Any vets on here advocating barefoot??

pistolpete

pistolpete

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Just wonder why my vet and so many others not advocating barefoot for all these navicular/tendon problem horses?
My boy is in the egg bar circular shoes and is sound for now. I havespoken to Nic at Rockley and she says if it ain't broke at the moment just soldier on. I really am at a loss.
 
My vet is :) After seeing the success I've had with my horse he has referred one to Rockley and has another 4 thinking about it.
 
pistolpete said:
I havespoken to Nic at Rockley and she says if it ain't broke at the moment just soldier on. I really am at a loss.
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Just re-read this... Are you sure she said exactly that?! I'd be very surprised if that's what she meant.. If you want to take your horse's shoes off and send him to Rockley then she would be 110% supportive but wouldn't push you either way if you were questioning the merits of shoes vs no shoes.
 
pistolpete said:
Just wonder why my vet and so many others not advocating barefoot for all these navicular/tendon problem horses?
My boy is in the egg bar circular shoes and is sound for now. I havespoken to Nic at Rockley and she says if it ain't broke at the moment just soldier on. I really am at a loss.
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I am surprised at the Rockley response here.

Navicular is degenerative if left to progress as in allowed to land toe first continually.

You do not say what the actual problem is with your horse so apologies if Rockely had more info then i do from your post, however my horse was sound (apart from 10m cirlces in trot on hard surface) in natural balance shoes and wedges and as I knew there would come a time when he would go lame (maybe months or years) i decided to take them off to attempt a cure rather then ease/ hide symptoms.

So far he is improving rather then degenerating so to me its a winner but it has been very hard work!
 
My vet told me that the only way to fix feet is to remove their shoes, what I think he really meant was pull shoes and turn them away for a year however he's seen my TB's all gradually become barefoot and sound and be in work - last time he was out he was asking about diet etc as he had been researching it all.

I really hope the vet fraternity starts to look outside it's little bubble, there are horses out there that have been pts with foot problems when possibly an alternative view, or a more open mind, could have helped them.
 
I'm a vet. My horse is barefoot / unshod. Works for some horses not for others. I think the main point should be to educate owners not all horses / ponies need shoes and it is not a "needs to be done" when a young horse comes into work
 
Leg_end said:
Just re-read this... Are you sure she said exactly that?! I'd be very surprised if that's what she meant.. If you want to take your horse's shoes off and send him to Rockley then she would be 110% supportive but wouldn't push you either way if you were questioning the merits of shoes vs no shoes.
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Another one who knowing Nic, thinks you have misinterpreted what she says.

I suspect what was meant was if YOU feel the remedial shoeing is working well for your horse, then you should continue with it.

If you feel it isnt working, and would like to try your horse barefoot, then Rockley would be potentially be an option if that is the way you wanted to go.

That would be very different from telling you to soldier on in remedial shoes.

Ultimately it is your horse, your decision.
 
CMMB said:
I'm a vet. My horse is barefoot / unshod. Works for some horses not for others. I think the main point should be to educate owners not all horses / ponies need shoes and it is not a "needs to be done" when a young horse comes into work
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but as a vet don't you question why it doesn't "work for others" or do you hold to a theory that the hoof cannot be improved? or in some other way a horse must have shoes for comfort (possible metabolic issues?) - just wondered what you complete perspective is?
 
Sorry, Wasn't clear in OP he has navicular changes. Had just come sound in natural balance shoes when I spoke to her. Would love to send him to Rockley for full assessment but have tried wim without shoes once and he was a cripple.
Was not able to persue at that time as he has since had hind limb issues! He is sound now but I wonder how long the shoes will keep him sound. Nic was very supportive on the phone and did her best to explain the situation from the point of view of him going there.
I am just petrified of setting him back, but deep down my heart says this is only a temporary solution.
 
I'd recommend getting hold of Nic's book and studying the diet section in particular, it really teaches you to think much harder about what you feed and you can see the impact within days of changing diet.

My TB (ex-racer here in Hong Kong) was a complete cripple without shoes. I completely changed his diet and his front shoes came off 10 days ago (I took his backs off a year ago and they look amazing now). The (&%^$^&!!) farrier trimmed them way too much and he was really sore for a couple of days, but he's now walking in-hand without boots with no problems, and working well with boots under saddle. It takes time and patience but you will get there!
 
Ok, so horse is sound now.
IMO good time to look at overall management. (Diet, exercise, environment and hoof care professional) and once satisfied its as perfect as you as an owner can offer (livery yard allowances etc) you can try removing shoes. You can always put back on at anytime! What was hind limb issues?
 
Thanks Jiffy, I have the book and that's why I feel I should give it a go. The hind limb thing is weird! He was really ill last year. No real diagnosis, possibly spinal chord impingement due to a fall in the field?? Vets just called it ataxia. No idea really. He is much better though had our first canter yesterday :) :) Just want to keep him as well as I can for as long as I can.
 
I'm a vet. I have one horse barefoot. He came to me with front shoes on but is an idiot with the farrier and looked like he had really tough feet so I took the shoes off and have had him barefoot ever since (5yrs now). He hunts and all sorts without them. They get a basic trim from the farrier every 6-12wks depending on if anything needs doing when he comes to shoe his fieldmate.

I'm struggling with my eventer though at the minute. He has been diagnosed with mild bilateral lameness in his front feet and has just been shod with graduated pads. Yesterday he stopped with me for the first time ever XC schooling. I'm not convinced they're the best thing for him but I'm equally not convinced barefoot would be right for him - the farrier is convinced it's a recipe for disaster as his soles are so thin he would need boots all the time or would just be permanently bruised. He's not against barefoot as has loads of his own barefoot and happily trims my other one so I'm loathe to go against his and my referral vet's opinion at this time but yet cant help but feel these graduated pads are not the right thing for him. It's so confusing knowing what to do for the best :(
 
Has your farrier been able to give you a strategy for improving the soles. Thin soles are not genetic, it's usually a management issue and is often made worse by shoeing.

Anything graduated, wedged, padded or bars make things worse over time.
 
Appropriate diet and exercise. Assess hoof for evidence of 'metabolic' issues. If you know how to assess hooves the writing is literally on the wall (plus other tell tale signs).

Magic cushion won't cure anything.
 
My horse has thin soles from cushings and years of shoes star. They are still not ideal but she has improved enough to hack for miles barefoot with no boots sound and happy. Lucy has been trimming her for 18 months and we changed her diet and put her on prascend. I will happily provide photos and I am sure Lucy will give a better commentary than I would if you are interested.
 
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