Barefoot transition thread/journal

[Gloi]

By short rides do you mean 10 minutes or so?

Only you know your horse, keep your eye on him and build it up. You'll soon notice if there is likely to be a problem

 

[Floofball]

Well Feb was a bit of a write off with all the horrible storms BUT decided to be positive today and ordered his boots. The horses have been so miserable that I let diets slide a bit and grass definitely coming through now so we have to get moving more now! Only managed a couple of outings in Feb - he still feels great and is happy on all the surfaces I’ve tried so far. Put my old macs on him to start getting him used to boots but they are too big for him - clumsy Mctrip hazard ? have ordered the easy boot trails in hopefully the right size ??

 

[milliepops]

I'm wondering about how to avoid rubbing in the heels. I've read that people put socks on over the hoof. Has anyone here had any experience with using them or something similar to protect the heels from rubs. I'm wondering what type of socks to use and do they bunch up under the boots?
.

I had cavallo treks for one horse and did find that they rubbed after a bit so I used gaiters, not the cavallo ones though, the HHO wisdom was that they were rubbish. When they were in the wash I used socks and didn't have a problem with bunching up but the gaiters were better. Sorry I can't remember what they were now but I'm sure others can advise.

 

[ycbm]

Boa gaiters were good because they had a tongue that the horse stood on to stop them riding up. I think these are the same.

https://www.equinepodiatrysupplies....boot-old-macs-multipurpose-hoof-boot-gaiters/

C.

 

[Gloi]

Boa gaiters were good because they had a tongue that the horse stood on to stop them riding up. I think these are the same.

https://www.equinepodiatrysupplies....boot-old-macs-multipurpose-hoof-boot-gaiters/

C.

In theory but they didn't work for mine The Boa boots were a nightmare too, lethally slippy on grass and the wires kept wearing through. Soon got rid of them for some Gloves.

 

[Mule]

Good news. The vet rang today with the results of the dex suppression test. He doesn't have ppid ???

I think the reason he's so improved is because, since being taken off the field, his feet have finally had the chance to dry and harden. It's thanks to the advice on this forum. It never occurred to me that the problem was the wet field

 

[Mule]

Bad news update
He lost his last cast today. He's ucomfortable again?
I realised that the reason is because the cast that fell off was on the left hoof. His x-rays showed that both soles were very thin but that there was practically no sole on the left hoof ?

I thought the whole thing was solved. Now I'm suspicious that the right hoof was ok for some time. That would explain why he was sound when he lost the right cast. It's likely it was the left hoof that was sore all along.

The farrier is coming later so I'll have a chat with him. I'll be taking more photos too. His boots have already been dispatched.
Maybe he can wear a shoe on his left hoof and go bare on his right ?

 

[Gloi]

.

The farrier is coming later so I'll have a chat with him. I'll be taking more photos too. His boots have already been dispatched.
Maybe he can wear a shoe on his left hoof and go bare on his right ?

Have you tried the hoof armour on him yet? He sounds like a good candidate for it.

 

[Mule]

Have you tried the hoof armour on him yet? He sounds like a good candidate for it.

I put it on his hinds when the farrier came today. I had to rush off afterwards so I haven't had a look at him since. I'm going to put it on his front hooves as well. I didn't think of it today becaue of the drama with his left fore being tender.

When I thought both front hooves were fine I was just going to use boots on them for riding and try riding with hoof armour on the hinds.

 

[Gloi]

I put it on his hinds when the farrier came today. I had to rush off afterwards so I haven't had a look at him since. I'm going to put it on his front hooves as well. I didn't think of it today becaue of the drama with his left fore being tender.

When I thought both front hooves were fine I was just going to use boots on them for riding and try riding with hoof armour on the hinds.

With the fronts being sore it should protect the soles in the field too and hopefully let them grow a bit thicker and not be so soft with the wet. Hope things work out.

 

[Mule]

With the fronts being sore it should protect the soles in the field too and hopefully let them grow a bit thicker and not be so soft with the wet. Hope things work out.

So do I. My poor delicate horse?
Good hooves will be a prerequisite for any horse I get in the future

 

[Mule]

Bah, the hoof boots are too big? (size 5 cavallos) It was prophesied that they'd be tight on him. I'm going to order a fit kit.

I've put hoof armour on both hinds and the left fore (the tender one). The applicator gun is blocked, so I've brought it home to have a poke around it. Despite wearing gloves I still managed to get it on my hands (clumsiness). It gets weirdly hot ?
I will have photos of hooves tomorrow ?
His co-owner jokingly suggested selling him to the local meat man ?

 

[Mule]

Dupe

 

[Mule]

Re; selling him to the meat man, if the next boots I get don't fit, I'll be tempted ?

Although, one benefit of having him stabled at night is that I get to spend a lot more time with him than when he's in the field. I have a little crate in his stable and I sit in with him and listen to an audiobook. It's relaxing. He has even given me the odd nuzzle, which is nice (he's not that type). We're bonding over hooves

 

[Mule]

I've just thought of an idea. Horseshoes are comfortable because the walls
bare the weight of the horse. There is no pressure on the sole of the hoof. Perhaps boots with the sole area cut out would work similarly. When the boots are on, the weight would be carried solely by the hoof wall, mimicking horseshoes. What do you think? Are there any boots that work like this?

 

[Gloi]

I've just thought of an idea. Horseshoes are comfortable because the walls
bare the weight of the horse. There is no pressure on the sole of the hoof. Perhaps boots with the sole area cut out would work similarly. When the boots are on, the weight would be carried solely by the hoof wall, mimicking horseshoes. What do you think? Are there any boots that work like this?

If the horse is still footy in boots you can put pads in and I suppose you could cut the pads so they only went round the wall of the hoof and had a space in the middle and there are pads which have a thicker part for the frog to encourage the frog pressure which you really want. I think though you just need to give your horse more time, keep the hoof armour going and use your boots for riding once you get the right ones (which you will, just be patient).

 

[Mule]

If the horse is still footy in boots you can put pads in and I suppose you could cut the pads so they only went round the wall of the hoof and had a space in the middle and there are pads which have a thicker part for the frog to encourage the frog pressure which you really want. I think though you just need to give your horse more time, keep the hoof armour going and use your boots for riding once you get the right ones (which you will, just be patient).

The problem with getting boots for him is that his front hooves are 10mm wider than long. There aren't many boots that cater for that shape. Apparently it's a common shape in tb's and draughts. He's a TB/ID cross.

His hind hooves are more round so
I might be in luck there.

 

[Gloi]

The problem with getting boots for him is that his front hooves are 10mm wider than long. There aren't many boots that cater for that shape. Apparently it's a common shape in tb's and draughts. He's a TB/ID cross.

His hind hooves are more round so
I might be in luck there.

So long as you can get the hoof in the boot and you are only doing slow work you'll manage for the time being. The problems with fit start when you go in mud or canter or ride for hours. Once the hooves improve they might round up too. Just plug on. My first one I booted had hooves so contracted nothing really fit , they were so long and narrow, but they did improve and become a slightly better shape in time.

 

[Mule]

So long as you can get the hoof in the boot and you are only doing slow work you'll manage for the time being. The problems with fit start when you go in mud or canter or ride for hours. Once the hooves improve they might round up too. Just plug on. My first one I booted had hooves so contracted nothing really fit , they were so long and narrow, but they did improve and become a slightly better shape in time.

The hoof armour has really helped his tender front hoof ?

 

[Gloi]

The hoof armour has really helped his tender front hoof ?

That's good news I think he is a really good candidate for it helping him, protecting the sole so it has chance to thicken up.

 

[Mule]

That's good news I think he is a really good candidate for it helping him, protecting the sole so it has chance to thicken up.

He strolled down the driveway again so it's definitely helping!

 

[Mule]

He broke out in to the field the other day. This is him, upon his return.

 

[Mule]

Here are hoof photos from today 12th March. It's four and a half months in.
The hooves aren't the cleanest (my assistant, who's holding the hooves is getting impatient)
He trotted down to me for his dinner today, which was very encouraging.
I can't believe I haven't ridden him in 4.5 months, he'll be horrified when I get up on him again?

Left hind




Right fore

 

[Aoife 2020]

Looks like you’re having problems with him been barefoot. His feet are looking a lot better but some horses just can’t be barefoot and needs a pair of shoes to correct problems . I am very lucky that my mare has brilliant feet .

 

[ponyparty]

It can take 12 months (ish) to grow a whole new hoof capsule; 4.5 months really isn’t that long to transition esp when looking at how his hooves started. It’s amazing the difference in OP’s horse’s feet really. Transitioning isn’t always plain sailing, it’s a process and depends how damaged the hooves were to start with.

I think he’s doing great, mule, and you’ve inspired me to keep going with my boy!

 

[Mule]

Looks like you’re having problems with him been barefoot. His feet are looking a lot better but some horses just can’t be barefoot and needs a pair of shoes to correct problems . I am very lucky that my mare has brilliant feet .

I'm going to try more boots and see how we get on. If I can't get boots to fit he'll have to be reshod because he can't be ridden as he is. I already have 2 field ornaments and I don't want another ?

 

[Mule]

It can take 12 months (ish) to grow a whole new hoof capsule; 4.5 months really isn’t that long to transition esp when looking at how his hooves started. It’s amazing the difference in OP’s horse’s feet really. Transitioning isn’t always plain sailing, it’s a process and depends how damaged the hooves were to start with.

I think he’s doing great, mule, and you’ve inspired me to keep going with my boy!

Thank you x

 

[Mule]

Whatever about his hooves, he must be the muddiest horse in existence. I think it's quite impressive

 

[Gloi]

I'm going to try more boots and see how we get on. If I can't get boots to fit he'll have to be reshod because he can't be ridden as he is. I already have 2 field ornaments and I don't want another ?

You will get boots to fit, you don't want to undo the work you've done so far. Some dry weather will really help.
Who does your trimming?

 

[Mule]

You will get boots to fit, you don't want to undo the work you've done so far. Some dry weather will really help.

I hope so. I agree about not undoing the work. It would be such a shame after spending so long at it. There's been such an improvement. His hooves, especially the back ones look so much better. I think the most recent change is the angle of the sole.