Barefoot for heel pain

alsxx

alsxx

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Probably a daft question...mare has heel pain RF, she is 3/10 lame still on lunge on hard (sound straight line and sound trotting about in the field), is shod with heel support and now with pads, which at the moment are not making a difference, but hopefully will.

She's been turned away, and I'm looking to leave her for at least a year and see how she gets on. I've heard mixed reports on going barefoot, I'm wondering if there would be any benefit in trying this whilst she is out at grass? Will discuss with farrier next time she is shod, but its not something I know an awful lot about in terms of benefits! x
 
I'm going to give her a couple more shoeings with the support and pads, but just wondering if there would be any benefit to her. Its not something I really know anything about!
As I say I'm looking at leaving her for at least a year, so have plenty of time to play with!
 
Our horse has a foot inbalance and low heels, she came sound immediately with pads and gel, but unfortunately after 6 months found her heels were being crushed even more by the pads. Vet said remove pads and shoe with natural balance shoes which she stayed sound on through winter just hacking at walk and trot. When she was brought back into proper work in spring she went lame. Went back to vet, box rested and then turned out, but not in work and was still lame several months later. Farrier suggested using silicon instead of pads but as she was no longer competing could not justify the expense so as a last ditch attempt took off her shoes. She was noticably sore when i walked her out her stable the following day but the day after that she was sound and has remained so a year later. She is now being hacked out at walk and is ok, but we will be very careful with her now the ground is so hard, however she hares around the field without a care in the world. I think she may have had some sort of deepseated bruise which the shoes were not allowing to heal. She is regularly trimmed by my normal farrier.
The problem you have is what works for one does not work for another and also it is probably the wrong time of year to take shoes off with the ground being so hard.
I would suggest that you talk to your farrier and your vet, and maybe the remedial farrier your vet uses.
What I will say is that when our horse had pads fitted we were told she may become lamer before she came sound as it could take a few weeks for her to adjust to the different angle. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
My mare who has crushed heels, collateral ligament and DDFT damage has come sound after 6 months out barefoot. Personally I had more hope for this working than remedial shoeing from past experiences.

I don't know if she'll stay sound but the rest and barefoot have definitely helped.
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Based on my past experiences I'd go barefoot pronto.

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Totally agree. Heel pain is associated with navicular which responds well to a barefoot programme. I'm also in Kent and my DAEP will be trimming my mare next weekend. Let me know if you want to come and watch and ask him more about it.
 
So can anyone say why exactly going unshod seems to help?

Its something I need to discuss with farrier, and if i do give it a try it wont be until september ish time when the ground will start to soften up again (unless we have a foul summer for a third year in a row
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I'll do my best...

1. My experience of remedial shoeing is not particularly positive.

2. When barefoot the weight-baring surface is increased so pressure is spread and not all on the bars.

3. No nailing on, combined with the soles toughening up means overall stronger feet in better nick.

4. My farrier liked the approach as he'd tried a bit of corrective shoeing on the horse and the response wasn't encouraging.

I'm sure there are much clearer reasons given in support of unshod horses, go on any barefoot website, they'll explain way better than me. I'm not a fan of the unregistered trimmers, or riders trying to make their horse accept miles of road work barefoot because "its natural", but if your horse is having foot problems and you're turning away, a rest from shoes is the way to go IMO.
 
Shoes restrict the natural movement and flexsion of the heels so going barefoot will help blood get into those areas aiding healing.

Going barefoot is the best thing for your horse especially if its just going to be out to grass, this will also give the feet a rest from shoeing and they should grow back stronger
 
I had my horse barefoot and he became very lame,would napp because of the discomfort.Barefoot takes a long time for a horse to get used to especially if the horse is used to being shod and some horses .like mine will never get used to it.The trimming also made my horse throw his foot out to one side,have now returned to cold shoeing and foot and horse are fine.
 
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