Natural Balance shoes... opinions

[_jetset_]

I have been looking into these shoes for one of my mares and I have to say I am a bit torn about whether I like the look of them or not. My farrier is trained in it, and I am going to ask him when I see him in 2 weeks time, but for now I was wondering whether I could get some opinions on them???

My mare naturally does not have much heel, but she has quite good feet and there is nothing majorly wrong with them. She is a dressage horse just coming back into work, and occasionally she will trip up because she is quite athletic and seems to get her legs in a knot

It is not very often, in fact, it has not happened for quite some time now

So, any opinions on them and what type of foot/horse do they seem to suit?

 

[Nailed]

NBS are extremely useful in combating tripping.. they are basically a normal shoe with a 'natural wear pattern' manufactured into the rim.. They are similar in effect to the rolled toe..

They reduce the break over point of the horse making it les effort for the horse to move. They reduced triping as this is sometime caused by the hrose misjudging their own break over and stumbling..

I used them on my tb when he was tripping with alot of good use.. they were fine for him.. he is a very flat foot horse.

I think that they can suit most types of horse. You may find that it will take your mare a few days to ajust but this is only occasionally..

Another good thing about them? They are 'safed' off all around so over reachin and other lazerations are reduced..

Speak to your farrier and see what he thinks..

Lou x

 

[_jetset_]

She also had a PSD injury nine months ago and I am wondering whether they would help in supporting the ligaments etc if they support the heel?

She is constantly catching her front shoes, the only way I prevent them being pulled off is always using over reach boots.

 

[amandaco2]

i used nb shoes on my mare.her feet were lacking heel but she ripped off ones with either egg bars or lengthened heels.
she didnt have a tripping problem though.
her feet improved loads in them and the balance was made much better.she has a tendon injury so i wanted to support her heels and have the toes rolled to reduce breakover strains.
shes now naked.

 

[Hippona]

My gelding has had them since a fractured cannon bone last year - his feet were crap before that, very long-toed- been much much better since then, my farrier is fantastic anyway, he recommended them and I just let him get on with it, my horses feet never been better.

 

[_jetset_]

My farrier has never recommended them even though he does offer them... so i am thinking of asking him about them as from what others have said, this could be an option for her.

I think she would also pull off anything which offered heel support because she had a huge overtrack and sometimes gets a bit carried away

She has over reach boots on at all times, when in the field, being lunged or worked

 

[YorksG]

We appear to have them, ours are fine in them, seems to help the way of going. (I say appear to because that's what they look like, our farrier hasn't mentioned it, but he knows that if he recomends something I will agree with what he says. He is the expert in their feet and what will work best with them)

 

[harrihjc]

I have them on Flash because he hasn't got much of a heel and tends to have very long toes and trip, and they have really helped. I'd recommend them

 

[damsel]

I have had my mare in nb for 7years and it has helped with tripping and she doesn't pull them off. I think they make the hoof look better and it wears the toes down properly. I will be getting my warmblood in them when he needs them. My farrier highly recommends them. Best thing to do is give them ago and see if they work