction of a trimmer and without whom I probably wouldn’t have made the transition even though my heart was telling me it was the right thing to do.

Here’s my pony’s story:-

I’ve owned him for 10 years now. Over this time he has had several lameness issues – all in the RF. The first time it was blocked to the fetlock joint and injected but almost exactly a year later he went lame again. This time it was blocked to the hoof and an mri revealed a tear to his deep digital flexor tendon. The vet at Liphook recommended box rest (5 months) and raised heart bar shoes. I’m ashamed to say I knew no better and followed their advice. He came sound and went lame again, over and over again just as I was getting him back into full work. Always the same thing. My vet and farrier insisted the bar shoes were the right treatment and that no way would he be able to cope without shoes. Then he went lame again and although I was convinced it was the RF again my vet came out and decided it was arthritis in his hocks. Although I accepted he was a bit stiff I wasn’t convinced this was the main cause of lameness and got a second opinion from a new vet. He agreed with me that it was the RF and when he blocked the RF hoof pony did indeed come sound. He advised 6 months field rest. Pony remained lame, got fatter and we achieved nothing while my farrier still insisted on the raised heart bar shoes and started talking of adding pads. Every time he was shod he was more uncomfortable and it got to the stage where the farrier had to remove one shoe, trim that hoof and replace the shoe before moving on to the next hoof. All the time my instincts were telling me this was the wrong treatment but my farrier still insisted he would not go barefoot and as I watched how uncomfortable pony was standing with one foot bare I found it hard to argue. This made my decision so much harder as I’d started reading about horses with lameness issues that sounded exactly like my pony which were coming sound barefoot. I phoned my new vet and he agreed it would be a good idea to try taking his shoes off.

So I improved his diet as much as I could (I was another who believed the laminitis trust logo on HiFi Lite and thought I was giving him a good diet) and on 2.8.12 the shoes came off. I’m not going to say it’s been easy because it’s been a very long journey and he was uncomfortable for the first few days. I kept him comfortable in the stable and last year’s wet summer meant that the field was nice and soft. He soon became happy to walk on hard surfaces and I very slowly got him moving, only increasing times when he was ready. To cut a long story not quite as long, he is now sound (no sign of arthritis in the hocks), back in work and I’m so happy with him. My new vet came to vaccinate him in January and he was amazed to see how well he was doing and admitted that he’d thought there was no hope when he first saw him, so I’m not being melodramatic when I say if I’d left the shoes on the best I could’ve hoped for was a field ornament (I really did think it was the end for him). Obviously it is still early days (he’s just starting to school nicely) and I’ve no idea what will happen in the future but from the point we were at a year ago everything is a bonus.

Thank you for getting this far and thank you again for all the information you all give so freely.

Here are his photos for anyone interested:-

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dalidaydream/library/Barefoot diary
Click to expand...

He's a lucky boy to have you
 
Andalucian said:
....and looking at the photos I recognise these feet well as I am the trimmer :D

Hiya

Clients like you are a joy to work with because you have listened, learnt and given him the environment he needed to succeed.

Take care x
Click to expand...

Oh that's so nice, thank you and thank you for all your help :D
 
Fantastic and a huge well done. Having a decent professional is important but the day to day work suggested is really down to the owner in the end. Good on you all.
 
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