Barefoot horse being lame

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dieseldog

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If you've got a barefoot horse how do you know if it is actually lame? If it is a bit off do you think that it is just because it hasn't got shoes on, or do you call the vet?

How lame does a barefoot horse have to be before it is thought off as lame?

Just interested as my horse has had no shoes on for a bit and was also lame, but you couldn't tell if the lameness had improved as she was footsore.
 
all mine are barefoot DD and one in specific has been lame on/off since going barefoot. Weve never called the vet (dont all jump on me at once) as I know for a fact they wouldve said get it shod so I called my trimmer out who said she had deep bruising but to persevere and she would get better. With her its taken lots of time to harden her feet as her soles were paper thin. If she had continued to be shod the way she was she wouldve been shot within 12 months. Her feet are the worst my trimmer has seen.
With mine I check with my trimmer first as she has seen lameness/footsore so much more than I have as mine have only been barefoot since March time. I take her advice and go from there.
I watch mine play in the field - I know whether is lameness or footy with depending what they do. Said lammi pony is a bit of a hypochondriac (sp) and as soon as food is mentioned she comes up sound. When is proper lameness she doesnt.
 
If they have a Spavin forming - which at the start they wouldn't really be that lame on, how would you or your trimmer know that it wasn't footsore? Will the trimmer do Flexion tests etc.

Don't agree about hard ground though as some horses are still sore with no stones
 
suppose its hard to say but when my old pony was developing a spaving it took the vet a couple of times to come out plus the farrier and the back person to diagnose it and even then it was only after a full set of exrays were done.
My trimmer does whatever she needs to and if it means flexion tests then yes its done.

I do agree with you about the hard ground - my mare had severely bruised both her front feet deeply and she was lame on all surfaces - one day she came sound (after being barefoot trimmed rather than farrier trim)
 
3 of them are - the pony still has a way to go due to a huge rip in her coronary band which has resulted in a huge sandcrack - were trying to keep weight off the area by filing away so there is no contact with the ground.
Shes probably got another 3 months or so till shes at the end of it all - long hard slog but will be worth it in the end.
 
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Don't agree about hard ground though as some horses are still sore with no stones

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How do you mean? None of mine are sore on firm ground with no stones and they are all barefoot. I don't understand what you mean?
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Don't agree about hard ground though as some horses are still sore with no stones

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How do you mean? None of mine are sore on firm ground with no stones and they are all barefoot. I don't understand what you mean?
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I said some horses, my horse is still lame on hard ground with no stones as is my sisters. Some horses cope with no shoes better than others. I've no idea what group you horses fall into and wasn't passing comment on them. Although now you've written that none of yours are sore on firm ground I guess they all cope well with no shoes
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Well perhaps it all comes down to what they are used to. It is very very rare indeed for quarter horses to be shod over here....ever! In the whole of their lives! Therefore perhaps their feet are more accustomed to it than horses who have been previously shod.

What I meant was, are your horses sore on smooth concrete?
 
This is my main argument against keeping some horses barefoot. If theyre sore to the point of lameness then where's the happy-clapping NH sense in that?!!
Moon is currently barefoot but she's a tough little cookie and doesnt feel her feet at all. Boss was over the summer and he hated it so I got shoes put back on. I dont want my horses in pain when it's so easily preventable....
 
is it lame because it has no shoes on?
mine is barefoot has never been shod and is not sore on even the stoniest of ground...Surely if it is lame due to no shoes the simple answer is have shoes put on
 
My horse had to have her shoes removed but as soon as I was allowed to I put them back on. I'm not that cruel!!!

I was just interested as to what point do you decide if it is lame or footsore?
 
I had this problem with one of mine who had his shoes taken off about 4 months ago and went barefoot. He did go lame for about 2 months - it was a bit hard to tell if it was due to him being footsore or from something else (he is prone to absesses / bruised soles etc.). I did wonder if I'd done the right thing going barefoot with him... However I am pleased to say he is fully sound again now!

I began using Boa Boots on him sometimes if I thought he looked lame on one/two feet in particular - really helped. I just put them on during the day (turned out) and off at night. You could try these (they are pricey...) on him - if he's foot sore I would think he'd begin to come sound since the boots cushion the sole.

rlm - Please get your facts right before slagging off barefoot trimmers. Most genuine barefoot trimmers are NOT insane intensive hack-the-hoof-apart trimmers! I think maybe you're thinking about other weird methods like the Strasser or something. My trimmer is extremly gentle with my ponies. She takes a great deal of time and attention with their hooves, only taking a tiny bit off each time so they can adjust. I must admit that I did have my reservations about it however my ponies hooves are now looking healthier than they ever had done shod. May I also point out that with my other pony - it WAS a "qualified farrier" who totally f*cked up her feet in the first place!!
 
I don't think its any different. If any of my horses go lame, barefoot or otherwise, the lameness gets investigated by a process of elimination (unless obvious).
IMO, a lame horse is a lame horse whatever the reason behind it. If something hurts which makes it hobble or limp..its lame.
I think you have to check the timing regarding your horse. Did she go suddenly more lame as soon as she was barefoot. IME, horses that are sensitive to being barefoot are sore from the word go, get worse, then improve.
 
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