Barefoot - thoughts/advice sought

[FAYEFUDGE]

I've had my boy barefoot for approx 9 month now.
He is doing very well and much sounder and sure footed than he was in shoes.

My question is this, due to the fact my boy has mild synovitis in both knees will he ever achieve heel first landing?
I was watching him on the lunge last night and I feel he is still landing very much toe first.
I wondered if this is due to his knee problems?

His other symptoms like tripping etc have all but disappeared but his landing is still not what it should be.

I will be keeping him barefoot regardless, but would value other people's opinions and thoughts on this.

Thanks!

 

[cptrayes]

Talk about between a rock and a hard place

I would expect/hope that the inflammation of the synovial fluid sac in the knees was at least partly as a result of the incorrect foot landing. But the incorrect foot landing may be causing the synovitis in the knees......

Are you sure that you have his heels as healthy as they can get? Any possibility of thrush? Have you tried him with boots on, does it change then?

If you haven't tried him in boots, I would. And if he goes flat or heel first in boots, then I would work him in boots whether he is footie without them or not, because the more you can do with the correct foot placement the better things will get.

If you have tried him in boots and he is no better then would he go heel first if you gave him bute to stop any pain from his knees? If so, I'd do that for a while for the same reason as above.

He's an interesting case!

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Many thanks!