Heartbar shoes

I'm afraid I would also be looking for a new vet; this one doesn't seem to be very experienced in hoof problems. Though sometimes people can't see what's right in front of them where shoes are concerned... I've had people tsk tsk over my barefoot TB as he's power trotting past them on the road, happy as larry.
 
Kat said:
which seems bizarre when she is sound bare on sand and concrete (though admittedly might not be on tougher srfaces) and working happily in boots and pads.
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Yet!

She might not be brilliant on tough surfaces but it sounds like you are doing well so far. Unfortunately changes take time, if your vet is happy to let you carry on for a while I would use that as an opportunity to continue improving her feet and show your vet she actually is a candidate for barefoot :)
 
OP - thin soles typically have a dietary and/or metabolic origin in which case the way to fix them is to resolve these issues. Definitely not fixed by heartbars.
 
LucyPriory said:
OP - thin soles typically have a dietary and/or metabolic origin in which case the way to fix them is to resolve these issues. Definitely not fixed by heartbars.
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Orangehorse said:
Well, I was going to suggest having at look at mineral balance/feed issues. Seems to put quite a lot of horses right.
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Since the original problem (in October) I have read and absorbed as much as I possibly can. Including your blog Lucy :) hence my concern/surprise at the suggestion of heartbars. I have already made changes to diet, she is now on speedibeet, micronised linseed, pro-hoof, magnesium and salt. She has unrestricted haylage as she is normally a bit of a poor doer. I can see changes to her feet since her shoes came off and her diet was changed, but I can also see that she hasn't had time to grow a whole new hoof yet so there will hopefully be more improvements to come.
 
Kat said:
The original problem was bruising. She is 5 and was shod in front but not behind, she's never had shoes on behind. We'd had lameness that was inconsistent and changing, so she'd come in from the field looking sore and then if we kept her in for a while she'd look sound again. With hindsight, the field was very wet, part of it had been muckspread and she was out 24/7 in it so her feet were bound to be soft. I'd had her a year and a half when this happened and had not had any issues with soundness and she'd coped with bags of roadwork etc whilst only shod in front.
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My horse was put into heartbars for a period of about 6 - 8 weeks, as we suspected his undiagnosed lameness was caused by bruising of the heels. Perhaps this is why your vet has suggested it, given it was bruising that caused the problem in the first instance?

He was MRI'ed, X-rayed, the works and we couldn't disclose why he was intermittently lame, but the vet's first opinion was that he had been shod with too little overhang at the back of the shoe, so the heel wasn't supported and he was probably bruised deeply. I was insured, hence all the tests, to make sure nothing else nasty going on.

The heartbars did the job in this instance. He also had eggbars on for a while (can't remember in which order now) and is now shod in Fitzwygram shoes, similar to natural balance and has been sound and happy in them for quite some time (I don't want to put the curses on us!).
 
Kat said:
Since the original problem (in October) I have read and absorbed as much as I possibly can. Including your blog Lucy :) hence my concern/surprise at the suggestion of heartbars. I have already made changes to diet, she is now on speedibeet, micronised linseed, pro-hoof, magnesium and salt. She has unrestricted haylage as she is normally a bit of a poor doer. I can see changes to her feet since her shoes came off and her diet was changed, but I can also see that she hasn't had time to grow a whole new hoof yet so there will hopefully be more improvements to come.
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Fantastic :-)

If budget allows you might want to see how she does on some Yea Sacc. Anecdotally useful for helping put weight on it might also help minimise (but not eliminate) any side effects from overly acid feed (some haylage is more acidic than others).

I put Grace on a double dose when her environment was very unsuitable and although I have now managed to get her on a track I have left her on a single dose as I am currently unable to see her very often. BTW the person who is looking after her is incredibly good, Grace likes them and they like her, but they are inexperienced in the specifics of Grace :-)
 
pootleperkin said:
My horse was put into heartbars for a period of about 6 - 8 weeks, as we suspected his undiagnosed lameness was caused by bruising of the heels. Perhaps this is why your vet has suggested it, given it was bruising that caused the problem in the first instance?

He was MRI'ed, X-rayed, the works and we couldn't disclose why he was intermittently lame, but the vet's first opinion was that he had been shod with too little overhang at the back of the shoe, so the heel wasn't supported and he was probably bruised deeply. I was insured, hence all the tests, to make sure nothing else nasty going on.

The heartbars did the job in this instance. He also had eggbars on for a while (can't remember in which order now) and is now shod in Fitzwygram shoes, similar to natural balance and has been sound and happy in them for quite some time (I don't want to put the curses on us!).
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But the bruising was back in early October, since which time she has been bare and using boots for work?

Glad to hear of a good experience though and that your boy is sound now.

LucyPriory said:
Fantastic :-)

If budget allows you might want to see how she does on some Yea Sacc. Anecdotally useful for helping put weight on it might also help minimise (but not eliminate) any side effects from overly acid feed (some haylage is more acidic than others).

I put Grace on a double dose when her environment was very unsuitable and although I have now managed to get her on a track I have left her on a single dose as I am currently unable to see her very often. BTW the person who is looking after her is incredibly good, Grace likes them and they like her, but they are inexperienced in the specifics of Grace :-)
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There is Yea Sacc in the pro-hoof :) and to be honest I think it has helped, she seems to be holding weight and less stressy.
 
Kat said:
But the bruising was back in early October, since which time she has been bare and using boots for work?

Glad to hear of a good experience though and that your boy is sound now.
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Yep, I agree, just trying to work out where you vet is coming from, and also pointing out that I guess they can be used to good effect in the correct circumstances. Would agree that it sounds like it would be a case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted to use them now!
 
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