Plastic shoes or similar

[Hollyhorse]

My warmblood has poor hoof growth and has been barefoot with the regular attention of a top equine podiatrist for about a year now. Since having his shoes removed the lumps and bumps on his legs have reduced considerably and he is definitely moving straighter and more balanced. However we made the mistake of trimming him A VERY LITTLE a couple of weeks ago as his outer wall on one of his front hooves was starting to come away so we literally 'tidied' it up a little. He now is acting very footsore - not in walk but just in trot and acts as if he's trotting on nail/hot surface so is definitely footsore, I even had a vet check to confirm. He's my dressage horse that is fit and regularly competing so after just one week off he is angry and fed up - I really need to ride him again! I've been recommended vettec products (worth researching!) which look great and I have ordered the superfast. It says it's for professional use only but my mum did an equine podiatry course in Wales during last summer so I feel she could apply it quite effectively. What does anyone else think? The website mentioned a vet/farrier as being qualified to do this but can't help but feel that a farrier/vet might not be open minded to trying these and would prefer the conventional shoeing method? I'm also open to any other ideas that would enable me to ride my horse while he grows more hoof. I am definitely not putting shoes back on! I'd rather not have to tape pads to his feet and use my Mac boots everytime I want to ride as would prefer a more permanent method (several weeks/month) rather than something I have to re-do every day. Any ideas? All very welcome and appreciated!!
Many thanks

 

[sally2008]

With no disrespect intended to your Mum or her skills, but if the product makers recommend application by a professional then there must be a good reason for it. I'm not familiar with "superfast" myself but I would suggest that perhaps you discuss it's use first with your regular equine podiatrist to get their opinion of whether it would help in your horses situation. Otherwise you could be getting yourself and your horse into a heap of expensive and longterm problems.

Edited to say: Afterthought - Is Superfast a plastic shoe then? If so, would not be illegal under the farriery act for it to be applied by anyone other than a trained farrier?

 

[Hollyhorse]

I've actually just been on the phone to our equine podiatrist who gave me a more local EP (as we're away at the moment) who I've spoken to and is coming on thursday to give her opinion. The superfast is a paste that you apply with a syringe/gun onto where the shoe goes, it then dries and forms a plastic shoe. You then rasp it to the proper shape and to allow slight grooves for grip. I think this is why it says you should use a farrier/vet as a normal horse owner would not necessary own a rasp etc and be able to rasp the plastic. This is why I thought my mum would be ok as she has all the equipment as did the EP course to learn how to use it all. But will see what the EP on thursday says. Thanks for your thoughts! Completely agree.

 

[brightmount]

If you are in the hands of a qualified EP then I would have every confidence in their advice, and they will have the advantage of inspection which we don't have on this forum.

If your horse has been BF for a year though, then to lightly rasp a chip seems unlikely to give rise to a situation that would require such a drastic measure as plastic shoes. How invasive was the trim? Boots for a short while ought to be enough until the hoof grows down if it was really that - but maybe there's another issue your EP will pick up.

 

[Hollyhorse]

That's the thing that's been baffling us! It really was a minor trim. On the phone the EP said it could be a toxin reaction or even low-level laminitus! There are several options so hopefully we'll have an answer when she comes on thursday

Fingers crossed.