Barefoot query and other issues……

[Wizpop]

So, my gelding has good feet but has contracted heels all round. He has a mysterious laminitis earlier in the year: mysterious in that it wasn’t sugar/ EMS/ insulin related as I had all the tests done, so presumably “ we may never know” according to vet. He does have other issues under investigation at the moment so maybe there will be a clue from the findings??

My query is, could he go barefoot and still address the contracted heels? He is sore in the central sulcus in his hind feet so I’m treating for thrush. He has heartbars still on front feet from laminitis but these should be off after the next shoeing as the balance is almost correct now.Farrier is very good and working to correct the contracted heels. He says it is due to his conformation, although I also suspect shoeing/ trimming by previous farrier has contributed. My horse also has one forefoot that is toe in and growth has been uneven.

I haven’t discussed the barefoot option with my farrier yet, but would welcome some input from those of you with any experience of barefoot with these issues. I’m really keen to do the best I can for my horse but am getting very confused with the options! He has also had a diagnosis of bilateral PSD in the hind legs and was due to have surgery but am going for further investigations first. It all feels like a rabbit hole!

I’ve had horses barefoot before but there seems to be a shortage of trimmers in my area which is another hurdle to be got over.

Thanks for reading.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It's worth a try measure up for boots once the shoes are off and be prepared for pads as well you might need them for turnout you might not it's a wait and see game, contracting heels are definitely improved by going barefoot as it's often the shoe causing them in the first place.

You don't need a barefoot trimmer just tell your farrier to trim for balance but leave the sole and frog alone, I've done this for mine for years and his absolutely fine without boots never needed them from the start.

 

[sbloom]

Contracted heels have very little (anything?) to do with conformation but feet are strongly related to posture and movement, as is PSD in many cases. Do you have good photos - square on sole shots and side on taken from ground level (right down with the lens as close to the ground as possible)? And perhaps side on photos of the horse? Context is everything.

 

[Wizpop]

It's worth a try measure up for boots once the shoes are off and be prepared for pads as well you might need them for turnout you might not it's a wait and see game, contracting heels are definitely improved by going barefoot as it's often the shoe causing them in the first place.

You don't need a barefoot trimmer just tell your farrier to trim for balance but leave the sole and frog alone, I've done this for mine for years and his absolutely fine without boots never needed them from the start.

Thanks Pinkyboots- He is currently barefoot behind- has been most of his life as far as I know. It’s encouraging to know that boots and pads could work for him as, whilst I’m not totally against shoeing, I can see that the barefoot option with the pads and boots could be a good alternative.

 

[Wizpop]

Contracted heels have very little (anything?) to do with conformation but feet are strongly related to posture and movement, as is PSD in many cases. Do you have good photos - square on sole shots and side on taken from ground level (right down with the lens as close to the ground as possible)? And perhaps side on photos of the horse? Context is everything.

Thanks Sbloom- I was starting to think that there may well be a connection between hind feet and PSD and am planning to get X-rays done also of them. Yes, and posture makes so much sense!
im not very mobile at the moment due to an accident, so progress with horse is frustratingly slow, but I’ve got a lift to the yard tomorrow night so will get photos done then. The one “ good thing” about being a bit immobile is that it’s given me the opportunity to research and explore options and get a better understanding of what might be happening with my horse.