Horse not right since extended shoe was fitted? Should I get it removed?

seoirse

seoirse

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Hi, my farrier has shod my older horse with a bilateral extension on the outside off fore because he had some sidebone in that foot which has caused his hoof to run under a bit and contract a little bit on the outside side, its minimal but as he’s 15 now the farrier said it would give his other joints a bit of support to have the extended shoe on. This was done last Tuesday and the horse does seem a bit uncomfortable now with the special shoe on, he is sound in a straight line but looks a bit stiff on a right rein circle or if I turn him tight on the concrete, which would make sense as the change in load bearing would be up the outside of his right fore leg. I’ve left my farrier a message this morning so hopefully he’ll call me back so we can discuss it as I’m not sure the horse is happy with it. Do I need to persevere though and let him ‘get used’ to his new feet? A couple of people at the yard have said that but to me it doesn’t sound right and my gut is telling me the horse is a bit sore and should be made comfortable? He is usually sound.
Thanks
 
My farrier hubby said that a lateral extension is quite a drastic change of balance for your horse, but it was the right thing for the farrier to try.

It could be that is just a little too much support and change for your horse at 15 - an eggbar may be better to absorb the concussion more (sidebone can be caused by concussion). So maybe ask your farrier about trying eggbars?
 
Hi, thanks, the horse is a bit upright in that pastern which is probably whats caused the sidebone. I've only had him a short while so the change will have occured well before I got him. He's not been unsound on it since I've had him but the farrier just noticed it last time and said he'd shod him with this support to try and give the other joints a bit more help as the foot was a bit run under. I am still waiting for him to come back to me but I think I'll get the shoe changed if I can this week and see if it helps. Horse charged down the field last night looking fine, but I can just feel he's a bit short on it in trot and he's taken a couple of sore looking steps when I've turned him tightly on the hard.
Many thanks for your help and for asking your hubby for me!
S x
 
YasandCrystal said:
My farrier hubby said that a lateral extension is quite a drastic change of balance for your horse, but it was the right thing for the farrier to try.

It could be that is just a little too much support and change for your horse at 15 - an eggbar may be better to absorb the concussion more (sidebone can be caused by concussion). So maybe ask your farrier about trying eggbars?
Click to expand...

An egg bar shoe is an odd thing to suggest to absorb concussion :confused:.
 
YasandCrystal said:
As I understood it - it spreads the load
Click to expand...

A shoe of any kind will both add the extra concussion that comes from metal striking the ground, and prevent the natural expansion of the foot as it contacts the floor, which is the method the horse has evolved to deal with concussion. I'd eat my hat if anyone managed to solve a concussion problem with shoes, bar or otherwise ;).
 
Just a quick update incase anyone is interested. Farrier came and changed shoe yesterday morning, massive improvement in horses action straight away but not surprisingly he was still a bit wonky, put him out in the field all day and went back at tea time, popped him on the lunge and he's sound. Whoop! :D
 
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