Natural Balance Shoes

[Pasha]

Had the vet out today for a genral check-up on my old boy and he said his feet are out of balance on the front.... could be the shoeing but he also said he may need Natural Balance Shoes as his feet may have changed as he's got older (is now 20).

I won't know for defiante until the vet and farrier see him together next week, but just wondered if anyone has Natural Balance Shoes and what benefits they provide?

 

[Charlie77]

My horse had only just turned 13 when he was diagnosed with arthritis of the coffin joint, He now has natural balance corrective shoeing every 5 weeks. He used to be shod every 6 weeks. The better balanced the feet the less likely you are to develop all kinds of problems, I think the idea of the natural balance shoe it that it is shaped to allow more movement, Like a natural foot that's not shod. That said I think some times you can just be unlucky my boys feet have always looked a nice shape & he had always seen the black smith every six weeks right from when he was tiny, my friend bred him. I know a lot of horses who have horrid looking flat feet who's owners only get them shod when there shoes are falling off who have never had problems. The shoes do seem to help him though! & they are not much more expensive either.

 

[cyearsley]

My last boy had these on under the advice of my farrier, they are a four point shoe, different inshape to a normal shoe, the toe is flatter and sort of rolled and increases the natural breakover. My horse had them as he was quite down at the heels and my farrier was concerned about the future, navicular etc. They were a little bit more expensive and in the first instance actually changed his way of going but in a very positive way. New horse doesn't need them but they really worked for my last boy. Hope this helps

 

[Pasha]

Thanks Guys - having had my boy 14 years with no problems i'm freaking out a bit. So it's lovely to hear other peoples positive stories x

 

[ecrozier]

Not convinced either way on these as had no personal experience, but my regular farrier and vet (both v experienced and work together regularly) said that basically they feel he can get the same results by modifying a standard shoe, and essentially a well fitted adapted normal shoe is better than what we had issues with (temporary farrier not experienced in fitting NB shoes, fitted them wrongly and out of balance - but then he seems to have been incapable of putting ANY shoes on straight - long story but he was a nightmare!)

 

[foraday]

http://www.hopeforsoundness.com/index.html

Here you are! Lots of info here!

 

[LankyLucy]

My boy had these for a while but I found he would be a bit lame for a while after shoeing. The blacksmith said that was normal but I wasn't happy. I now have another blacksmith who doesn't do natural balance but still makes sure the feet are proberly balanced and my horse moves much better now.

 

[debradley]

Hi, I have natural balance shoes on my girl usually, she's lost all of them at the moment, but generally she is very low on the heal in front and these really do improve her way of going; she doesn't stumble and finds it easy for the hoof to roll over in her paces which makes her much less choppy and more fluid.