Frozen Hoof Boots
Well-Known Member
I wanted to just post a few pics of the progress of my Dutch WB's feet who I bought 18 months ago. He had massive flat front feet which were very different in size but he had massive frogs. I knew when I bought him that his feet werent great but thought in time it could be corrected.
The farrier at the time who had shod him twice after I got him, really had hacked his frogs back to nothing, where before he had at least some contact with the ground with his frogs despite being in shoes. I tried to discuss with him how we could help improve his heels as I said they seemed to be getting more underrun and his heels were sagging over the end of the shoe. He basically threw a strop and said if I wanted a perfect horse I shouldnt have bought this one. He then ignored me (uncomfortable silence) so I went and made a cup of tea for him. I came back and hed started putting different shoes on him in front (wide web he said similar to natural balance). When I asked why he did that he said to appease me?!!! The following day he strained a check ligament on his flattest foot (OS) . Sigh.
So that was my decision point as Id read the best way to resolve underrun heels was barefoot. I looked at Rockley Blog and was amazed at how well the horses progressed. I came on HHO and Oberon sent me her fact sheet and I looked into changing diets. We started off on ProHoof & micronized linseed then added fast fibre and ad-lib hay. Trying not to change too much too quickly.
About 8 weeks later Id found a new trimmer and she was booked to come take the shoes off. Other liveries standing watching bemused at the events gossiping behind my back OMG shes taken his shoes off . Seriously!
He was ok in the beginning on concrete but gimpy on stones as his feet were weak, thin soled etc. I booted hacking and sometimes in the school I would boot with pads if he was footy. Frozen turnout he had to be booted. Causing additional gossiping from onlookers. Each time thinking geez have I done the right thing .
Then had to change trimmer as the current one retired. We then moved yards in the last snow this year and things really got a lot better. I really got to understand that diet was crucial and had the grass and hay analysed. We changed to ForagePlus Winter balancer in summer after the analysis, plus additional Phosphorus, copper and Magnesium and his feet have improved loads to the point where now Im brave enough to take boots off mid hack or the entire hack and go bootless.
Were a year down the line. His soles are thicker but still thin. His has a little concavity in front, it's coming, but very slight. His digital cushion is much stronger but still weak. better in NS front than the OS. I need to get braver going bootless hack the whole way every time.
Hopefully you will see that his feet have massively improved in front as well as behind but we still have a way to go to get where Id like to be with his fronts. His movement is a lot straighter in front. His front toes gets long very quick but I dont get chipping or bits breaking off as the horn now is much better quality. I lightly rasp every couple of days the toe so it doesnt get too out of control and the progress since doing this has helped with tenderness post trim. Since March hes grown a complete hoof capsule and I see positive changes to growth angles each month getting tighter each time.
I hope that I've saved him from further injury long term as I saw the Check Ligament as a warning sign of incorrect balance and weakness.
I've learnt loads over the past year and become a little OCD about his feet and diet however have made some good fellow nerdy barefoot friends, who without having met through this journey I would have given up
A recent vet visit to a friend who also went barefoot with her warmblood horse, the vet turned round and said oh warmbloods cant go barefoot oh I said thats funny cause mine is . ;o)
Hopefully this will be seen as being positive to others and maybe hope out there for those thinking and or starting their barefoot journey
Offside Front
The farrier at the time who had shod him twice after I got him, really had hacked his frogs back to nothing, where before he had at least some contact with the ground with his frogs despite being in shoes. I tried to discuss with him how we could help improve his heels as I said they seemed to be getting more underrun and his heels were sagging over the end of the shoe. He basically threw a strop and said if I wanted a perfect horse I shouldnt have bought this one. He then ignored me (uncomfortable silence) so I went and made a cup of tea for him. I came back and hed started putting different shoes on him in front (wide web he said similar to natural balance). When I asked why he did that he said to appease me?!!! The following day he strained a check ligament on his flattest foot (OS) . Sigh.
So that was my decision point as Id read the best way to resolve underrun heels was barefoot. I looked at Rockley Blog and was amazed at how well the horses progressed. I came on HHO and Oberon sent me her fact sheet and I looked into changing diets. We started off on ProHoof & micronized linseed then added fast fibre and ad-lib hay. Trying not to change too much too quickly.
About 8 weeks later Id found a new trimmer and she was booked to come take the shoes off. Other liveries standing watching bemused at the events gossiping behind my back OMG shes taken his shoes off . Seriously!
He was ok in the beginning on concrete but gimpy on stones as his feet were weak, thin soled etc. I booted hacking and sometimes in the school I would boot with pads if he was footy. Frozen turnout he had to be booted. Causing additional gossiping from onlookers. Each time thinking geez have I done the right thing .
Then had to change trimmer as the current one retired. We then moved yards in the last snow this year and things really got a lot better. I really got to understand that diet was crucial and had the grass and hay analysed. We changed to ForagePlus Winter balancer in summer after the analysis, plus additional Phosphorus, copper and Magnesium and his feet have improved loads to the point where now Im brave enough to take boots off mid hack or the entire hack and go bootless.
Were a year down the line. His soles are thicker but still thin. His has a little concavity in front, it's coming, but very slight. His digital cushion is much stronger but still weak. better in NS front than the OS. I need to get braver going bootless hack the whole way every time.
Hopefully you will see that his feet have massively improved in front as well as behind but we still have a way to go to get where Id like to be with his fronts. His movement is a lot straighter in front. His front toes gets long very quick but I dont get chipping or bits breaking off as the horn now is much better quality. I lightly rasp every couple of days the toe so it doesnt get too out of control and the progress since doing this has helped with tenderness post trim. Since March hes grown a complete hoof capsule and I see positive changes to growth angles each month getting tighter each time.
I hope that I've saved him from further injury long term as I saw the Check Ligament as a warning sign of incorrect balance and weakness.
I've learnt loads over the past year and become a little OCD about his feet and diet however have made some good fellow nerdy barefoot friends, who without having met through this journey I would have given up
A recent vet visit to a friend who also went barefoot with her warmblood horse, the vet turned round and said oh warmbloods cant go barefoot oh I said thats funny cause mine is . ;o)
Hopefully this will be seen as being positive to others and maybe hope out there for those thinking and or starting their barefoot journey
Offside Front
