Natural Balance Shoes versus classic Roller Motion Shoes

[victoriaocarroll]

Hi all

My horse has always had natural balance shoes (he showed some 'hotspots' on the front of his cannon bones in a bone scan so my vet thought it best to try those). My horse also has some calcification of the cartilage ('sidebone') and so after moving yards and trying a new farrier, he suggested the roller motion shoes might be better to alleviate the pressure from all sides.

does anyone have any thoughts, good or bad on the roller motion versus the natural balance?

Thanks!

 

[ester]

So there are definitely degrees or roller motion shoe from the fairly minor to much more extreme, I presume you are doing lots of sideways work hence the farrier being keen to alleviate pressure from all sides compared to a NB shoe? There seems to be fairly few fans of the NB these days.

 

[minimex2]

possible 3rd option... which I have

my boy has NB - but a size bigger, then farrier rolls all around. This gives the extra support on sides and heels.

might be worth having a chat about ?

 

[victoriaocarroll]

So there are definitely degrees or roller motion shoe from the fairly minor to much more extreme, I presume you are doing lots of sideways work hence the farrier being keen to alleviate pressure from all sides compared to a NB shoe? There seems to be fairly few fans of the NB these days.

Yes, he’s an advanced dressage horse but the farrier thought the added rollover of the roller motion would help to alleviate the impact on the side bone.

I must admit the one area I don’t know much about is farriery so I’m always putting my trust in the farrier (after researching views on who is good or not great) so any thoughts on here are welcomed!

 

[victoriaocarroll]

possible 3rd option... which I have

my boy has NB - but a size bigger, then farrier rolls all around. This gives the extra support on sides and heels.

might be worth having a chat about ?

Well he's put the roller motion shoes on now so I'll give them a shot and see how he goes first! I liked how the natural balance squared the hoof off though but I'm going to give these shoes a shot and keep my fingers crossed!

 

[chaps89]

Mine has been shod in them for probably the last 2 years or so now. There's no price difference between them and standard natural balance shoes so we've stuck with them. She hasn't the best conformation or way of going so my theory was every little helps and certainly we've seen no ill effects (She still has regular hoof xrays) so as it costs no more she may as well have them is my theory. (Tried barefoot and it wasn't an option for us unfortunately)

Eta - mine is in performance leverage reduction nb shoes which is what I presume you mean or are an equivalent.

 

[victoriaocarroll]

Mine has been shod in them for probably the last 2 years or so now. There's no price difference between them and standard natural balance shoes so we've stuck with them. She hasn't the best conformation or way of going so my theory was every little helps and certainly we've seen no ill effects (She still has regular hoof xrays) so as it costs no more she may as well have them is my theory. (Tried barefoot and it wasn't an option for us unfortunately)

Eta - mine is in performance leverage reduction nb shoes which is what I presume you mean or are an equivalent.

Yes, I don't think barefoot is best for my boy, given his level of work and various health issues. He had the natural balance and they were good but the roller motion ones are pretty much the same, other than they provide the 'rolled' bit all the way around the shoe, rather than just at the toe. I rode him in them last night....I didn't notice any difference but he seemed happy enough in them and wasn't holding up his owie leg which he sometimes does when we've done a hard schooling session. So far I'd give the roller motions a thumbs up!