Pastern arthritis, bf rehabbing after 4 yrs of shoeing??

[Queenbee]

Following on from my thread the other day about a little mare coming to my yard that I will be caring for for the foreseeable. I wanted to float this question out there to those with a bit more experience.

Potted history: Four years ago mare was diagnosed with arthritis when being backed (concussive injury I think) she was rested, came sound, then didn't do much, had a foal... Went off on loan a year ago and has been riding fine, although when she moved yards she came up lame for a week although now sound a for a week.

After deliberating with her owner, there is serious consideration of going bf, however she has had 'corrective' shoeing for the last four years, raising her heels :/ my initial worry is how the removal of shoes and will add strain, especially since she has been shod like this for four years.

Anyone out there with a lot more knowledge and insight into this than me who can help me get a handle on this?

 

[be positive]

You will probably get more knowledgeable bf people responding but my thoughts are that after 4 years in raised heels you will require a cooperative farrier to gradually reduce the heels, of the shoes, over a few shoeings before you take them off, her tendons may not cope otherwise with a sudden increase in tension, the chances are her own heels will be weak as the shoes will have done the work that her heels should have been.
The time it takes to get her ready to go without shoes means you can get the diet sorted and attend to any thrush or soft soles which should help give her a good start.

 

[Queenbee]

You will probably get more knowledgeable bf people responding but my thoughts are that after 4 years in raised heels you will require a cooperative farrier to gradually reduce the heels, of the shoes, over a few shoeings before you take them off, her tendons may not cope otherwise with a sudden increase in tension, the chances are her own heels will be weak as the shoes will have done the work that her heels should have been.
The time it takes to get her ready to go without shoes means you can get the diet sorted and attend to any thrush or soft soles which should help give her a good start.

Thank you, this was good to hear as it was similar to what was running through my mind, but wanted some reassurance, I think my farrier will be really supportive on this, but I agree, the idea of just whipping the shoes off in a case like this... The strain it would put on her, I think it will be a long road with this one but I really hope it will benefit her in the long run. I messages my farrier to sound him out, she isn't coming until later next month but I want to have a plan in place for her.