A going barefoot after box rest

[PollyP99]

Hello
My mare has been on box rest for six weeks due to a nasty trailer incident where she severed an artery narrowly missing the fetlock joint and other structures. It seems she punctured the joint with her shoe which was half torn off in the process. Vet removed the offending shoe and farrier the other one once out of hospital, she then has had 5 more weeks on box rest. She came sound 10 days ago and has just been allowed out for a couple of hours a day.

Soo my question, I'm thinking why not try her barefoot since she's been fine in Our Thrice daily in hand walks on concrete (had only front shoes on).

I will move to walking out ridden in a couple of weeks on Tarmac gradually building up time and distance so I'm thinking this would be a good intro to barefoot. What else should I do to prepare for success? Currently fed fast fibre and supplement, out in poor grazing, soaked hay.

Thanks for any advice! I've got a specialist farrier coming to assess her feet next week. Her backs are perfect, fronts recently very chippy (with shoes).

 

[Morgan123]

I think you're doing everything right from what I can see, maybe just introduce the grass gradually that's all. And keep up the walking as much as possible on different circumstances. You're right, as you're doing it anyway it seems a good time to transition.

 

[WindyStacks]

Hinds "convert" a whole lot easier than the weight-bearing fronts - so just because she was good behind doesn't mean you're in for an easy ride (badoom tish!) when you take the fronts off.

Box rest - or even a huge amount of time inside will totally destroy your barefoot transition. She'll need movement, lots and lots and lots of movement.

The diet doesn't sound bad at all. Have you had a peek on the Facebook barefoot owners group? Tons of great advice for you there.

If you're going to do this you might want to think about getting an EP as opposed to a farrier.

 

[PollyP99]

Thanks both, yes I will be upping the walking now that she is out, she's on limited turnout on a bareish paddock. The guy that's coming is a remedial/specialist farrier who looks after all the barefooters in the yard so I'll see what I make of him, I'm going to have him even her up and tell me what her feet look like to him. I'm can use boots on the fronts if I need to, have lots of boot users around to get advice from.

I will make sure I get her move more though as a starting point and take it from there, glad the diet is ok, she is porky right now after doing nothing for 7 weeks so for all sakes I need her moving in some form daily!

 

[GoldenHours]

As long as she is 100% recovered. Otherwise be aware that she could wear down the hoof of the supporting leg more quickly and end up with an imbalance. This happened to mine and it's taking forever to correct.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have just been exactly here .
And there's one big issue with it if the horse shows signs of mild discomfort you have to decide if he's footsore or is the injury giving him pain ( my horse had had an OP )I decided to shoe so I know if I see signs of pain / depression I can discount the feet .
I also think if the horse is porky if might be better with shoes as you can get the horse straight onto more walking exercise than you could during transition to BF.