One for the barefoot bananas

[Auslander]

I know when i'm beat - so thought I'd ask those who know more about barefoot-ing.

I have an old retired TB mare, who has been shod up until now. She's not mine, but the owners are happy to let me manage her as I see fit. We decided to take her shoes off, as she doesn't do any work, and is a demon for pulling them off (along with vast chunks of foot) in the field. She was fine with the hinds coming off - slightly footy, but not unhappy, but when we took the fronts off 6 weeks later, it was a very different story. She is unbearably footy, to the point that she's reluctant to come in, because it involves walking on a slightly stony yard, and she's pretty sore in the field too.

It's going to be difficult to do a proper barefoot rehab, because she cannot be worked at all (serious heart problems), and I am concerned about leaving an already unwell horse in discomfort - but she can't wear boots 24/7. Does anyone have any bright ideas about what I can do to make her a little more comfortable in the short term, while she gets used to not wearing shoes?

Her diet is ok - fast fibre and linseed, and heart condition apart, she is in good condition, bright , alert and happy. We're aware that this may be her last summer, as she struggled last winter - and we're anxious to keep her happy and comfortable. if she has to have fronts back on, that's fine, but ideally, I'd like to avoid that, so that she's not removing them/foot at every opportunity!

Anyone?

 

[cptrayes]

OK, grass is probably a bad diet for her but may be unavoidable. Prascend trial may be a good idea even if she tests negative for Cushings. Can she not wear boots for a while, at least while the ground is supportive, or will she rub? Some people find human socks very helpful. She sounds as if she has terribly thin soles, which will certainly need time, is likely to need a low grass diet and might need drugs. At her age, many people would just shoe, and there is no problem with that if you have to.

 

[Dizzle]

Put the fronts back on, let her have a good summer and then PTS? If she's not field sound then it's not a very happy retirement.

Do you boot her to turn out? I'd get a either some overreach boots or maybe even one of those sausage rings to see if that helps, possibly get the farrier to off set the shoe so that it doesn't overhang on the inside?

Adding Mag-Ox to my TB's food helped him cope without shoes, he did 18 months then had them back on but he was always sound on concrete and in the field so not much help, sorry!

 

[Casey76]

You could try glue-on shoes, hoof casting (if your farrier is amenable) or something like Vettec Sole Guard (which adds a later of "padding" to the sole providing protection and increased stimulation) or another pour-in pad type.

 

[Auslander]

OK, grass is probably a bad diet for her but may be unavoidable. Prascend trial may be a good idea even if she tests negative for Cushings. Can she not wear boots for a while, at least while the ground is supportive, or will she rub? Some people find human socks very helpful. She sounds as if she had terribly thin soles, which will certainly need time, is likely to need a low grass diet and might need drugs. At her age, many people would just shoe, and there is no problem with that if you have to.

She's been Cushings tested - she had a bit of a bad time over the winter, and had everything possible thrown at her, which was when the vet concluded that her heart condition was getting worse, and told us in no uncertain terms not to ride her again. She does have very very thin soles - I hesitate to say TB feet, as I know there are many with fab feet, but the historical term does explain what her feet are like! She could wear boots - but I was under the impression that they couldnt be worn for long periods. She could come in during the day and have them off, but she gets stiff if she spends too much time stabled.

Grass wise - she really needs it, as she drops weight very quickly when she doesn't have free access to it. She was on ad-lib hay and haylage, plus 4 hard feeds a day over the winter, and still looked like a hatrack until the grass came through.

Will discuss a Prascend trial, but I suspect that her owners are more likely to go for the shoes back on option, rather than going down that route. It would be different if she had tested positive to Cushings, but as she didn't, they are most likely going to baulk at that.

 

[Auslander]

Put the fronts back on, let her have a good summer and then PTS? If she's not field sound then it's not a very happy retirement.

Do you boot her to turn out? I'd get a either some overreach boots or maybe even one of those sausage rings to see if that helps, possibly get the farrier to off set the shoe so that it doesn't overhang on the inside?

Adding Mag-Ox to my TB's food helped him cope without shoes, he did 18 months then had them back on but he was always sound on concrete and in the field so not much help, sorry!

That is my inclination at the moment - her owner said that she didn't want to put her through another winter, after the state she got herself into, despite stacks of forage/hard feed. She looks amazing at the moment, so I'm a bit concerned that they will look at her now, and think "Ooh - she's fine, lets keep her going a bit longer".

She's field sound if she's on a field with a good grass covering - but sore if she has to go across the rutted bits - it's not as if she's hobbling 24/7. It's just very obvious when she comes up to the fence line/gate - because it is a bit rutted and stony where the tractor go into the edges.

She has Mag-ox - forgot to mention that!

 

[Auslander]

You could try glue-on shoes, hoof casting (if your farrier is amenable) or something like Vettec Sole Guard (which adds a later of "padding" to the sole providing protection and increased stimulation) or another pour-in pad type.

Will investigate these options!

 

[cptrayes]

I'd shoe her Aus, it's not worth her ending her days in discomfort. If get the farrier to show her 'badly' - very short at the heel so she has more trouble pulling them off. She's not going to be alive long enough for it to cause any issues. I'd also use over size over reach boots.

 

[Auslander]

I'd shoe her Aus, it's not worth her ending her days in discomfort. If get the farrier to show her 'badly' - very short at the heel so she has more trouble pulling them off. She's not going to be alive long enough for it to cause any issues. I'd also use over size over reach boots.

Funny how posting something gets you thinking isn't it - I'd just arrived at pretty much the same conclusion!

 

[pistolpete]

Bless her in the old days we called these grass tips didn't we? Just enough to keep her comfy and good quality over reach boots not the crappy rubber ones worked for me when I had a shod horse.