Horse very lame after bar shoeing??

AGray825

AGray825

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So my 7yo walking disaster of a gelding has come in very sore tonight after being shod in bar shoes this afternoon

He's been put in bar shoes because the vet suspects soft tissue damage in the same foot that he broke his pedal bone in. Because of course. As he is no longer insured against anything in that foot I can't afford MRI to confirm the damage but it's what seems most likely. So vet asked my farrier to put on bar shoes for support to the foot.

He walked out fine after shoeing and really I wouldn't describe him as super lame to walk in on the stoney path we have... but to watch him standing he's not wanting to put the other foot down properly! (Ie. The foot that has always been sound)

The farrier has cut the hooves much shorter than usual... could that be it? Does he just need to get used to them?
Or should I ask the farrier to remove them again?

I've given him a bute for the night and will assess whether I am happy to let him out tomorrow morning

I would love to go barefoot with him but vet and farrier are hesitant because of previous pedal bone injury (though x-ray has confirmed that healing has progressed well)
 
that doesnt sound good to me. i would speak to your vet as the heart bars were put on because he asked for them. i wouldnt be happy if the farrier has trimmed him too short either.....maybe chat to your vet again about having shoes off, the ground is softer now so i would be tempted if the heart bars are not working....sorry you are in this position, hope all goes well
 
splashgirl45 said:
that doesnt sound good to me. i would speak to your vet as the heart bars were put on because he asked for them. i wouldnt be happy if the farrier has trimmed him too short either.....maybe chat to your vet again about having shoes off, the ground is softer now so i would be tempted if the heart bars are not working....sorry you are in this position, hope all goes well
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I think I might ask him to take them off
My farrier won't come out on an emergency though.... I don't know if I want to keep him like this all night

Should I get emergency vet?
 
I would wait to speak to the vet who knows your horse.
If the farrier won't come tomorrow the vet can check for nail bind.
 
The only time I have ever had to have heart bar shoes fitted it was done with my vet present and xrays to consult and the farrier took most of the instruction from the (very good and renowned equine vet). that mare walked out sound for the first time in months. I would be very concerned if your horse is instantly lame after the farriers visit and in particular if that farrier will not come out on an emergency visit to a horse that became immediately lame after his shoeing!

I would be phoning vet for advice and finding another farrier for the future if it were my horse. Very worrying for you I hope you can get is sorted.
 
I would speak to vet and farrier tonight if at all possible and I wouldn't be at all happy with a farrier who shoes a horse which goes lame a couple of hours later and won't come back.

ETA, as it's the opposite foot, I would want someone out tonight, as it will be loading the dodgy foot, which could be to its detriment.
 
AGray825 said:
Hopefully!
He is at least eating so the bute I have earlier might be starting to kick in

Still want the shoe off!

Very tempted to try barefoot rehab at this point ya know
Horse is retired from ridden life anyway so...
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If the horse is retired leave the shoes off horses have an amazing ability to heal there own feet without shoes.
 
AGray825 said:
Horse is retired from ridden life anyway so...
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That's how I ended up taking Frank's off, I figured it was that or he was retiring anyway and if he was retiring I definitely didn't want him shod.
Turned out he didn't retire at that point :p.

Hope you get him more comfy soon.
 
I've had a horse be lame after fitting egg bar shoes, we mri scanned him once removed and found he had bone bruising in his feet.
 
amymay said:
A shorter toe could be the issue or nail bind. Either way the farrier needs to come back tomorrow to get the shoe off and your vet consulted.
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Agreed, both or either could be the culprit and neither can be discounted after walking out sound to begin with. I recall very clearly my old pony being shod walking 1/4 mile to the geldings field and being found off his feet laying down and lame as a lame thing due to nail bind when I was younger.
 
[UPDATE]
Vet took the shoe off and there was instant relief for him. Suspects a too tight nail.
He's staying without shoes for a few days and on bute as well

He's a little sore now but is weight bearing and far more sound. Box rest for a day and reassess. Vet still wants the shoes on so I've agreed one more go with them as he is sound on his bad foot with the bar shoe but if he goes sore again then I'll have to tell the vet that I'd like to try barefoot

I may still try barefoot later down the line regardless...
 
I'd be livid with the farrier too, not that he may have made a mistake but that he wouldn't come back out and check. Doesn't sound as if he has much pride in his work. A good farrier, which I am lucky enough to have, is my first port of call for anything foot wise, then the vet, so I would be finding a new one.

Glad you were able to get him sorted and fingers crossed that he continues to improve.
 
I too would be changing farrier. My farrier is not everyones cup of tea personality wise and he can be difficult to get hold of occasionally but when I phone him with a problem he moves heaven and earth to help you out.
My lad has just had eggbars fitted, I phoned my farrier the day I picked pony up from the vets, he came out the next day after 6pm (as I was at work that day and couldnt take time off) and spent the best part of 3 hours making and fitting the shoes (all 4)
 
I'm another who would be changing farrier asap. I have occasionally had to call my farrier in an emergency and have never had a problem getting him out. Over the years we have changed farrier a few times because of retirement/relocation but have never had one refuse to deal with a problem that might have been of his making.
 
I will say I wouldn't be too upset with my farrier... he has before done his absolute best to come out to us in emergency situations but we are a good 30-40 minutes from him and he has a newborn to look after
He had to move and adjust and wiggle things just to put the shoe on in the first place and spent his sunday making it to the vet's specifications

It was very unfortunate that this happened but the simple fact was that my vets are closer and as he is the walking disaster horse I like to have a vet just in case the problems isn't limited to the shoe

The farrier was on the phone as well and quick to answer any questions and was happy to come out tomorrow to re-shoe (as it happens the vet wants the foot rested for 3 days beforehand so that wasn't neccessary)

I would have switched farriers when I moved if I wasn't 100% happy with my current farrier but I am so.... this was just unfortunate timing and my own paranoia that he'd done some grave injury to himself again!
 
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