Barefoot - help please.

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Evie91

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Have a retired tb - always previously been shod. Had back shoes off - all fine.

Took front shoes off in June - omg horrendous - horse ridiculously foot sore. Que vet visits, bute and boots.

Horse managing ok with cavello boots and boa thick pads (on fronts) and bute morning and evening (also arthritic). However, still can't go without the boots - now on my second pair. Tried last week and horse hobbled around the paddock, looking crippled!

Farrier happy all is going in right direction (he is amazing), horse developing some callouses (sp?) on sole, hooves much better shape and developed some concavity.

Changed horses diet - low sugar, plenty of fibre.

Question is; will horse ever manage without boots?
 
Sounds like you are heading right way. It's hard to be positive when you feel guilty about making a change that is making your horses life unpleasant for now, BUT you're doing it for the right reasons. Look at the Rockley Farm website and also Pete Ramey www.hoofrehab.com who has articles that will help you. Are you managing to exercise your horse at all on conformable surfaces? Arenas are great, and there's plenty of muddy tracks around at the moment. Good luck
 
Yes, Yes, Yes, in the meantime, you will beat yourself up daily, watching him struggle and wonder if it's worth it, IT IS, seeing my 20+yr old TB, the biggest woose walking now BF and happy, well worth the 7 months of footiness, disposable nappies will be your best friend, my lad was in cavello simples, it would have been funny watching him walk in them, if they didn't affect him so much, lined them with nappies and he was fine, but his feet were a mess and sore even with shoes, I felt awful making him walk out when so sore and put total faith in the advice given on here, at one point, he point blank refused to come in from the field, knowing he had to go over a gravel path, even slapping his bum didn't work, went and got nappies, which gave him the confidence to tackle the path, he sometimes still thinks stones are going to hurt, but it's remembered pain, his feet are great according to the farrier, I just carry two nappies when hacking and if he worries, on they go, job done, BF is so worth persevering with, even a novice like me can see the difference in his feet, I would say, the more you are out and about the better, I still let my TB pick his own route along a road for the most part, but make sure he is on the road, not the verge for half of the hack.
Sorry this is long, just have faith
 
I think you should probably test the horse for cushings and for insulin resistance before you continue with barefoot. Both can cause unmanageable sole pain.
 
flirtygerty said:
Yes, Yes, Yes, in the meantime, you will beat yourself up daily, watching him struggle and wonder if it's worth it, IT IS, seeing my 20+yr old TB, the biggest woose walking now BF and happy, well worth the 7 months of footiness, disposable nappies will be your best friend, my lad was in cavello simples, it would have been funny watching him walk in them, if they didn't affect him so much, lined them with nappies and he was fine, but his feet were a mess and sore even with shoes, I felt awful making him walk out when so sore and put total faith in the advice given on here, at one point, he point blank refused to come in from the field, knowing he had to go over a gravel path, even slapping his bum didn't work, went and got nappies, which gave him the confidence to tackle the path, he sometimes still thinks stones are going to hurt, but it's remembered pain, his feet are great according to the farrier, I just carry two nappies when hacking and if he worries, on they go, job done, BF is so worth persevering with, even a novice like me can see the difference in his feet, I would say, the more you are out and about the better, I still let my TB pick his own route along a road for the most part, but make sure he is on the road, not the verge for half of the hack.
Sorry this is long, just have faith
Click to expand...

Quick question, how did you keep the nappies on? Did you take tape out with you as well?
 
Spoke to the vet when he came out to do her jabs at the end of October. He didn't think I needed to test for cushings (didn't mention insulin resistance).
I've got to phone for more bute so will ask for an advice call too.
Thanks for replies.
P.s she was without boots for a week (broke a pair and had a pair on order). She was fine in the paddock, hobbled on the hard standing. She does play up to me though - whilst I'm watching she looks sad and hobbled, when she didn't know I was watching she was trotting around with pony and also had a canter!
Farrier came out (was due) the day before new boots arrived - he said feet where looking good, no bruising, all going in the right direction. He added that the wet ground won't help her feet.
Just wanted to know whether she'll ever be 100% without shoes.
Thanks for replies. Articles are really interesting - thank you
 
Stick with it. One of mine was horrifically footsore after the fronts came off. Managed it as best we could and got through it. Grew new feet and got much better. Movement is soooooooo important. Good luck!
 
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