Michen
Well-Known Member
It won't help that even the fields are hard ground right now.
True though he is comfy in field so guess he can't be that bad as you are right, its solid!
It won't help that even the fields are hard ground right now.
Dammit, I have buggered this up
Tbh I assumed it wouldn't be an issue as he's only had a couple of sets of shoes on in his life, and I did build up the length of road work etc but clearly not slow enough if that's what's made him sore.
don't be daft, you haven't buggered anything up. just one of those things. Some of the most awful feet come out of shoes and never miss a step and the most perfect feet can be a nightmare.
You have just brought the decision closer as to whether you wish to boot on a reasonably long term basis or if you prefer to shoe.
Actually I have some somewhere... but think I left glue in the gun thingy...
I think ester has posted before about feet ‘waking up’ and becoming sore at the 6 week mark so hopefully she’ll be along soon.
Mine has thin soles and I couldn’t get barefoot to work for us. It could’ve worked if I’d had access to completely grass free turnout but that’s not an option round here. We also had feet seeming amazing for the first 3-4 weeks then everything went rapidly downhill.
Don't be impatient. Those frogs still aren't really doing anything although they are better than they were sorting them out should be a priority. It looks like there is still a split between the heel bulbs , though it may just be the photo. If there is then floss it and clean trax it.
I think keeping a couple of layers of hoof armour on the soles would be good for him He probably just has a bruise which will recover in time. Have you tried keeping him off grass and giving him soaked hay to see if it makes a difference? It would be worth ruling out grass sugars causing a problem. Don't give up yet, boot all round if needed but it's early days and you are still learning what works for him.
Sorry, didn't see that, just do the best you can to keep sugars down. This is the worst time of year of course for any animal sensitive to sugars.He is on soaked hay. To keep him off grass 24/7 would mean he lives in a stable. I could muzzle though for his overnight turnout.
Does he use Duplo shoes on DP?If you want to increase your knowledge of barefeet even if it is an interim to shoeing Bear at a later date have a look at Mark johnson Farrier Another Way. He looks after DP’s feet and has kept him sound with the thinnest soles on the planet for 4 years now. Unfortunately he is out of your area or I would have recommended him to you to use.
Thanks those are really good.If you want to increase your knowledge of barefeet even if it is an interim to shoeing Bear at a later date have a look at Mark johnson Farrier Another Way. He looks after DP’s feet and has kept him sound with the thinnest soles on the planet for 4 years now. Unfortunately he is out of your area or I would have recommended him to you to use.
Does he use Duplo shoes on DP?
Some other posters have picked this out from the pic you posted, what’s this? Looks like you’ve maybe got hoof stuff or similar packed into the frog, but not here? Could that be making him sore?
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To me that hoof looks like it has been trimmed too short. It may be the photo angle but it doesn't look like any wall height has been left above the sole which I would be wanting to see.
Exactly why I started trimming my own - I just could not persuade my farrier to not take a layer off the whole frog at every visit!I wonder why the farrier thought he needed to be rasping into the sole of an already weak hoof. What with that and the amount of frog removed sometimes in the end it's better to take control of your own trimming.
To me that hoof looks like it has been trimmed too short. It may be the photo angle but it doesn't look like any wall height has been left above the sole which I would be wanting to see.
Also, in the shod pic his hoof shape looks awful ....
To me that hoof looks like it has been trimmed too short. It may be the photo angle but it doesn't look like any wall height has been left above the sole which I would be wanting to see. Also, in the shod pic his hoof shape looks awful so I would say he had a pretty weak and compromised hoof before he was ever shod if he has only had 2 sets in his life.
I would say he has cumulative low level sole bruising that has just now reached his tolerance threshold. Boots with pads all round will allow him to land correctly and build digital cushion and sole depth. I would also increase the size of his feeds - if the straw chaff is lower energy and lower sugar than the grass and hay it is far better for him to fill up on that. I would also add magnesium and salt as others have suggested. If his frog has a proper bumcrack soak a gauze strip in white lightning gel and wedge it in there with a hoof pick to pack it out and stop dirt getting in.
I wonder why the farrier thought he needed to be rasping into the sole of an already weak hoof. What with that and the amount of frog removed sometimes in the end it's better to take control of your own trimming.
I agree with you in the respect that the farrier has removed sole callous, which is a complete no go. But most self trimming working horses will have about that level of wall height.
Can't agree with you there, sorry. It looks pretty decent to me. Many sports Connies have got that that slightly longer than wide shape.
Michen, his feet are flat, which is what your problem probably is, and that is normally a diet issue. You might have bought one who can't handle that lush grass down there, but boots should get you through.
It's not you, don't beat yourself up.
Is he on a barefoot high copper supplement? If he's not on yeast (it's in some) i would add that, I've seen it make a huge difference to footiness.[/QUOTE ]
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