Overreach boots for TB with shallow/low heels..?

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Gingey

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As title really...
My gelding has the stereotypical cr@p TB feet :rolleyes: I am awful at describing anything to do with hooves etc (thank god for a farrier who talks me through everything he does in idiot terms!) but basically he has a low heel and short pasterns, meaning that normal sized overreach boots fit OK size-wise around his leg but are way way too long, and would be dangerous to have on.
Tried pony-size ones, which are a better length, but too tight to be comfy around his pastern.
Tried cutting the pull-on rubber ones to size, a la Mary King, but they spin round and rub him. :rolleyes:
Was thinking maybe if pull on ones with sheepskin/fur round the top exist those might work- so I could cut them down but furry bit would prevent rubbing?

Any suggestions appreciated- the cheaper the better! :o Thanks.
 
Perhaps rather than trying to find some special boots to accommodate your horse's pathological hooves, you should consider trying to improve the hooves? It would improve your horse's prospects of long term soundness. Just a thought :).
 
Thanks for the suggestion, and I certainly agree with the concept :) But actually, in terms of condition, they're just fine. He was shod remedially to an extent for the first year I had him, and his feet did improve significantly under the guidance of two fab farriers who really know their stuff. Current farrier (one of the two!) is happy with how they are in terms of condition, management and soundness. He's never had any soundness issues to do with feet at all (although of course that's not to say he won't in the future), nor with his overall posture/development, and both farrier and I are satisfied that it's purely conformational- he has flat, shallow feet, and that can only be improved on to a certain extent.
Thanks very much for the response. :)
ETS to add that he isn't a habitual overreacher, but does occasionally do so in the field, and I'd like to have the peace of mind of knowing I have well-fitting ones for cross country. :)
 
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I was just going to say the same, I'm having probs right now because my lad was left with low heels, ( underrun?) and has left me with so many problem. If u can try to improve his feet
 
My local tack shop....rb Equestrian.....does overreaches with fur on.....have them for the lami that keeps pulling off his heartbars in and out of the stable. Give them a ring and see if they will post to you.
 
Not trying to be contrary ;), but it truly is a myth that flat feet is a conformation issue that can't be resolved. Diet plays a huge part in a horse's hoof health, as well as shoeing. It always worries me when people talk about their horse's crap feet, as it's storing up problems for the future :(. If you want to know more, the barefoot brigade can help :). Otherwise I suggest taking a pair of scissors to a set of bridleway rubber overreach boots (with the fleece lining) ;).
 
Personally I would not b happy with that outcome/prognosis from the farrier. Low heels can b dramatically improved and should not be settled for because they a typical tb!! Sorry just my option as an EP! ! X
 
I had the same waltzing Matilda my farrier said it was just his conformation and only so much he could do ( haven't even had him a year mind) but as you know and many others :) my lad now has big problems because his feet have been left like this.
Sorry Gingey don't mean to blabber on but please be aware what can happen if they don't improve, my lad is on his last chance via the barefoot route as the damage inside his feet is bad and it's his pedal bones that are effected not what u can see on the outside
 
My gelding has the stereotypical cr@p TB feet
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This has been said by so many posters recently. When is the message going to get through that TB's don't have naturally rubbish hooves? They are quite capable of having super hooves with good quality horn, concave soles, without under-run heels and without long toes.
 
thatsmygirl said:
I was just going to say the same, I'm having probs right now because my lad was left with low heels, ( underrun?) and has left me with so many problem. If u can try to improve his feet
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Nocturnal said:
Not trying to be contrary ;), but it truly is a myth that flat feet is a conformation issue that can't be resolved. Diet plays a huge part in a horse's hoof health, as well as shoeing. It always worries me when people talk about their horse's crap feet, as it's storing up problems for the future :(. If you want to know more, the barefoot brigade can help :). Otherwise I suggest taking a pair of scissors to a set of bridleway rubber overreach boots (with the fleece lining) ;).
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Waltzing Matilda said:
Personally I would not b happy with that outcome/prognosis from the farrier. Low heels can b dramatically improved and should not be settled for because they a typical tb!! Sorry just my option as an EP! ! X
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Ok, think I should have been a bit more clear, apologies; my farrier's outcome/prognosis isn't conclusive (ie 'this is as good as they'll ever get'), which I should have specified :D They are still v much a work in progress, have improved significantly over the two years or so that I've had him, and should continue to do so- my farrier definitely hasn't told me there's only so much he can do! His feet/shoeing are carefully managed.
As it is now, though he does have fairly flat feet and a low heel, they are *much* better than they were. However (and please do feel free to enlighten me :) ) it seems that it is unlikely he will ever have the *perfect* feet (ie not flat at all) because it would be impossible to entirely change the way his feet are? And I should have clarified that that's more the kind of conclusion my farrier and I have reached, rather than implying 'that's it' and them being 'left' as they are. Sorry.

You have given me food for thought though that there is more we could actively be doing, and I will revisit this with the farrier when he comes out next week. Thanks very much for your posts :)
Thanks also to the suggestions/recommendations of boots.
Love the fountain of knowledge that is HHO. :D
 
Thatsmygirl. Did u get my pm the other day?

To op. Tb s generally do have poorer feet genetically it is true. However that doesn't mean that they have to b in the state we see so many in these days. I have had several tbs that have ok to good feet (all barefoot) and do road work and jumping! Obviously it depends on the individual but I don't think under run heels r a conformational issue (would b extremely rare). Do u have any pics? X
 
Faracat said:
This has been said by so many posters recently. When is the message going to get through that TB's don't have naturally rubbish hooves? They are quite capable of having super hooves with good quality horn, concave soles, without under-run heels and without long toes.
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As I said, my TB's hooves are in good condition (vastly improved). I wouldn't say he's got long toes either, and his heels aren't especially under-run- thanks to my farrier's work on improving them.
I said 'stereotypically' because I know a lot of people have the common view of all TB's having rubbish hooves- I know more TBs with great hooves (conformationally and conditionally) than I do with rubbish ones, but mine falls into the minority of the naturally rubbish ones- that are being improved.
Thanks for your reply :)
 
sorry if I bin a bit bobby tonight had a few vinos to entertain me as OH has doing football on!! Generally (and have to say this as not seen ur tb s feet ) the shape can b changed. The hoof takes approx 9 months to grow down completely send the sole 3 months. The sole will become concave not flast as the structures in the back the foot improve and strengthen. The foot needs to b balanced and be able to expand and contact (it can't do this in a shoe so mayb ur farriers comments are based on this), diet is also critical. Low sugar low starch high fibre. U also have to make sure there's no thrush or infection in the frog casuingbth heels to contract and this will make underlying heels worse generally.

I would hope after 2 yrs of treatment that my horses under run heels were much improved and not really under run at all any more unless my horse had a metabolic issue. Sorry. X
 
Waltzing Matilda said:
Thatsmygirl. Did u get my pm the other day?

To op. Tb s generally do have poorer feet genetically it is true. However that doesn't mean that they have to b in the state we see so many in these days. I have had several tbs that have ok to good feet (all barefoot) and do road work and jumping! Obviously it depends on the individual but I don't think under run heels r a conformational issue (would b extremely rare). Do u have any pics? X
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Good glad I was right on that one, phew :D But yes i totally take on board what you are saying, and like I said to Faracat I really said 'stereotypically' in my OP because many people are under the impression that crap feet are common in TBs, which although is not true, is true of mine- he does have naturally bad feet which are a work in progress.
(Though actually, I guess it could be not so much purely natural but also down to previous shoeing before I had him. Another thing to think about!).
No pics tonight I'm afraid (partly because I'm afraid I will be ripped to pieces over his rubbish feet- joking joking :D) and partly because I only intended to nip onto HHO quickly- I have an A level tomorrow and really can't get any more distracted than I already have, trying to find pics that show his feet well etc! Sorry, will try and take some good ones tomorrow or something. Thanks for your thoughts x
 
Waltzing Matilda said:
sorry if I bin a bit bobby tonight had a few vinos to entertain me as OH has doing football on!! Generally (and have to say this as not seen ur tb s feet ) the shape can b changed. The hoof takes approx 9 months to grow down completely send the sole 3 months. The sole will become concave not flast as the structures in the back the foot improve and strengthen. The foot needs to b balanced and be able to expand and contact (it can't do this in a shoe so mayb ur farriers comments are based on this), diet is also critical. Low sugar low starch high fibre. U also have to make sure there's no thrush or infection in the frog casuingbth heels to contract and this will make underlying heels worse generally.

I would hope after 2 yrs of treatment that my horses under run heels were much improved and not really under run at all any more unless my horse had a metabolic issue. Sorry. X
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(Failing in not getting distracted here..!). This is very interesting, thank you. His diet is in fact low sugar, low starch and high fibre anyway. :) Feet are deffo healthy. Having just done some online research I would say that his feet were definitely underrun when I first had him, but not so much at all now- though I am definitely not an expert. Again, food for thought. Thankyou :D
 
Good luck with your a level :D

The only thing I'll add is not to fall for the TB's have genetically poorer feet rubbish ;). Some horses genetics will be better han others, of course, but being a TB ain't the problem - its shoeing from a young age and/or inappropriate feeding what dunnit ;)
 
Nocturnal said:
Good luck with your a level :D

The only thing I'll add is not to fall for the TB's have genetically poorer feet rubbish ;). Some horses genetics will be better han others, of course, but being a TB ain't the problem - its shoeing from a young age and/or inappropriate feeding what dunnit ;)
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Lol, I am learning lots of different things tonight, sadly not related to A level :o
Ok, yep that did occur to me just now (see previous musing re previous shoeing etc in my reply to WM :) ) and makes sense. He is an ex racer (raced til 7yo) and having just read an article about how there can be a tendency in the racing industry to shoe to encourage a long toe with the belief that it increases stride length (please don't jump on me if this isn't true racing people I just read it! :o ) that's interesting. Thanks!
 
Gingey said:
just read an article about how there can be a tendency in the racing industry to shoe to encourage a long toe with the belief that it increases stride length (please don't jump on me if this isn't true racing people I just read it! :o ) that's interesting. Thanks!
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Haven't heard of this but it wouldn't surprise me :(
 
I worked in two very large NH [jump racing] yards and I only remember two horses who had "remedial shoes", the rest got by without any problems, and generally, the heels were not under-run.
I must admit that since I have joined the Barefoot Taliban [novice member], almost the first thing I look at is the feet, and my goodness, I wonder how so many horses stay sound!
Often it is just that they are not trimmed often enough, I have seen so many horses and ponies left out in a field with no attempts at trimming, by the time the farrier is asked to shoe them they are in classic long toe / short heel configuration, or the hoof wall is so flared they are walking on a flat sole. This is not due to economy, it is due to habituation.
People say to me.... the farrier is coming this week, or why does he have no shoes on, or will he not stand for the farrier, err no he does not need them, he is on a special diet, and his feet are far better than they ever were, with lovely digital cushions, and walking on the roads is very much quieter and safer.
 
I only meant that generally tbs feet arent that great as hey are not bred for their feet *however do think that feet matter in terms of soundness and speed.

I don't think hisnmean people should settle for mediocre trimming or farriery with using being a tb as an excuse.

I agree that early shoeing and a high protein high starch diet (often contributing to ulcers) is far more of an issue with tba feet than the breed. Sorry if I didn't communicate that well I blame The vino !! :-)
X
 
Interesting, I am looking after a TB at the moment and can buy him if I should want, feet is sort of the most important thing to me (although I don't know that much about them really) and they sound similar to your chap's... I might post some pictures and see what people think. They seem to be OK when it comes to hardness. He pings shoes off so he is wearing overreach boots that are a bit long in the field, if I were to buy I might consider barefoot if people really think he could cope, we have loooads of roadwork here which I hear is a good thing but I don't feel that convinced!
 
mandwhy said:
Interesting, I am looking after a TB at the moment and can buy him if I should want, feet is sort of the most important thing to me (although I don't know that much about them really) and they sound similar to your chap's... I might post some pictures and see what people think. They seem to be OK when it comes to hardness. He pings shoes off so he is wearing overreach boots that are a bit long in the field, if I were to buy I might consider barefoot if people really think he could cope, we have loooads of roadwork here which I hear is a good thing but I don't feel that convinced!
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You will probably have to wait until you are convinced because there is no guarantee that it will be done without a few hiccups, and those who are sceptical immediately put shoes on when this happens.
Read one of the books [Feet First is amazing (seaweed excepted)].
If the shoes are coming off because the hinds are hitting the fronts, this is alarming as the horse could get injured, though I know a lot of farrier recommend front overreach boots. Personally I would have the hind shoes off, most horse can cope with this IF have been on the "the barefoot diet" ie high fibre forage plus vits and minerals.
0.5 to 1kg Fast Fibre
50 to 150gm micronised linseed meal
25-50gms of mins and vits eg pro hoof, Equimins Meta balance or another high spec supplement.
Tablespoon of salt
One of the things to be aware of is the lack of magnesium in UK soils, and in spring and autumn grass, at a time when it is also full of sugars.
No cereals
No sugars/molassses lick etc.
Limit time on sweet lush grass [as in NO sweet lush grass]
One of the things to be aware of is the lack of magnesium in UK soils, and in spring and autumn grass, at a time when it is also full of sugars.
PS if the farrier removes the shoes he will be tempted to trim frogs, sole and wall, this is because he does this to prepare the foot for shoeing, but you need that bit of length to help you, and only need the hoof wall rounded off to prevent chipping.
Regular exercise including twenty minutes walking on roads.
 
The Westropp neoprene overeach are shorter than most , are reasonably priced and wear well . Never had problem with rubbing either.

They dont have a no spin button so it doesnt matter if they move around the hoof.
 
If the shoes are coming off because the hinds are hitting the fronts, this is alarming as the horse could get injured, though I know a lot of farrier recommend front overreach boots.
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Thew hinds could be hitting the fronts because the fronts have long toes. This changes the breakover so that the horse can't pick his front hooves up (and therefore out of the way of the hinds) quick enough/at the correct time.
 
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