Barefoot - foot inbalance

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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Trip to vets on Thursday as girl was very lame- so had the whole xrays/ scans thing done.

Xrays showed a total inbalance of shoes (we had this issue last year!). Vet said heels need to be lower and the shoe put so it is supporting her heel (as she has a little spur off her navicular and what looks like desmosis of the straight distal seasmoidian ligament and the current shoes cant be helping. (she is on Equipack currently)

Anyhow- vet obviously had to take off shoe to xray- and she is not foot sore on it atall- even though with the shoe on she was?

Farrier has said that she will not be balanced- as she is due for shoeing tomorrow.

It is either the rest- or removing the shoe which seems to be helping... I have no need for her to return to work quickly, so was thinking about just asking him to take them off and let her foot issues settle?

Q- do you think she would be more balanced without shoes- her heel would have more support- i think??


Q- what have been your experiences with going barefoot- especially in order horses where they have always been shod?

Q- do you have to get a specialist farrier- or is it just that some farriers specialise in barefoot trimming? (that sounds like a real numpty question, but want to confirm the answer!!)
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xx
 
You will really need to be advised by the vet and the consulting farrier on this I think. Some horses can go unshod stright away with no discomfort, others cannot. If she has an underlying hoof problem with the foot not in balance and the underlying structures poor then it may not be wise, on the other hand it may be what she needs.

In any case, I hope she feels better soon
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Did the vet nerve block her? What a shame they took the shoe off, there really was no need.

Have the vet and farrier spoken on the phone to discuss the way forward with regards shoeing?? And you don't need a 'specialist' to trim barefoot. It's just one fo the the things your own farrier has trained for many years to do.......
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does any one wonder why farriers spend 4 years training if it is as easy as trimming them yourself??? Its natural to go barefoot but not to ride horses especially on the roads etc. You get what u pay for and my guess is if you get a good farrier you wont get shoeing problems, also why do people expect the farrier to shoe when the horse is covered in mud??? U wont get a good farrier that wants to shoe in the mud!!!!
 
Your farrier should have offered to view the x rays before commenting. The vet would have taken into account that she is due for shoeing when they expressed concern about the imbalance. I would be inclined to put the farrier straight on that if he made that judgement before having a look at the x rays
 
Thanks Hollycat- I will ask my vet when I speak to him Tuesday about it anyway before I make any decisions - just wondered about past experiences- I want to do right for her.

It is very fustrating that I keep getting her age- 21- thrown at me everytime I want to try something new to help.

Its just that she was going absolutly fine three weeks ago, had a lesson with my sister which was maybe a little intense than she needed in hindsight (instructor was trying to get her to extend her canter- when for 21 years, she has always had a short stride) so should have interviened... but instructor is very respected... so difficult.

so- she was fine then- and the scans have shown no damage to any tendons- apart from this small chip- which is an old injury which has hardened near to the sdsl- so could be irritating things again?

The main underlying issue is this inbalance though- so need to sort that before we know if the other niggles are raising their ugly heads. xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
Did the vet nerve block her? What a shame they took the shoe off, there really was no need.

Have the vet and farrier spoken on the phone to discuss the way forward with regards shoeing?? And you don't need a 'specialist' to trim barefoot. It's just one fo the the things your own farrier has trained for many years to do.......
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[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Amy May,

Yup, started with a block just above the fetlock and this showed an improvement on both reins (the LF is the issue)

He has always removed the shoe- does some with- and some without??

I wasnt too popular when I called the farrier to explain the vets verdict on Friday- and then with Bank Holiday- havent gotten very far!

I asked both to call each other- but will find out Tuesday as to what has been decided. It was suggested Eggbars- so im happy to give that a go as at least it will support the heal more. But then I was told that the horses foot will not stay balanced- as when the hoof grows, the balance alters. (im not saying anything- would rather wait your comments?!) xx
 
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does any one wonder why farriers spend 4 years training if it is as easy as trimming them yourself??? Its natural to go barefoot but not to ride horses especially on the roads etc. You get what u pay for and my guess is if you get a good farrier you wont get shoeing problems, also why do people expect the farrier to shoe when the horse is covered in mud??? U wont get a good farrier that wants to shoe in the mud!!!!

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sorry i dont understand your odd post.

I never said I was planning on doing it myself

I pay £120 a set- so use a good farrier and expect good things

Plus- where did muddy feet come into this???
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My farrier wont touch her if she even has wet feet, so really confused by what you have written?!!
 
Excellent - the nerve block will also explain the dramatic improvement.

Bar shoes have certainly helped my horse. The vet emailed the x-rays to the farrier - and he then worked based on the pics and discussions with the vet.

Remember though, her age may well have a significant bearing on the problem, so don't be too dismissive of it.

Good luck next week - let us know how you get on.
 
Thanks Victoria- as mentioned above (sorry was trying to respond to each!) I am still just hoping they have managed a telephone call.

Vet has suggested shoeing at the practice to XRAY immediatly after to check balance to make sure things have been corrected.

We have done all this before and gotten it right- but things seem to have slipped- or changed- or whatever has happened!! xx

edited to say Have not ave!! I know im in essex- but really, my typing is poor!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Excellent - the nerve block will also explain the dramatic improvement.

Bar shoes have certainly helped my horse. The vet emailed the x-rays to the farrier - and he then worked based on the pics and discussions with the vet.

Remember though, her age may well have a significant bearing on the problem, so don't be too dismissive of it.

Good luck next week - let us know how you get on.

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Brilliant- I didnt realise you were using bar shoes- I am hoping they will work then if that is decided to be the way forward.

I KNOW her age!!! LOL!! Its just that she dosnt act or look it, so I try to block that aspect out.
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I just want her to be able to go on little strolls around the lanes and do the odd quadrille and then she will be happier getting out and about. Plus it is all odd that she went so suddenly lame- I want her back to how she was before!!
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xx
 
Will do. Thank you all so much for advice. It all helps to put my mind at ease (especially over a three day weekend when I cant move anything forward)

Ive got to go to bed now- just spotted the time. New neddy is SJ tomorrow! Second show for her- lets hope she remembers she is an EX racehorse!! xx night all x
 
I'm sure I posted this already but it seems to have disappeared. If a moderator decides to delete it (again?) can you please do me the courtesy of telling me and explaining why?

"Its natural to go barefoot but not to ride horses especially on the roads etc."

This is NOT correct. Barefoot horses do very well indeed on tarmac. Smooth tarmac is a great surface for conditioning feet and once conditioned to it, rough tarmac trims the feet naturally.

If you keep your mare barefoot she will be able to grow the foot the SHE thinks she needs and not the one that your farrier or your vet thinks she needs. And surprise , surprise, the research that is now being published about "hopeless" horses, condemned to death by vets and farriers, brought sound by being properly kept without shoes (and there's a lot more to it than the trim) suggests that she is probably right.

 
I am all for barefoot myself if appropriate. Just be aware that if claiming under insurance and the vet reccommends shoes and you take your own initiative and go barefoot, the insurance could play up if you try and make further claims on the policy. This happend to a friend of mine.

Personally I feel unsafe riding a shod horse on roads - I find bare feet have much more natural grip. It really is in the hands of your vet in consultation with your farrier I think, but as cptyayes says do listen to your horse and what she is trying to tell you works for her
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Exactly what cptrayes says. Also check out barefoot websites like www.rockleyfarm.co.uk . Remember that vets and farriers are used to treating shod horses, that is what the majority of their training focuses on as there aren't many healthy barefoot horses they have to treat. You have to use the expertise available to you. Everyone has an opinion!
 
Another one agreeing with cptrayes. I've taken all my horses barefoot this year - the oldest being 21. Now I've been shoeless for a few months the thought of nailing metal to their feet seems unthinkable. So yes older horses and horses that have been shod all their lives can be taken barefoot successfully. Sounds to me like your mare is a perfect candidate as being shod clearly isn't working. Eggbar or heart bar shoes are likely just to make the situation worse.

Personally I'd hunt out a qualified barefoot trimmer (check http://www.uknhcp.org for one near you). Some farrier's know how to do a barefoot trim but most only know how to trim the foot in preparation for a shoe and have a tendency to cut away a lot of the sole - which is the last thing your mare needs right now. Yes farrier's train for four years but most of that four years is spent on learning how to make and put on shoes NOT how to do a natural trim. Working and shaping metal and the act of nailing shoes onto a live hoof is a skilled job which is why it takes four years to qualify to do it safely. But horses are perfectly capable of working without shoes and there are loads of great hoof boots on the market for that transition period if needed. Also highly recommend reading Sarah Braithwaite and Nic Barkers new book Feet First - it'll inspire you to give barefoot a go
 
[ QUOTE ]
does any one wonder why farriers spend 4 years training if it is as easy as trimming them yourself??? Its natural to go barefoot but not to ride horses especially on the roads etc. You get what u pay for and my guess is if you get a good farrier you wont get shoeing problems, also why do people expect the farrier to shoe when the horse is covered in mud??? U wont get a good farrier that wants to shoe in the mud!!!!

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Oh shut up.
 
I'm a total barefoot convert, so much so that now it seems really weird that people nail metal things to their animals. My mare started barefoot by accident - she pulled a shoe on a hack, I didn't realise, she didn't change her action at all even on the road and when we got home and I found her bare foot, it dawned on me that perhaps she didn't need shoes at all. The two geldings I've acquired since then also go shoeless and all three went through the transition with no problems at all. They are all in work and compete. As Naggy before me says, if the horse if more comfortable without the shoe, it's telling you what it needs.
 
i dont think the feet should go 'out of balance' between shoeing every 6 weeks to the point it makes horse lame? is your balance issue on going? did vet recommend a different farrier (tactfully) know an excellent farrier in essex. sometimes taking shoes off for a few months and turning away really helps.... but is it the rest or no shoes? cant do half in head and shoulders and other half not? so inconclusive result. bar shoes be it egg or heart bars (depending on issue) work well and give loads of heel support but invest in some good over reach boots. good luck if she was fine 3 weeks ago is it possible that a corn or abcess or gravel between shoe and foot has been overlooked? let us know the outcome.
 
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