Natural Balance shoeing

[Weezy]

Excuse my laziness but the search function drives me insane!

OK, so P was shod by a new farrier today and he has put NB shoes on and positioned them far back as he was not at all happy with her feet - I wasn't either and think a lot of the mis-stepping probs I have been having have been caused by bad foot balance.

So, gurus of mine, who can tell me more about the thought and reasoning behind NB please - or link me to a relevant thread

 

[Marchtime]

I have to be honest and say I don't know the theory behind them but they are brilliant on my horse. I think they change the break over point and balance of the foot. There are mixed opinions about them, I've had farriers who love them and farriers who hate them. It's a personal thing - what suits your horse best. Best thing to do is ask your farrier. I know my vet recommended them as they offer extra support in areas my boy needed support.

 

[CastleMouse]

This article might be of interest to you Weezy - http://www.hopeforsoundness.com/natbalance/nbshoe.html

 

[IsabelleJ]

My farrier was talking to me about changing the break over point of the foot. Sidney was tripping over a LOT and this was apparently due to normal shoeing having the break over point in the wrong place. (Forgive me, I am not technically minded!)

I saw an improvement that very same day. Although it works out to be more expensive, I am very happy that my farrier shoes the Natural Balance way.

Isabelle

 

[KarynK]

The theory all stems from research into two groups of wild mustangs in the USA.

The two study groups were from different terrains but similar foot shapes were found and the shape and measurements taken in the survey formed the basis of the theory, natural balance and EDSS have been further developed in practice by US farrier, clinician and researcher as above Gene Ovniek.

 

[zelli]

Personally, I dont agree with it, as has previously been mentiond, they try to immatate the natural wear of the hoof in wild horses, but, our horses dont live normal wild lives. Instead they have us sat on their backs, which autmatically changes there balance, and then we ask them to work in various different ways, further altering their balance... so why would the wild horses foot shape suit demosticated? but thats just my personal opinion.