Farrier problem.... advice please.

[Chumsmum]

Your thoughts on the following appreciated

Never had a problem with Chum's feet. However, last three times Chum has been sore after farrier. I have been perfectly happy with farrier up to now.

It's a bit strange though, he is not sore until much later the same day, hence not initially noticed when he is brought in for the night and it is gone (fingers crossed for tomorrow) by the next morning.

First time, just about noticeable, second time very obvious and today obvious but not as bad as last time. He is reluctant to move on concrete, seems to be resting hind legs alternatively but sore on front too but not leaning back like laminitis. It was mentioned to farrier after second time so I made sure he was turned out before farrier came (in case he was stiff after waiting in stable, he is 16yo) and farrier also trotted him up before shoeing and said he was fine. He was good to be shod and turned out after, about 12pm. He was brought in about 4.45pm and was okay. I went up at 6.30pm - sore.

However, exactly same thing has happened to new livery's horse who was shod by him for first time today... She too has never had a problem. Horse good to be shod. Turned out and then brought back in - no problem. Later on, very sore. She has arranged for farrier to come back tomorrow.

I am pretty sure it has only just started happening although it comes and then goes so quickly it may have been missed. If you looked over the door he looks perfectly fine, eating (his favourite pastime) and only really comes to the door when he thinks food is on offer so you wouldn't know he was sore.. I will look back in the diary tomorrow but there must have been a time that I have ridden him after shoeing in the last few months so hopefully hasn't been going on too long.

Other horses have been shod at the same time and appear ok. The only difference we can think of is that both of our horses had road nails and the others didn't. Chum has been having them for over a year now. Also, both horses have gone slightly longer than normal (6 weeks) to fit in with other horses (7 weeks) but farrier said that it shouldn't have caused this.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Do you use road-nails all the time? Could it be laminitis?

Fingers crossed that both will be back to their normal selves tomorrow but something is not right for this to start happening. I don't want to upset farrier as we have a good relationship with him and he is coming back tomorrow but would you think of changing farrier? Or call the vet??

Your thoughts are much appreciated - sorry to waffle on, honestly I tried to keep it short

 

[bellaM]

I would change farrier. You could have a word with him just tell him that your horse has been foot sore 3 times in a row.
At the end of the day you pay the farrier to sort your horses feet not make them worse and put your horse in pain.

 

[Chumsmum]

Thanks for reply.
Farrier coming back today so will see what he says. YO has used him for 18yrs no problem so loathe to upset the apple-cart but might be left with no alternative

Does anyone else's horse get this footsore after the farrier has been? Do you find it acceptable? Has your horse always been like that or did it just suddenly start? Would you accept that another horse on the yard that has exactly the same symptons is just a co-incidence or would you blame the farrier?

Just going now to see how he is.

 

[AmyMay]

Is it possible that he's putting the shoes on a wee bit too tight? I had this problem with a loan horse I had two summers ago. After discussing it with my farrier, he simply didn't put the shoes on quite so tight - she never had a problem after that.

 

[Chumsmum]

Thanks for reply - how did your horse react to the tight shoes - was she sore straightaway or later on? Was the horse in or out? Sorry for all questions

Just got back from yard. Both horses a lot, lot better compared to last night. Farrier coming at 9am (other livery dealing with as I need to be at work) so will see what he says.

It is really baffling us. We would have got the vet out last night if it wasn't for the fact that the two had identical symptons (perhaps we should have).

We are thinking that may be the road nails may be something to do with it as the other horses are 100%. Also strange that the soreness occured after they had been in stable for a short while - both on thick beds, one on shavings, the other on straw.

Will update - if anyone interested lol

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
how did your horse react to the tight shoes - was she sore straightaway or later on? Was the horse in or out?

[/ QUOTE ]
She was usually sore after several hours - it was during the summer so she was out at the time.

 

[ihatework]

My horse varies from being pottery to being lame after he has been shod.

I have had 3 farriers over the past 5 years and he is the same with each (only reason I have changed farriers is through yard moves).

It was the first farrier that made a real breakthrough, he experimented a bit and found that if he only seared the shoes on lightly then horse only slightly pottery. Hold the hot shoes on for for a regular amount of time then the horse was lame after. Lameness most noticeable a few hours after shoeing.

We have it down to a fine art now. 1 bute prior to shoeing. Shod without searing much, 1 bute post shoeing. Horse sound!

 

[Chumsmum]

Thanks for replies

All very interesting, especially the soreness occuring hours later rather than straightaway. Farrier said if shoes too tight or if he had taken too much off he would expect them to be sore straightaway but your experiences seem to contradict this. Wonder how long he sears them for and what is 'normal'?

Farrier has been back (I was there too, decided to be late for work). He is not sure what has gone wrong. He said he had carefully checked both horses before shoeing (trotted up etc) and both had been v good to shoe and both were sound when he left. He is sure the roadnails are not to blame and is happy with the work he did.

Both horses are sound now. We both could accept that this is the way it is going to be with them IF they hadn't been fine before - I've never had any problems in the last 3 years and other livery never had any problems in 9 years..

So not sure what to do next really. I think I will try farrier again one more time. He is going to make sure he is available the evening following shoeing and will come back to check. I think I will also leave out the roadnails just in case.

Thanks for llistening lol