Different types of shoeing

Natch

Natch

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Just a general question really. I hear about so many foot problems on here and the shoeing suggestions always seem quite similar. Hasn't there been much development in the world of farriery in recent years? I don't know if I've dreamed them up but I can't help but think things like glue on shoes, shoes made of substances other than iron (is it iron or am I being thick? say metal for the sake of argument as I know racehorses have a lighter metal
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), some sort of liquid plastic that bonds to the sole and up around the hoof, gel fitted between the shoe and sole, other impact absorbtion and ways to keep shoes on horse with poor feet MUST exist, or damn well ought to
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But I don't know if any/all of the above exist - so my question is really, what alternatives to traditional shoeing have you used/heard about? Obviously there is the whole barefoot arguement, but I was hoping to leave that for another day
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Something that is very new and may be of interest to those who have horses with crumbled walls that need a break from nail holes, is the Perfect Hoof Wear system, which is a cross between vetwrap and a plaster cast, and fits round and under the hoof where it sets like a temporary shoe.

My EP has been using this on horses that can't go straight to barefoot as it eases the transition. It's also handy as a break from shoes to allow the walls to grow down as the hoof growth rate is massively accelerated using this product.

The problem at the moment is the version currently available only lasts a couple of weeks, but there is a more durable version in development.

More info here:

http://www.perfecthoofwear.com/

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If the Perfect Hoof Wear system is a "shoe" that means that it is illegal for anyone except a registered farrier to fit it, in the UK.

I am not in a position to determine whether this falls within the legal definition of a horse shoe, but I would urge caution for anyone considering using it. I'm sure it does a great job, but I wouldn't want to be the first test case that gets taken to court over it!!
 
I've tried quite a few different types of shoes in an attempt to keep my TB sound. He's currently in natural balance. I have silicone gel pads injected between the shoe and his sole to ease concussion and help prevent bruised soles.
I also tried Cyteks as they cover almost the entire sole, however personally I didn't like them. I think they are made of a different metal and are now available in alumium but I may be wrong.
Glue on shoes are, according to my farrier, a last resort as they are very expensive and don't last.
 
Everything you have mentioned in your post is available, just not widely used.
 
I'm waiting for someone to invent something to the same effect of trainers for horses. Its only a matter of time, and when they do they're going to make a fortune! I'm fed up with foot problems.
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I forgot to say, IME if horses need too much complicated surgical shoeing there's a bigger problem going on either inside the foot or higher up in the leg and so the horse can't cope with the drastic shoeing.
 
WOW , can't believe someone in the UK hasn't tried this before. It's the same stuff they make plaster casts from theses days and OH had it on his broken thumb earlier in the year. They just soak it in water and it sets in a matter of minutes.

It can't be that expensive if they use it in NHS hospitals, even if you have a farrier 'fit' it. I think it would be the ideal thing to get a horse over a spell resting in the paddock while the damage grows out.
 
Just googled this stuff and it's called Scotchcast, same company also do vetcast and it's all made by the same people who do Vetwrap. Any veterinary nurses or vets out there who may have an idea of cost?

I'm not planning to DIY but would like my farrier to give it a try.
 
Scotch brands and vetwrap are made by 3M health care, but similar products are also available from other companies. Put very simply its vetwrap with plaster of paris "infused". Can probably buy it off ebay?! As it will only be sold to doctors and vets you will be hard pushed to be able to buy it yourself, but might find a friendly vet nurse or doc friend willing to help you out, or try ringing the company to ask for a sample!
 
Ive had direct experience with a few types..

The first were the rubber shoes that became the rage oooh 10 years or so ago id say. I cant even remember quite WHY we tried them out. However, the woman i was working for at the time had them put on all her showjumpers. I *think* it was related to the amount of road work we were doing to fitten them and a lot of it was up and down hills (the slipping on some of the surfaces was terrible).

Anyway, they all had them put on but it became quite clear that horses hooves are designed to slip a little bit and the rubber had zero movement. The result was jarred legs and the shoes coming back off
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Been through the glue on shoes thing when one of my other employers dressage horse had ripped half his hoof wall off. Dont much like them... theyre impossibly hard to keep on in the wet weather and our farrier was literally out ever few days.

My own dressage horse is shod with natural balance shoes and im delighted at the difference they've made to him. Hes got the typical low heel, long toe conformation problem which is also elaborated somewhat by long pasterns. I was more interested in preventing any undue stress long term than anything else (at 15 hes rarely had a days lameness in his life). His movement changed almost instantly when we switched to NB shoes however and 6 months down the line, he actually has a (small) heel.
 
What is Natural balance shoeing and what does it involve? Does it have to be done by a (searches for right word) natural balance person or can your regular farrier do it?

So pleased at the responses so far, please keep them coming, I'm just fascinated!
 
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What is Natural balance shoeing and what does it involve? Does it have to be done by a (searches for right word) natural balance person or can your regular farrier do it?


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Normal farrier can fit them but they have to have done the course, many have.

They are quite a wide web seated out shoe that is fitted farther back on the foot. The idea is to give the heels more support and let the toe knock itself back to a natural length, being wide they help protect the sole. That's the theory.

Personally I found them heavy on little TB feet and they didn't stay on all that well. Vet also went ballistic when he saw them as Will has rotated pedal bones and of course they would have been putting pressure on the tip of the pedal bone they way the way are fitted.

So, changed farrier and reverted to a normal, wide web seated out shoe and he's been pretty much fine ever since. Doesn't lose shoes anywhere as near as often and is sound. Summer is a nightmare though as they do seem to ping off more easily. Luckily we've now got our own place with a smooth concrete yard giving direct access onto nice soft turf so theyre coming off to see if he copes barefoot again.
 
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As it will only be sold to doctors and vets you will be hard pushed to be able to buy it yourself, but might find a friendly vet nurse or doc friend willing to help you out, or try ringing the company to ask for a sample!

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This is what I was hoping for because the minute anything has an equine or veterinary application, the price goes through the roof. Will see what I can 'scab' off the local casualty department or give 3M a call!
 
Hi, My horse was diagnosed with a serious Deep digital flexor tendon injury a month ago. This is believed to be caused by the fact that his pedal bones are completely flat, although he looks to have good feet, until you x-ray them.

Firstly the farrier and vet tried bar shoes with silicone implants. This made him more lame. He now has bar shoes with heel wedges to give the correct degree of angle to the pedal bone and help his heels grow down. This appears to agree with him as although he has to have another 11 months field rest, he is now sound and has been for sometime.

There are I think lots of different types of shoeing out there, you just need to find an experienced farrier
 
There are some plastic shoes called Epona shoes, from the USA, although someone in the UK has become a stockist. They look pretty interesting, can be nailed or glued, made to imitate barefoot slip on hard surfaces, and allow the hoof to move like barefoot, but give that bit of protection too.
 
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