Newly barefoot photos

[Skips11]

I’ll try and keep this short! Horse previously in bar shoes in front to support a vertical crack which was a result of an overreach injury (inside of right fore). Barefoot behind for 3 years.
Could not keep the fronts on for more than 1-2 weeks, so last week when she removed both in 1 night, I decided not to put them back on. She was sound in the shoes. Hinds struggled a little on really stoney tracks but otherwise have been great barefoot and are solid. The fronts are so soft that they barely make a sound on concrete!
She’s turned out 24/7 and is fed linseed, Equi jewel, Equimins advanced complete, mag ox and salt. Has been on this diet for 2 years at least.
I’ve been applying keratex hoof hardener to her soles which I think has helped a little, and spraying frogs with purple spray.
She looks ok ish in the field, but really sore on the track to the fields. I took photos today and also filmed in slow mo and she is landing toe first on the track and ‘less toe first’ on grass.
Farrier is supportive of barefoot (actually suggested it last time), and is due on Friday, so would love any advice on what I should ask him to do, if anything.
Willing and able to put the time into anything that will help; boots, hand walking on roads etc.
Really appreciate any advice as I believe this is the right thing to do for her but she is so sore that I am doubting my decision.

 

[tda]

You have a way to go, but don't give up. Get some boots for temporary use, and get her walking out in them, as much as you can

 

[Zoeypxo]

My horse went barefoot last year and it took 3 months for her to comfortably walk on concrete, so hang in there !

i would get some boots fitted for her fronts for now with pads, email urban horse or hoof bootique with pics and measurements and go from there. I got sized up with cavallo treks with 10mm pads. Her feet are improving massively since walking out in her boots

 

[Surbie]

The fronts will harden over time. You couldn't hear my horse walking at all when his shoes were first off, and he is well over 700kg so not what you want creeping up behind you...!

How long have the shoes been off for? Just one cycle?

It does take some time to adjust - I was injured when mine had his shoes off, so he had the whole of winter to adjust before being ridden again. His feet changed dramatically in that time - shrank, hardened and changed shape. It took a few more months before he had moved from toe-first, to flat, to majority heel-first landing. I had mine on a 4-weekly trim cycle for the first year. My farrier gave me an old rasp and showed me how to shape and rasp the walls inbetween so the trim was more about minor corrections.

 

[Burnttoast]

I would boot + pad, walk out and find a good trimmer. The feet have run forward markedly and the back of the foot is very weak so it isn't surprising that she doesn't want to land on them. I'd consider cleantrax as well to make sure there's absolutely no thrush, as that will hinder progress. Rehabbing feet should be thought of just the same as rehabbing any other part of the body that can't be 'supported' by adding a mechanical prop - even if it's not straightforward or quick it's worth doing.

 

[TPO]

Strongly recommend reading the Hoof Geek website. The advice is great and practical.

Second boots and pads. The horse needs to be able to take comfortable steps, sore feet creates compensations elsewhere.

Hoof Geek also has a great series of articles/blogs about pads, particularly the EP pads.

 

[Skips11]

The fronts will harden over time. You couldn't hear my horse walking at all when his shoes were first off, and he is well over 700kg so not what you want creeping up behind you...!

How long have the shoes been off for? Just one cycle?

It does take some time to adjust - I was injured when mine had his shoes off, so he had the whole of winter to adjust before being ridden again. His feet changed dramatically in that time - shrank, hardened and changed shape. It took a few more months before he had moved from toe-first, to flat, to majority heel-first landing. I had mine on a 4-weekly trim cycle for the first year. My farrier gave me an old rasp and showed me how to shape and rasp the walls inbetween so the trim was more about minor corrections.

Not even that, they’ve been off for 1 week exactly!

 

[Skips11]

Thanks all, going to measure her for boots after the farrier has been.
Is there anything you would ask my farrier to do other than not to touch the soles or frog?

 

[Landcruiser]

Gosh, they are pretty weak and under run - you will see massive improvement by staying barefoot, I can guarantee. Get some boots with pads to support horse as long as needed. The sensitivity might get worse before it gets better, as feeling and function comes back. I second Hoof Geek website (she's also my trimmer so I declare a bias)

 

[TPO]

she's also my trimmer

Jealous!!

I might have read wrong buy if shoes have only been off a week I'd be leaving it a bit before getting a trim. Where was the horse in shoeing cycle when they came off and were they trimmed at that point or left?

Maybe get a rasp yourself (or a radial rasp if that's easier to handle) and rub off any chips for now. Scissors or a hoof knife to trim off any flappy frog that gunk could flourish under. But if possible I'd give maybe 4-6wks before getting a trim.

Could also have totally missed this but what are you feeding?

 

[tda]

Thanks all, going to measure her for boots after the farrier has been.
Is there anything you would ask my farrier to do other than not to touch the soles or frog?

I would just ask him to tidy round the edges. Be aware tho if you can't get walking on tarmac straight away to help the hooves trim themselves, you will have to get a trimmer or farrier to set the shape up

 

[Skips11]

I might have read wrong buy if shoes have only been off a week I'd be leaving it a bit before getting a trim. Where was the horse in shoeing cycle when they came off and were they trimmed at that point or left?

Horse removed both shoes herself last week, the farrier last shod her mid Feb so that was when they were last touched. We were on a 4 week shoeing cycle but he was coming at least every fortnight to replace lost shoes! I don’t think she needs a trim as such yet but I don’t have a rasp yet so I was planning on getting him to just tidy them up where she pulled the shoes off before I measure for boots if that sounds like a sensible idea?

 

[Skips11]

Could also have totally missed this but what are you feeding?

Linseed, Equi-Jewel, Equimins advanced complete, mag ox, salt, and Plusbac pre/pro biotic (recommended by Tom Beech). Out 24/7 on average grass and haylage over winter.

 

[TPO]

Linseed, Equi-Jewel, Equimins advanced complete, mag ox, salt, and Plusbac pre/pro biotic (recommended by Tom Beech). Out 24/7 on average grass and haylage over winter.

Sounds spot on for optimum hoof health sometimes there can be things showing up in feet caused by sugars in grass and haylage so something to keep and eye on but it sounds like you're all over it.

I've got a cheapy rasp and a, oh forgotten the name, diamond Cody or Cody something which is excellent along with a radial rasp. A cheapy rasp will do the job just for a quick tidy up of chipped edges.

There's good and bad in every field but sometimes it helps to engage with a good trimmer who's had success transitioning hooves. My farrier is great at trimming but had no interest in the whole horse. However most of the trimmers I've used haven't been great but they have been very thorough watching movement and investigating diet. Its a blinking minefield!!

 

[Burnttoast]

Ideally for boot fitting you want to measure up after excess wall has been removed and a bit of a bevel put on, and I prefer to remove it with a rasp rather than let it chip off as a result of leverage on the wall. I would also remove excess bar material.

 

[Skips11]

There's good and bad in every field but sometimes it helps to engage with a good trimmer who's had success transitioning hooves. My farrier is great at trimming but had no interest in the whole horse. However most of the trimmers I've used haven't been great but they have been very thorough watching movement and investigating diet. Its a blinking minefield!!

Isn’t it just!

My farrier is great (admittedly I’ve only ever had him shoe horses so far so he might not be great at barefoot trimming!) and I don’t want to bin him quite yet without giving him a chance, but I am willing to in favour of a barefoot trimmer if I need to. I think he’s the best locally in the farrier category, but I do know I’ve got some good barefoot trimmers near me too. Whether they have room on their books is another matter!

 

[Skips11]

Ideally for boot fitting you want to measure up after excess wall has been removed and a bit of a bevel put on, and I prefer to remove it with a rasp rather than let it chip off as a result of leverage on the wall. I would also remove excess bar material.

Thanks. Sorry if a daft question but why remove excess bar?

 

[Burnttoast]

Thanks. Sorry if a daft question but why remove excess bar?

If it overlies the sole it can cause pressure. The bars have deviated quite strongly as the heel has run forward and then they tend to lay material over the sole.

 

[Skips11]

If it overlies the sole it can cause pressure. The bars have deviated quite strongly as the heel has run forward and then they tend to lay material over the sole.

I see, thank you.

 

[tda]

I feel a bit awkward about saying this, but if your farrier was so great, those hooves would not be in the state they are now, and horse would not have been pulling shoes constantly. I'll get my coat.....

 

[TheMule]

I feel a bit awkward about saying this, but if your farrier was so great, those hooves would not be in the state they are now, and horse would not have been pulling shoes constantly. I'll get my coat.....

I agree with you- the feet haven’t got that way overnight and they are really quite compromised

 

[TPO]

I agree with you- the feet haven’t got that way overnight and they are really quite compromised

Agree with both but don't be too hard on yourself OP. You're doing everything you can to right the situation now and it can be a steep learning curve.

I lost a mare to "navicular" while using the "best" farrier under vet supervision. When I got the diagnosis and told how bad it was (very long story even getting to that point) I did ask about trying barefoot and was shut down by them. They told me how excellent her hooves were and how well shod etc.

It was only after something clicked making me go barefoot with my new horse that I could look back and see hoe unbalanced and awful her hooves were. That was a top equine practice telling me they weren't and, ironically, that barefoot would cripple her

At the time I went barefoot I read everything by Pete Ramey and Jaime Jackson then Feet First. Since those times (2010) there have been a lot of good barefoot books and resources.

The Hoof Guided Method by Maureen Tierny is what resonates most with me. The new trimmer I'm trying this month is HGM too.

Barefoot Horse Keeping is new/modern and UK based. Performance Hoof, Performance horse is also good.

I really do recommend the Hoof Geek website/blog/videos too

 

[Skips11]

Yes that’s a very fair point re farrier. I will get him to tidy the edges when he’s here this week and then will get on the hunt for a trimmer, although the thought of having to find a good one is stressful enough!

 

[Skips11]

Thanks TPO. This horse has taught me more in the last few years than the countless others put together. It certainly is a steep learning curve but the Hoof Geek is my new bedtime reading!

 

[TPO]

Yes that’s a very fair point re farrier. I will get him to tidy the edges when he’s here this week and then will get on the hunt for a trimmer, although the thought of having to find a good one is stressful enough!

If you feel comfortable posting your vague location someone might be able to recommend a trimmer. I'm in Scotland but a few english trimmers ring bells with me for good reasons so you'd be lucky if you fell in their catchment area.

There's also a "barefoot horse info" website that you can search by region for a trimmer. That might be a good starting point

 

[Skips11]

I am in East Kent

 

[TPO]

I am in East Kent

Barefoot Trimmer Kent

Find a UK based Barefoot Trimmer in Kent to help you and your horse.

www.barefoothorse.info

Thats kent but there may be trimmers in neighbouring counties that travel to Kent too.

Lucy Priory is on that list and whilst I don't know her and have never used her I've heard good things second hand about her. She's fairly active on fb too so if you're on there might be worth tracking her down to see if you agree with her methods

 

[Skips11]

I may be mistaken but this definitely looks flat at least today?
OH already bored of filming slow mo horse feet

 

[TPO]

There are quote a few antidotes of horses appearing fine/improving out of shoes then having a big set back about 2-3wks in.

The unproven theory is that with shoes off the bloodflow is increasing to the hooves and the horse experiences "pins and needles". Just to be prepared that might happen and if you can sort pads (even duct taped on as a short term measure) to help him through all the better. It doesn't happen to every horse but does seem to be fairly common

 

[Skips11]

There are quote a few antidotes of horses appearing fine/improving out of shoes then having a big set back about 2-3wks in.

The unproven theory is that with shoes off the bloodflow is increasing to the hooves and the horse experiences "pins and needles". Just to be prepared that might happen and if you can sort pads (even duct taped on as a short term measure) to help him through all the better. It doesn't happen to every horse but does seem to be fairly common

Noted, thank you. I had no idea how much I didn’t know!
Boots & pads will be measured for this weekend.