Loose shoes

[poiuytrewq]

What the heck is this all about!
As a long term horse owner 30 years maybe(?) This is really something i should have experienced far more often but weirdly I haven't.
Current horse's I've had 2+ years and the other 5. Neither have ever lost or even had a loose shoe in that time, the second in particular my farrier used to comment he had no idea how he kept his shoes on, yet he always did, even when I've had heart bars or similar "easily pulled" shoes they never came off.
About 10 days ago one of Zigs hinds started to sound a bit clangy, then the other. They felt totally solid and tight though so carried on. No raised clenches, I did bang them down a bit in case about a week later.
Contacted my farrier and just said if your passing he's in every day, bear us in mind. He replied he was mid house move but to call in a day or if it gets worse which it will.
This morning he has an obvious loose shoe off side and ever so slighty NS....

I did years ago have a TB who never had loose shoes but pulled them off constantly, other than that this is literally my first loose shoe which strikes me as really odd/lucky

Anyone else not had/done been though something so basic that really should have happened at some point!

*edited to say Farriers comment was not said because i let him go ages but because his flat bad quality feet didnt look like they should hold shoes

 

[Sealine]

My horse very rarely gets a loose shoe and if I remember correctly has only lost 3 shoes in 15 years. He is shod every six weeks and, according to my farrier, has very good feet. My previous horse had rubbish feet and would often throw a shoe and get loose shoes.

I'm not going to mention all the basic things I haven't had to deal with as I don't want to tempt fate

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh no that's very true.I just thought of something else i never have to do with my guys. I'm not going to say as you just pointed out- bad idea

I'll just say with old horse I had shares in vetrap, The ones in my first aid now are probably years old.

 

[Sealine]

Whilst on the subject of feet I am prepared to say I haven't had to deal with an abscess for 15 years either.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Whilst on the subject of feet I am prepared to say I haven't had to deal with an abscess for 15 years either.

I had one last winter, that too was a shock to the system!

 

[Abacus]

One of mine has lost 3 hind shoes in about a month, he has never lost any before. Think it's because the ground actually started to dry out and went from wet mud to sticky mud - the kind that tries to pull your boot off.

 

[poiuytrewq]

One of mine has lost 3 hind shoes in about a month, he has never lost any before. Think it's because the ground actually started to dry out and went from wet mud to sticky mud - the kind that tries to pull your boot off.

Oh blimey! that's annoying. I'm not really sure what's gone wrong with mine, other than thats he's done barely anything all winter and was suddenly back in work this set. so a lot of road work. His feet ususally look the same on week one as they do week 5. Obviously worn but hoof/clenches wise.

 

[Birker2020]

Keratex hoof hardener is great for this. Shoes become loose when horses feet are exposed to constant wet or muddy conditions. Like when your finger nails go soft when you've been in the bath too long. They become weak - same with horses. So the nail holes expand and then shoe falls off. Mud doesn't suck them off, it's impossible, it would have to be quicksand.

Off their website:

Keratex Hoof Hardener formula is patented and includes a unique flexibility agent as well as a hardening agent, making this the perfect product to protect your horse from: brittle, cracked, soft or weak hooves; soft, sensitive or thin soles; repeated shoe loss; transition to barefoot; hoof damage.

Keratex Hoof Hardener will strengthen and protect shod and unshod hooves, to restore soundness after sensitive soles and to prevent existing cracks from laddering up or across the hooves.

It works by cross-linking the keratins and proteins within the internal structures of the hooves, making hooves stronger from the inside out. Because it absorbs into the hooves, it will not ‘come off’ in the field, it will continue to work within the hoof whatever the weather and whatever the field conditions.

There is other stuff you can use on the market but I've always used Keratex and it definetely helped Lari from losing shoes, plus the two pairs of over reach boots he wore 24/7.

 

[irishdraft]

My horse has awful feet atm constantly breaking up but she does manage to keep shoes on. Had the farrier yesterday and he said her feet are like sponges, really soft, my fields aren't particularly muddy but just being out in the wet all the time has seemed to have had a really detrimental effect, maybe this is the reason OP x

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m really hoping it’s a one off!
Yes I expect it’s got to be down to ground conditions partly.

Very annoying!

 

[Birker2020]

I’m really hoping it’s a one off!
Yes I expect it’s got to be down to ground conditions partly.

Very annoying!

It will be the constant wet engorging the nail holes and making them larger, causing the nails to become loose. Doesn't take much then for the shoes to come off.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It will be the constant wet engorging the nail holes and making them larger, causing the nails to become loose. Doesn't take much then for the shoes to come off.

Luckily they are hanging in there. I’m really hoping they stay on until tomorrow morning. I don’t fancy doing the shoe hunt in the field at all!

 

[Abacus]

Keratex hoof hardener is great for this. Shoes become loose when horses feet are exposed to constant wet or muddy conditions. Like when your finger nails go soft when you've been in the bath too long. They become weak - same with horses. So the nail holes expand and then shoe falls off. Mud doesn't suck them off, it's impossible, it would have to be quicksand.

Off their website:

Keratex Hoof Hardener formula is patented and includes a unique flexibility agent as well as a hardening agent, making this the perfect product to protect your horse from: brittle, cracked, soft or weak hooves; soft, sensitive or thin soles; repeated shoe loss; transition to barefoot; hoof damage.

Keratex Hoof Hardener will strengthen and protect shod and unshod hooves, to restore soundness after sensitive soles and to prevent existing cracks from laddering up or across the hooves.

It works by cross-linking the keratins and proteins within the internal structures of the hooves, making hooves stronger from the inside out. Because it absorbs into the hooves, it will not ‘come off’ in the field, it will continue to work within the hoof whatever the weather and whatever the field conditions.

There is other stuff you can use on the market but I've always used Keratex and it definetely helped Lari from losing shoes, plus the two pairs of over reach boots he wore 24/7.

I didn't really mean that the mud would suck them off if they were secure, but it doesn't help. The feet are wet and soft sure, and nail holes looser. I just meant that the sticky mud is the final nail in the coffin, or the reverse.

 

[Icedance]

Definitely ground conditions I would say, mines got a slight hole where the nails were from the previous cycle that’s just got much bigger (not to worry) but never has had this in the past 16 years, my farrier said it’s the wet doing it

 

[Bobthecob15]

100% ground conditions. The wet must be in effect softening hooves, our farrier said the same: then you get the mud…wet mud wet mud…we’ve never lost so many as this winter!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

My farrier said all he is doing at the moment is replacing lost shoes and sorting abcesses out!! He said he has done most of the horses he does for years. Most havnt ever lost a show. He had one last week after never loosing a shoe loose two back ones over 3 days!! Its just the weather and mud.