Barefoot help pretty please!!

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I have an old horse who i beleive has a corn in his front foot, the last 3 times he has been shod after about a week he goes lame so we take the shoe off, dig around in his foot, find no puss then put his shoes back on with silicon and a pad.

My idea is to have the shoe taken off and use a hoof boot for when he goes in the field, will having the foot "bare" enable the bruising to disperse quicker, and would there be any detrimantal effect on the foot using a hoof boot.

Many thanks in advance
 
Hi -

Having his feet bare might be the single most amazing thing you ever do for your horse! If you do a little research you might find that you do not even need to use the hoof boot.

If you google Peter Laidley you will find his website (hoofworksaustralia - or something like that). There is valuable information there which might give you a good start. There are many other very informative sites - this is just the one I use.

Good luck with your seach for answers - I hope you do go down the barefoot route!! I have a herd of 11 barefoot horses now - all in full work and competing. They have never been sounder!!

I look forward to hearing how you get on.
 
Thanks Monica, unfortunately my boss wont allow him to go barefoot full time, i have had enough of a struggle to allow him to have his back shoes taken off!!!!! :(
 
Why can't he go barefoot all the time? If he is your horse then what say does your boss get in it?
Also would suggest going without shoes (at least for a time) to allow the fronts to recover. If you are repeatedly getting corns then I would have a think about trying another farrier too tbh.
This place is v interesting and helpful http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php
This book is just brilliant and essential reading! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feet-First-Barefoot-Performance-Rehabilitation/dp/0851319602
 
I'm afraid I don't understand the rationale of digging around in his foot if he might have a corn. Corns aren't abscesses are they? I thought they were calloused areas from unnatural pressure and rubbing.
I would have thought that the hoof needs a proper trim to allow it to grow stronger without shoes for a while. Sorry but this sounds like owners beliefs, routine coming before what may be best for the horse. Sorry to be so blunt as I see it's not in your control.
I have turned out in pads for a pony with laminitis (yard turnout btw) with very good results but in wet muddy conditions obviously this is no good. I've no personal experience of boot turnout, but it does sound like the hoof needs a different trim aproach to help this barefoot. Could he go out bare with pads to get to and from the stable if needed? In soft conditions he may well be fine just bare.
 
No he is not my horse, he belongs to my boss. I also dont understand why a horse that has been retired, for the last 10 years at least, still has a full set of shoes on, it beggars belief IMO that people can own horses for as long as he has and still be so ignorant to their welfare needs, one might say that as groom it is my responsibility to meet these needs, but it is not always so easy, especially with very stubborn people who think they know best.:mad:

Amandap, the vets and farriers have been under the opinion that he has puss in the foot, it is I who has suggested the corn business.

Corns in horses are really a type of bruise. A bruise is simply a hoof trauma injury that is caused by impact and appears reddish because of the damaged tissues and blood vessels. Corns in particular appear on the seat of corn which is an area found in between the hoof wall and the bars. The corns can be stand alone dry bruises or they can become moist and infected.

And yes you are completely correct in thinking it is owners beliefs that are coming in the way of what is actually best for the horse.

Glosgirl, you are right the first post suggested he was mine, i term all the horses under my care "mine":) As for getting a new farrier, he suggested a long time ago that the horse should go barefoot all round, he is also the best farrier in a 100 kilometer radius and comes out same day if i have any problems.

Anyway we spoke again today, i have ordered him a hoof boot, farrier will come next week and remove the shoe, he has relieved pressure (around the seat of the corn area) ands replaced old shoe and then will come next week when the boot arrives to remove shoe, give him a trim and we will see what happens.

As for the boss, if he doesnt like it he can stick it up his u know what:D
 
Fab you are getting some sort of solution sorted for the horse. Is it possible to take both fronts off and then boot up? Happier with things like this in pairs! Glad to hear the horse has you to stick up for him, why anyone would shoe a retired horse for that long is totally beyond me!
 
Glosgirl, i think i will break the boss in gently!! If he gets better with just the one foot done then maybe i will move onto both fronts!!:)
 
Please take huge care if you intend to turn out in a hoof boot as your first post suggests. They can cause the most horrendous rubbing if left on too long with dirt inside them. I would never turn out in a hoof boot myself. He shouldn't need one, and cold mud is a wonderful poultice for bruised and abscessed feet. Good luck with the boss!
 
cptrayes said:
Please take huge care if you intend to turn out in a hoof boot as your first post suggests. They can cause the most horrendous rubbing if left on too long with dirt inside them. I would never turn out in a hoof boot myself. He shouldn't need one, and cold mud is a wonderful poultice for bruised and abscessed feet. Good luck with the boss!
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Will wrap him up in vet wrap and hope that helps. He has soft soles and i feel there are too many stones in and on the way to the field for him to go completely barfoot. He has never ever been barefoot in over 30 years.

Thanks for the advice though:)
 
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