Photos before we fully go barefoot, just for the record

ester said:
It is tricky because the ground is so hard, he is also possibly getting to the stage where they get a bit worse as the hoof wakes up a bit.
did you get boots in the end? a few people, including pines of rome on here booted with cavallos and pads for turnout for quite some time.
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this.

the heels are pretty contracted, ground hard and it is a case of either living with it or doing something. Something could be booting for the time out, taking them off at night. That will probably get rid of the hobbling. How long he will be hobble depends on the reason for it. It could be simply poor quality feet just out of shoes and needs time. If that is the case then booting, doing things to make surfaces easier etc will help. If he continues to hobble then there may be a reason for it. Thrush is the first thing. Poke a hoof pick into the central sulchus. Can you press quite hard (don't get kicked) or is he sensitive? If sensitive it won't be helping.
Other thing I am afraid is grass. If you kept him stabled with his eye did he get grass then? if not was he any sounder? If so then I would look at grass. If no difference it may not be the answer. If you haven't kept him off grass completely the only way to know if it is the culprit is to remove him from grass for around 5 days.

I think if he was mine I would give him a few more days and if no better in a week get some padded boots. Put him out in them and also exercise in them, even if just walking in hand. If he is then sound in the boots keep them on until the ground eases.

You may be able to tell how he would walk in boots if you could walk him on a padded surface. Some people cut pads and tape them on to try or alternatively make a soft surface, wood chip, even a walkway with a double thickness of carpet. Is he happier over that sort of surface.
 
The lateral cartilages are the mediolateral (side to side) stabilizers within the foot- like the tendons and small muscles in your ankle, which you'll feel if you try to balance on one foot for longer than you think you can hold it. The lateral cartilages usually push into the hoof capsule of a shod horse (and my horse started out a lot like OP's- crushed heels and negative PA), and as the back of the foot develops they begin to back out- it will look "empty" above the coronary band near the heel, and begin to fill in. This causes some pain, which is usually what causes the hobbling on uneven ground. You're doing well to leave him a little bit of wall to walk on at the moment- until the sole/internals adjust it's better to leave them a little long and you can always work it down/back later- plus this helps the trimmer find out what the horse needs because they'll chip where they need to if they're given a chance before the next trim!
 
Definitely as above poster says, leave the walls for now... don't be alarmed as any totteryness isn't going to cause lasting damage. With bf, once you learn to read the hoof, it's all transient as you progress. Once you're there though... little "ouches" are momentary in comparison to a lifetime of numbness with shoes and another lifetime sorting out the mess!

I would still t/o with or without boots as you see fit. This isn't a quick fix - shoes cater for for that. This is a longterm, workout for hooves that can be how they were designed to function. Nobody said it's going to be easy or quick. However, you have my respect for listening to your horse and letting nature fix her beast.

Welcome to a world where time gives you something.
 
I have used RX therapy boots for turnout with 2 horses now. Very comfortable boots, easy to get on and off. I used thick pads in them. Horses wore them for about 2 months, then gradually weaned off them.
 
tallyho! said:
Definitely as above poster says, leave the walls for now... don't be alarmed as any totteryness isn't going to cause lasting damage. With bf, once you learn to read the hoof, it's all transient as you progress. Once you're there though... little "ouches" are momentary in comparison to a lifetime of numbness with shoes and another lifetime sorting out the mess!

I would still t/o with or without boots as you see fit. This isn't a quick fix - shoes cater for for that. This is a longterm, workout for hooves that can be how they were designed to function. Nobody said it's going to be easy or quick. However, you have my respect for listening to your horse and letting nature fix her beast.

Welcome to a world where time gives you something.
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not all horses who are shod have terrible feet and need a lifetime to sort out!!!!! just because some horses are ok without shoes doesnt mean all are...i have just retired my horse and her hind shoes were taken off yesterday, i want to eventually have her fronts off as well so i am not fanatical about shoeing but each horse MUST be treated as an individual....
 
Tallyho didn't say all feet were in shoes were terrible, but that they all have a level of numbness which is a bit different and does seem to be the case.
She also wasn't saying there weren't any instances when shoes are the best thing for the horse or that each instance shouldn't be treated as an individual.
 
Thank you all.

Paddy - I have found he is happier if turned out in boots. So for the time being I am going to do this, as well as ride him in them. I know this isn't a quick fix and I am prepared for the longhaul. But I do want to make sure I am doing the best by my horse and to maximise his progress. Hobbling isn't good for any horse I do not think as they will compensate and put stresses and strains on other parts of their feet and body. And he'll not be using his heels if he isn't comfortable. So putting boots on makes sense to me at this stage with a hope we will be able to progress and do without them in a few months or when the ground softens a bit.

Regandal - that's helpful thanks, if you've had to do this to, and for giving me an estimate of about 2 months.
 
AMP said:
Thank you all.

Paddy - I have found he is happier if turned out in boots. So for the time being I am going to do this, as well as ride him in them. I know this isn't a quick fix and I am prepared for the longhaul. But I do want to make sure I am doing the best by my horse and to maximise his progress. Hobbling isn't good for any horse I do not think as they will compensate and put stresses and strains on other parts of their feet and body. And he'll not be using his heels if he isn't comfortable. So putting boots on makes sense to me at this stage with a hope we will be able to progress and do without them in a few months or when the ground softens a bit.

Regandal - that's helpful thanks, if you've had to do this to, and for giving me an estimate of about 2 months.
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glad you've worked out a way forward for him.
 
splashgirl45 said:
not all horses who are shod have terrible feet and need a lifetime to sort out!!!!! just because some horses are ok without shoes doesnt mean all are...i have just retired my horse and her hind shoes were taken off yesterday, i want to eventually have her fronts off as well so i am not fanatical about shoeing but each horse MUST be treated as an individual....
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Exactly. That's what I said. So whats your point and why are you having a go at me?
 
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