HELP 2 days front shoes been off, horse very sore

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thatsmygirl

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Is there anything I can do to help?? Iv started to feed him a bit off bute x by global herbs to see if that helps a bit. He's not happy, ears back and not happy in his face and even in the stable on rubber matting he won't life one front leg so I can pick it out. He's walking on concrete ok or very carefully I would say. Can I use karatex? Will it help? I'm getting him some boots but haven't got them yet.
All advice welcome.
 
Mollie was like this when she had her shoes taken off in September. It's really distressing and I felt so guilty for putting her through it!

I didn't use bute or any products, I just rested her. She was alright on grass and was going out in the field every day and the poor thing hobbled over the yard.:( Fine once in the field.

I got her boots, they help a lot. But don't panic, for Mollie it didn't last long.
 
How long did it last with you fionaM12? He walks over gravel to the field as well. Yes fine once in the field. He's a ex racer and has bloody awful feet.
 
Oh dear, sounds like you weren't prepared this time round. Have you ordered the boots already? If not, the Saddlery shop do next day delivery (and now I've just realised I've recommended them again, lol!). Keratex won't do much for inflammation, you need anti-inflammatories for that - either Bute or equivalent. No idea how effective the substitutes are.

Who took the shoes off? A farrier or trimmer? Call that person and ask for therapeutic pads to cushion his feet. It really sounds like he isn't ready to go bare. What he's experiencing is mechanical laminitis and you need to provide him with immediate comfort. If your farrier can't get out immediately, start with a deep shavings bed, like you would for other laminitis cases.

ETA: Just read that he's fine once in field. Is he able to stay out for a few days if he's happy on grass?
 
I hope the farrier was aware you wanted to go barefoot, ie keep in work, and that he left as much on a possible, I agree with something to relieve pain, and note the No-bute type of thing is "good" for joints.
Just keep your cool and live with it for a few weeks, walk in hand on tarmac to toughen the soles and the wall.
I started off with 20 mins ridden on smooth tarmac and have been going five months, though he was only footsore when someone else rode him over sharp gravel [sigh]
Keep the diet plain and make sure he has plenty of minerals, did you have a read of Feet First and read the other barefoot posts [the devils threads!!!!]
 
The foot needs stimulating to encourage healthy growth. At the moment he is getting information overload as he isn't used to feeling so much. It's a little like our first few days on a pebbly beach where all we can do is hobble about but by the end of the holiday we don't notice the stones. Two things will happen - his brain will recognise that this is 'normal' stimulus and therefore will reprograme to accommodate this information and secondly, the body will respons to the stimulus by strengthening those areas that are currently 'stressed'. In the meantime keep him as comfortable as possible, without analgesics, by keeping him on a surface that helps - like grass.
 
Thanks guys, mrsD123 my farrier did cut off to much when he took the shoes off, cut a lot off sole off and cut the sides off the frogs right down. I could off cried. His back feet however have been doing well and i'm happy with them,And wouldn't let the farrier par his soles at all which coursed a bit off a disagreement. the
challenge is now on with his
fronts. Will look at boots now. I'm walking him round the yard when he comes in for bed to try and help. He's out off work anyway on hol as just finished racing so through it would be good time to start.
 
When i took shoes of my cob was on bute two weeks and hes got feet like rocks. Also did walking in hand on the roads for a while he couldnt cope with gravel though hence the bute.
 
How is his diet? What is his diet?

Please don't use keratex. Not good stuff.

I almost warned you on the previous thread to expect soreness in a couple of days, but didn't want to put you off :o Its a really common problem after shoes have been removed to find that they are fine for a couple of days and then really not, particularly if he has a lot of starch in his diet, or has had quite a severe trim. Its thought to be the blood circulating better and the hoof starting to work properly, and suddenly the pain receptors are saying "!!! WTF? Ouch!!" to both the new sense of feeling (have you ever had a limb in a cast and then when its taken off 6 weeks later even cotton wool on the skin feels funny?) and the improved circulation which couldn't work properly for X period of time when the shoes were on.

Patience, something to make him comfortable, and join the UKNHCP forum for more advice. xxx
 
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A deep bed, pads or a soft route to the field. The EPS pads can be taped on with duct tape and are cheap. http://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/Pads/
Your local shop might have some form of pad you could tape on in the meantime.
Don't ask him to walk anywhere he is especially sore or on stony ground without protection. Let him potter at his pace generally and when leading etc.

The soreness could be from thin sole, inflammation or other reasons and don't forget horses blood and nerve supply begins to work properly again when shoes are removed and this might settle when he gets used to the new feeling.
 
Thanks guys, snipe it's not one foot just both fronts being uncomfy.
His diet is speedibeet, alfa a oil, micro linseed, brewers yeast, mag oz and pro feet. His condition is ok.
I'm in talks with Caroline Anderson, a bare foot trimmer who I'm going to use hopefully
 
thatsmygirl said:
How long did it last with you fionaM12?
Click to expand...

It's hard to say really, as it sort of comes and goes. But she was very sore on the gravel for several weeks. I'd let her pick her way round the grassy edges on the way to the field and I gave her a huge deep bed. She's still a bit footy on the gravel on some days, 8 weeks on.
 
why did farrier trim so much... this is why unless farrier is experienced in barefoot I would not use one.

Sensitive soles will be almost due to over-trimming this time.

When I took mine off I turned away for a few months on grass just to let my horse get used to it. That would be my advice to you right now.
 
Horse needs some boots and pads and then movement within comfort level.

Keep her on soft ground for now - you can use dry poultice nappies as an emergency measure until you get boots and pads.

It could just be her nerves waking back up to the stimulation of the ground (imagine when you go with very cold hands back into warmth and the blood rushes back. It HURTS!) but if her soles and frogs were trimmed too much, we don't want to risk bruising. So protect her and go gently. If she is missing material courtesy of the farrier, it will take longer than usual because she has to grow it back.

One tip for any hoof care professional is that if you cut something off in one trim and it's sprung back at the next trim - the horse wanted it there in the first place. Your farrier will see this with the sole and frog - hopefully.....
 
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