Keeping shoes on

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emfen1305

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My horse is having some remedial shoeing done so will be shod all round - nothing too extravagant but few more £££s nonetheless. He has excellent foot quality but poor conformation lets him down so trying some shoes to see if it helps. He is currently on box rest and is due to go back to normal turnout and start rehab work in 4 weeks so vet has recommended they go on then but will be right in the horrible part of winter and the first half of our field is full of divots and quite muddy. He is a ****** for losing shoes in winter hence why I take them off but as these ones are costing a bit more money, I am keen to make sure they last their full course! I think he loses them by messing around and going up and down the banks (this is where all of his shoes are found when they come off) so probably does it by over reaching! I can't move fields or fence off the banks as they go round the entire field and they lead down to other areas where they can forage. I am currently thinking overreach boots on all 4s - is there a particular type anyone recommends or anybody got any other suggestions? Thanks :)
 
Leave him BF is my recommendation and BF rehab him with correct diet and exposure to walks in hand over terrain of all sorts so his feet toughen and react to the surfaces. If he struggles use boots. Lovely happy horse. Cannot understand how confirmation will be improved by nailing metal to his feet!
 
Antw23uk said:
Leave him BF is my recommendation and BF rehab him with correct diet and exposure to walks in hand over terrain of all sorts so his feet toughen and react to the surfaces. If he struggles use boots. Lovely happy horse. Cannot understand how confirmation will be improved by nailing metal to his feet!
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I appreciate your comment but we have been trying BF for his hinds for almost 3 years and cannot crack it, in this instance we are going to try shoes to see if it helps, if not he will go back to BF but I have to try.
 
I would get oversized over reach boots, probably of the pull on variety. I do know people gaffa tape round the shoe too :D.

Ant had you followed the story you would know that this horse has been bare on his hinds for a very long time but still has no heel and has hind PSD which needs to heal and is not being helped by the lack of heel increasing the strain on the hind suspensory. It is considered possible that his hindlimb issues are preventing him from growing better feet and that the lack of growing better feet is because of his hindlimb issues so this is a bit of an effort to try and get him more comfortable. This horse has plenty tough enough hooves, has the correct diet etc.
 
you could pray for lots of hard frosts in 4 weeks at least the mud will be frozen (ha ha). what type of shoes is he having? hoping if 0 shaped not u shaped he want be able mess with them.
 
ester said:
I would get oversized over reach boots, probably of the pull on variety. I do know people gaffa tape round the shoe too :D.
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Ooooh gaffa tape sounds like it could be a goer!! My other plan was to tether him to the tree in the middle of the field or hobble him but not sure this would be a popular suggestion ;)

ester said:
Ant had you followed the story you would know that this horse has been bare on his hinds for a very long time but still has no heel and has hind PSD which needs to heal and is not being helped by the lack of heel increasing the strain on the hind suspensory. It is considered possible that his hindlimb issues are preventing him from growing better feet and that the lack of growing better feet is because of his hindlimb issues so this is a bit of an effort to try and get him more comfortable. This horse has plenty tough enough hooves, has the correct diet etc.
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Thanks for this - I knew there would be some suggestions for staying BF but didn't want to sound too defensive when posting by saying "don't recommend BF" haha!
 
mums the groom said:
you could pray for lots of hard frosts in 4 weeks at least the mud will be frozen (ha ha). what type of shoes is he having? hoping if 0 shaped not u shaped he want be able mess with them.
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We have moved the hay boxes so the part of the field with the flatter, wetter mud so it isn't as sucky but it's a minefield of divots to get there! The farrier is discussing with the vet but will be u shaped :( probably lateral extensions behind or potentially wedges and then he is thinning one side of each front shoe to help correct the imbalance there - we are less concerned about the fronts at the mo as they are not causing any apparent issues but its more for the future preservation!
 
Found Woof Wear Kevlar overreach boots very good for my very exuberant old boy. They're deep so cover heels well, and found the velcro very good and never came undone even in very wet / muddy conditions, but you could also tape if you felt it was needed. I hope you find the right option and they work for you!
 
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