Hoofs worn down significantly in 3 weeks, where am I going wrong? any advice please?

[mightymammoth]

(also in new lounge)

Hi,

Long story cut short: Back shoes taken off three weeks ago (shod on fronts) He's hacked twice a week for 2 hours through the woods but have to go 20 mins on the road to get there (then back 20 mins on the road).

He's on handful of pure feeds fibre balance, mirconised linseed, and pro hoof supplement (as well as a joint and multi vit) out 24/7. He has only been on the linseed and supplements for a couple of months so I appreciate that he will be yet to get the benefit.

He's become increasingly foot sore on his back feet, I tried to persevere but it just wasn't fair on him as he was obviously uncomfortable to the point he couldn't be ridden.

Shoes back on today and he was immediately happier.Whilst the farrier was putting the back shoes on he commented that his hoofs had worn down a lot, so much in fact that he may struggle to keep the shoes on.

How could they have worn down that quick in 3 weeks? The farrier when he took them off 3 weeks ago deliberately didn't trim them right down to make it more comfortable for him. What am I doing wrong? I'm really disappointed as I wanted this to be the first step towards him being unshod.

Any thoughts please? Thanks

 

[AFlapjack]

I am not the most experienced when it comes to bare hooves (my boy had his shoes off this March)! However, I would say his feet were obviously weak from wearing shoes and the road work has been wearing them down before he has had chance to strengthen them up (from the supplements and over time).

Personally, I wouldn't have put shoes back on but would have invested in some hoof boots to protect his hooves whilst he transitions.

 

[mightymammoth]

I am not the most experienced when it comes to bare hooves (my boy had his shoes off this March)! However, I would say his feet were obviously weak from wearing shoes and the road work has been wearing them down before he has had chance to strengthen them up (from the supplements and over time).

Personally, I wouldn't have put shoes back on but would have invested in some hoof boots to protect his hooves whilst he transitions.

I did think about doing that, I think I will give it another couple of months for the supplements to do there thing and try again but using boots. Thanks

 

[popularfurball]

The rate hooves grow is influenced by the demands placed on them. Shoes "dampen" stimulation and hence the workload needs to be built up to allow adjustment time for growth speed to catch up. There is a time lag between the workload increase and growth rate increase - hoof boots are fab for this.

Diet and seasonal things also influence the speed of growth and the strength of horn growth though I believe stimulation is the biggest thing - a tissue (human or horse) will only ever develop as much as it needs too - we dont grow Popeye muscles unless we train - horses don't grow hard feet unless they need to - and they don't need to in shoes.

 

[Oberon]

It would be worth having pictures to see.

I usually recommend boots until the hooves have recovered from long term shoeing.

And sympathetic trimming, leaving more wall initially to protect a thin sole for the first cycle at least - which your farrier cleverly did.

It sounds like too much, too soon, with a weak hoof.

My Arab was fine straight away, after being shod for 13 years, but some horses need more time.

You could trim the diet down to just the linseed, Pro Hoof and a base and see if that makes any difference - but you won't see a vast difference in 3 weeks alone.

 

[PennyJ]

I would never claim to be an expert on this barefoot business, but my limited experience indicates that road work is the best/worst for wearing down the hooves. Having said that, I never had any trouble with the hind feet, it was the front ones that suffered and needed to be shod before they wore down to nothing.

Do you think it might be to do with the very wet weather we've had recently? My mare who has always been absolutely brilliant before, never any footiness etc in fact a real rock cruncher, has definitely found it harder going and I am guessing it could be to do with her hooves having softened with all the wetness. She has picked up this last week since I started stabling her overnight.

Hopefully your one will be better once (if?) the weather dries up.

 

[mightymammoth]

I would never claim to be an expert on this barefoot business, but my limited experience indicates that road work is the best/worst for wearing down the hooves. Having said that, I never had any trouble with the hind feet, it was the front ones that suffered and needed to be shod before they wore down to nothing.

Do you think it might be to do with the very wet weather we've had recently? My mare who has always been absolutely brilliant before, never any footiness etc in fact a real rock cruncher, has definitely found it harder going and I am guessing it could be to do with her hooves having softened with all the wetness. She has picked up this last week since I started stabling her overnight.

Hopefully your one will be better once (if?) the weather dries up.

Hi, Yes I was also thinking that the weathers not helped (how can his hoofs toughen up when there always wet or sludged up)

I can also see that I've rushed things a bit. I will wait for the supplements to get more into his system then take the back off again to start but have hoof boots to hack. The problem was he was hobbling over the stoney bit where I lead him from the field to his stable. I know putting the shoes on is just covering up the problem but he'e has so many problems with his feet I couldn't bear to see him hobbling around in pain again.

 

[Oberon]

Hi, Yes I was also thinking that the weathers not helped (how can his hoofs toughen up when there always wet or sludged up)

I can also see that I've rushed things a bit. I will wait for the supplements to get more into his system then take the back off again to start but have hoof boots to hack. The problem was he was hobbling over the stoney bit where I lead him from the field to his stable. I know putting the shoes on is just covering up the problem but he'e has so many problems with his feet I couldn't bear to see him hobbling around in pain again.

IMO you did exactly the right thing.

You saw your horse wasn't comfortable - you made him comfortable again while you review what went wrong and how to plan against that in the future.

Kudos to you for that

.

If you want any more info, you can post on here. Any problem you find - someone will have had the same problem before
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