Any solutions for a horse that keeps losing shoes in the field?

Finns Mum

Finns Mum

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I am pulling my hair out with my boy at the moment. He is managing to lose shoes in the field at a rate of two a month, as well as the risk of injury it is costing a fortune.

Just had a call from the yard to say he has pulled off both front shoes today, great timing for the weekend too
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My farrier has put hunter shoes on him at the last shoeing to see if that would help, he wasn't keen to do it as he needs heal support but something needed to be done and having gone four weeks with no problems I thought we had cracked it! But I guess Loki was worried about spoiling his average and got rid of two today.

It doesn't seem to matter what field he is in or whether he has over reach boots on or not, he has been on Formula4feet for about a month, I just don't know what else I can try, does any have any ideas
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Unfortunately when they start doing this, their feet quickly get even more knackered by having to have shoes re-nailed on. My horse went through a phase of this and although my farrier does not charge to replace shoes, it is very annoying.

I assume your fields are wet and muddy ? If he charges around the field, maybe you could try putting him with quieter companions ?

My own horse only goes 5 weeks between shoeing - are you trying to make him last a long time ?

The F4F, if it works, will take a while to get into his system and improve the quality of his hoof. So it is not a quick fix option.

The only real alternative is to not turn him out, which is not an ideal situation.
 
We have managed to keep shoes on my TB by:

1. Having him shod every 4 1/2 weeks. No later. Shoes could probably go for another week or so but no point in risking it. When he pulls shoes off, he pulls hoof off too and back to square one.

2. Has the black lid Kevin Bacon applied to feet every day.

3. Fed Kevin Bacon hoof supplement which seems to be working. You are doing the right thing by trying Formula4Feet.

4. Not sure what you mean by Hunter shoes but mine has quarter clips on his fronts (like the ones they have on the backs with a clip on either side as opposed to just one in front). For some reason they are harder to pull off.

Apart from that and not turning him out I have no other suggestions!!
 
Sorry to her your having this problem. I own a horse which does this on regular basis. Our solution is to turn out with over reach boots on. It seems to work.
 
Thanks
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He goes five weeks between shoes and can lose them anytime in that period. He is out with a quiet crowd, he is one that starts any messing around typically.

I think I will have to try reducing his turnout time, which isn't ideal but can't think of anything else to try.

I have the red lid Kevin Bacon hoof stuff, what is the black lid one?
 
Not sure whether there is a huge amount of difference but my old farrier in Leicesteshire told me to use the black one because its got tar in. Needless to say old horse never lost a shoe after using the black lid one but then he did get pts a year later!!
 
We have the exact same problem with my sisters TB hunter, especially when he is ultra hunting fit. We now turn him out in over reach boots not the rubber pull on ones , but the ones with velcro, like Eskadron, dont rub. Must be doing some good cos about a month ago she treated him to a new pair and already they have got 2 rips in them, plus at this time of year he only has 4 hour turnout in the day time cos it seems after this he gets board and starts running about, thus losing shoes. he is ok when roughed off and let down for the summer rest. He doesnt have the boots on then, he has shoes off for the summer. Its well worth a try.
 
Join the club! My horse pulled his last shoe off the day after it was put on. My horse also has hunter shoes in the winter and I cannot believe he still pulls them off.

I am now putting him out in overreach boots but even XXL can be too small for his feet, and he does pull them off on a regular basis. However I found some lovely bright red ones in the Premier Equine sale and I hope they will be easier to find.

So far he has kept his shoes on with the overreach boots, but he has only been having them on for a few weeks so still too soon to tell really.
 
have your farrier shorten the toe on his back shoes so his hoof overlaps a little over the shoe on the hinds

Seems to be working with mine who also has the same problem. He also wears overeach boots that reach the ground but before the farrier shod as above this made not difference.

Also his hoof quality is excellant and the shoes still came off!
 
Sounds like I am not alone with this problem
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Have bought him some chunky front over reach boots, to see if they help better than the rubber ones. But I struggle to find ones big enough to cover the side area of his shoe that he is catching, so not too hopefull they will work but had to try something.

The Kavalkade heel protectors look ideal but slightly worried about the sizing as he has very wide feet, and usally when something says one size fits all, they forgot to add but not Loki lol.
 
Your having the exact same problem as me, i have given up i cant afford to let him keep ripping shoes off , So i have found the answer.
I have ended up banning him from turnout till summer cause he doesnt seem to bad in summer, just in winter when the field is really boggy, so he just gets worked everyday now and i do free lunge a few times a week so he can have his play and let rip, oh and i walk him out to let him have some grass.
Fingers crossed he keeps them on now .
 
My 17.2 warmblood was a nightmare at losing shoes the first year I had him. I tried everything, supplements, boots etc etc. The last three years I take his shoes off for 6-8 weeks. I do this over Xmas as mad busy time. So next week I will take his shoes off and pop them back on at the end of Jan. My farrier suggested this to give the feet a rest and it does seem to work. I was losing a shoe every month and now I lose perhaps two a year tops! I lunge and walk him out over that period and then gradually bring him back into work. I know it may not suit all horses, but perhaps worth a try.
 
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