Natural Balance Shoes

Hi. My horses have been shod / trimmed with NB techniques for 10 years and to be honest, I wouldn't use anything else now as I have seen the method (properly applied!) improve many, many horses - but I do have the advantage of using one of the best qualified NB farriers in the world.

Can I ask, have the shoes been applied by an NB trained farrier as anyone can buy them but it's the trimming that really counts - if they put them onto a traditional trim you loose the benefit?
 
My horse is in NB shoes and doesn't have any problems. My friend's horse has been fitted with NB shoes in the last few months because of stumbling and the problem has resolved.
 
I used to ride a horse shod in them and yes, he stumbled. Badly enough that he tripped with both feet and I went straight over the top, got a hole in my chin, concussion and chipped 9 teeth. They were taken off because of that and he went barefoot with no more stumbling issues. I called them natural UNbalance, lol! I knew many people that didn't have a problem, though, so I guess they just aren't for all horses.
 
My horse has NB shoes and he is fine in them. He had a history of tripping and had a longish period barefoot which improved his feet a great deal. For various reasons he is back in shoes and farrier put on NB shoes and they have suited him well.
 
sammi.r said:
Was wondering if anyone elses horses had stumbling issues with these shoes?Before he had them fitted he was okay and now seems to trip?
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Natural balance shoes were invented by an American farrier called Gene Ovnicek.

http://www.hopeforsoundness.com/cms/users/gene-ovnicek-2.html

http://www.all-natural-horse-care.com/gene-ovnicek.html

He studied the hooves of feral horses in the Nevada desert and his findings caused him to rethink his shoeing practice.

His main aim was to improve break-over (the point at which the horse has to lift the hoof) and engage some of the sole callous. Hence the shoes sit back further than traditional rim shoes.

To improve the break over SHOULD solve a tripping issue.

BUT

If the whole hoof is too long (as a majority of shod hooves tend to be IME) then setting the shoe a few millimetres back is too little, too late. If you imagine walking around in clown shoes - you will quickly get tired of having to make extra effort to 'step over' the shoe when you walk and be more likely to trip yourself.

clownshoes_zpsa129aff1.jpg


If a horse is stumbling, I would suggest either there is a laminitis issue or the whole hoof is too long.
 
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