Going barefoot.. horse with flat soles

[LMR]

So I've currently transitioned one of my horses barefoot, who has been great (see my previous posts) his feet are looking great and he is moving so much better defnitely the best decision i've made.

I'm now thinking of transitioning my 6 year old mare who has very flat front feet. She had 3 abscesses at the end of last year, start of this year. Farrier said it was a combination of her flat feet and the very sharp stones we have at the yard that was causing the abscesses. He then shod her plastic pads under the shoes. In March i switched her to the BF friendly diet of FP balancer and hifi mollasses free and speedibeet. She is looking great atm and so far no more abscesses.

I would really like to take her BF but i'm worried about her abscessing again, I don't know if its the pads or the change in diet that has helped.

I am moving yards in Sept and it is not as stony there but there are a few stones. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[amandap]

So I've currently transitioned one of my horses barefoot, who has been great (see my previous posts) his feet are looking great and he is moving so much better defnitely the best decision i've made.

I'm now thinking of transitioning my 6 year old mare who has very flat front feet. She had 3 abscesses at the end of last year, start of this year. Farrier said it was a combination of her flat feet and the very sharp stones we have at the yard that was causing the abscesses. He then shod her plastic pads under the shoes. In March i switched her to the BF friendly diet of FP balancer and hifi mollasses free and speedibeet. She is looking great atm and so far no more abscesses.

I would really like to take her BF but i'm worried about her abscessing again, I don't know if its the pads or the change in diet that has helped.

I am moving yards in Sept and it is not as stony there but there are a few stones. Does anyone have any advice?

Perhaps start by trying to work out why the soles are flat and what it means in your horses' case? I have just linked this on another thread that might help you. Most flat soles are also thin but not all it seems.
http://www.hoofrehab.com/horses_sole.htm

 

[florayG]

I think barefoot is just what this horse needs, with some good hoof boots with pads in to start if need be. Then her soft soles will be protected while you are riding and you can even put the boots on before you take her from the field if she is really sore, and in the field she can watch her own step and harden up her soles. With a good trimmer, she will eventually develop a much better concavity to her sole.
Also if she DOES get another abscess it will be much easier to treat if she doesn't have shoes on!
I think being barefoot has no bearing on whether or not a horse gets an abscess, if there's a gap for grit to get in then a shoe won't stop it getting in and may even prevent any foreign body from getting out again.
Both my horses got nasty abscesses last year because of the constant wet weather. My vet said they got them because they are barefoot but then couldn't explain why a horse that is barefoot goes ten years before letting it cause an abscess!
PS I think it's the improved weather this year that has caused her not to have any more abscesses!