Keeping shoes on!!

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moneypit1

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Fly is a nightmare to keep shoes on. Ok, so he's a big chap (16.3hh DWB) BUT I do think 10 days on back shoes is a bit much. Wonder if he is using himself correctly as he tends to wear down his toes. Got show tomorrow and here we are at 7pm with a hind shoe missing! Typical. My farrier away for 2 weeks, rang other chap who says he can be at mine 8.30am 2moz! Fingers crossed. Luckily got shoe ~(with stud holes) so just a matter of banging back on. Wonder what he will charge?? Will let you all know tomorrow. xx
 
What is causing them to come off?
Is it - Dry feet and hooves breaking up so shoes come loose?
Or - Him stepping on the opposite shoe somehow?
Or - Racing about in the field and twisting them off?

I would keep an eye on the wear at the toe. It could indicate a problem with the way he is moving his back legs. Mention this to your farrier (though he should have noticed!)

Difficult to remedy them falling off if you don't know why he is losing them. But I understand it is a PITA!
 
Actually it was my farrier who noticed that he was wearing them at the toe. He did feel that he was 'using his rear end' so a bit worrying as no crystal clear problem evident. Don't know why they are coming off. He is extremely close in his action behind but doesn't over reach too badly. Will have his back checked I think but farrier says hes a big lumbering chap, not light at all on his feet??????????????
 
Hmmm...It seems to be a mystery. I really would ask your farrier WHY he feels your horse is losing so many shoes. I have to say that in the past I have used different farriers and with one or two I seem to have lost a load more shoes than with others. Might be worth asking the farrier who is coming out to nail the shoe back on what he thinks is causing the losses.
 
My new farrier suggested putting over reach boots on my horse for TO as through bad farrier he was losing shoes so one of his shoes isnt overly secures as there wasnt much hoof to put it on... so i would pass on my farriers advise and say try OR boot? if they dont work... its nothing lost but is worth a try?
 
Loosing back shoes isnt very common! If it is due to him dragging toes,that is worrying and should be investigated. If there is poor hoof quality then you need to feed biotin or something to help stregnthen the horn and so hold shoes tighter! Keratex is worth trying on and around nail holes, helps harden the hoof wall.
 
I think its because there is shoe showing (without hoof on it), almost as if the shoes are too big. Fly is extremely close behind in action and I think he trod on the excess shoe and ripped it off on that side. Shouldn't there be no shoe showing when they are shod, there always seems to be a bit of shoe extra when my farrier has finished? Don't want to upset him or tell him his job, (god forbid, touchy breed)!!
 
My farrier leaves a tiny bit of shoe showing, but PF has only once in all the years I've had her, pulled a (fore) shoe off. I agree with KatB that pulling a shoe off behind is rather rare. If you think your horse is treading on the shoe, then your farrier should definitely make provision for this. Perhaps you could ask gently if he thinks it would help if there were less shoe showing?
 
Sounds like good shoeing tbh! Means the shoe is supporting the foot as it grows. However, farrier can "feather" the edges of the shoe so hosrse foot slides off it if he treads on it!
 
I had the same problem with my TB. the vet x-rayed his legs and it showed that he has arthiritis in his hocks and that was what was causing him to drag his back feet. After physio treatment and being put on Newmarket joint supplement he only drags his feet in trot. Fortunately i am only a hacker so i don't mind too much but i can't trot on the roads anymore. Hope this helps. Good luck for tomorrow!
 
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