Previously barefoot, recently shod and footsore

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Jules_F

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Hi everyone,

Sorry, I know I am posting a lot of questions at the moment!

I just wanted your opinions on the best way forward for our new boy. He was barefoot but his owner was told by his farrier that his feet were worn down and decided to have him shod. We saw him the next day and he was decidedly footy. So what I am wondering is whether to just take the shoes off again? We don't mind giving him a couple of weeks off to let his hooves recover and actually would prefer him barefoot anyway as he will not be in heavy work. I have had conflicting advice regarding whether to leave his shoes on for a bit to let his feet grow out a bit or whether to get them off straight away. What do you think?

Thanks!!
 
I think you have bought a lame horse and should have got it vetted, if you are lucky he will come sound quickly but treat him for now as if he were laminitic, get the vet to look at him and advise you on what to do next, unless the shoes are very bad or there is an underlying reason for him to be lame they should not cause lameness in an otherwise sound horse, I would take his old owners reasons for shoeing with a pinch of salt much the same as everyone else's opinions, it is a vet who's advice you need, someone who can find the cause of the problem and offer appropriate treatment.
 
Obviously horses are born without shoes and do very well if left alone, assuming no shortage of minerals and not neglected.
A barefoot horse does not have feet which "wear out", and shoeing a horse will usually improve footyness, so if it is footy with shoes, it is unsound.
Its not easy to advise online with no knowledge, but two weeks after a horse is shod it should be OK to remove shoes.
Agree that it is likely you have bought a lame horse, and a vet is needed to assess the situation, though your own farrier will know how to proceed regarding the shoe situation.
 
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Haven't seen your other posts but could it be a nail is a bit tight? I would say maybe he trimmed them too aggressively but doubtful if they were supposedly worn down
 
if the horse was footsore, shoes would show an immediate improvement. I just sold a pony and the vet couldn't pass her due to landing short and looking lame on both hinds (she only had fronts on). We put back shoes on and she passed with flying colours less than a week later. There is a lot of laminitis about at the moment, I'd look down that route as shoes can make this look worse - don't ask me why, just repeating what my farrier said.
 
Hi,
We have not paid for the horse yet and have agreed that if the horse does not come sound he will be returned. However, we like him and would much prefer for him to come sound than to just walk away.
 
Thank you. The horse will see a vet on his arrival and has been checked over already as my husband is a vet. He did not believe it any great cause for concern. We will not be paying the full amount until he is sound. I was just wondering if it would help to remove the shoes straightaway or if it would be better to let his feet grow a bit before taking them off.
 
My sister bought one sound (in very light work) but unshod- shod it was lame. Xrayed and it had massive boney changes in its feet beyond repair and he had to be PTS. It was probably drugged for the viewing too but take care.
 
Mine was barefoot for nearly a year. Due to bad front feet and wanting to ride him again vet and farrier recommend fronts on. He was sore the day he was shod so I let him have a day of after. Then he was fine and I have started riding again. All is good. Pending shoes for back. Will see what we end up doing and how he copes.
 
This is one of two you've bought from a dealer having gone there to buy one?

There is no point seeing a vet on arrival. The horse needs to be looked at by the dealer's vet and properly diagnosed. Then, if you want to buy it, get it vetted by an independent vet, not your husband and not the dealer's vet.
 
Thank you for your replies. The horse is not costing very much and we do not consider it to be worth a full vetting. My husband has done some checks, taken blood etc. The horse will be seen by the owners vet and possibly his farrier again before he comes and if he arrives not sound we will not be paying. I only asked as I have never had any experience with barefoot horses and was wondering whether taking his shoes off would help, if it was indeed the shoeing that caused the lameness, or if it was better left alone.
 
Jules_F said:
I only asked as I have never had any experience with barefoot horses and was wondering whether taking his shoes off would help, if it was indeed the shoeing that caused the lameness, or if it was better left alone.
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I've a fair amount of experience with barefoot horses. I've never heard of shoeing causing immediate lameness in a sound barefoot horse. I guess this could happen if the farrier was seriously incompetent or made a mistake (e.g. nail bind), but generally shoeing will initially cause either no change or make a footy horse sounder, problems caused by shoeing tend to take some time to appear. Some horses with old injuries or other underlying problems (e.g. arthritic changes) can be happier with wonky feet and become less sound immediately if shod normally.

As others have said I expect there is an underlying problem with the horse's feet which they attempted (unsuccessfully) to cover up by shoeing it. The most likely scenario is laminitis. Taking the shoes off or not should be a decision based on a treatment plan for the horses condition agreed with a vet, farrier or trimmer.
 
OP, what has the original farrier said. Is there any heat in the foot, digital pulses, how is the horse standing. Has the farrier been back to look at the horse. Is it possible that he shod the horse too tight or close to the white line. if you have any answers to this it would help.

I know it's not the advice you are asking for but please, however cheap get the horse vetted if and when the horse comes sounds. I am a classic example of how much heart ache can come of a cheap, unsound horse. My £200 horse cost me 3k in keep in 7 months and nearly 8k in insurance vet bills and it ended with a bullet.

I'm afraid to say his problems started when he was shod and went lame and it all went downhill from there. Not saying it's the case for this horse but unless the farrier has made a mistake somewhere I would be running a mile.
 
Jules_F said:
Thank you for your replies. The horse is not costing very much and we do not consider it to be worth a full vetting.
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In that case rather than do a vetting get an independent vet (not the sellers) to do a lameness workup. That will be a lot cheaper. If they think it's something easily resolved with some rest, I would leave it at the dealers until it has recovered.
 
Jules_F said:
Thank you for your replies. The horse is not costing very much and we do not consider it to be worth a full vetting. My husband has done some checks, taken blood etc. The horse will be seen by the owners vet and possibly his farrier again before he comes and if he arrives not sound we will not be paying. I only asked as I have never had any experience with barefoot horses and was wondering whether taking his shoes off would help, if it was indeed the shoeing that caused the lameness, or if it was better left alone.
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Really? your husband is a vet and does not think a full vetting is worth it?
again I ask is your husband a small animal vet?
Not one single vet I know would recommend buying a horse without a vetting, they would think it an essential, also the sellers vet and farrier checking the horse is also a bit suspect as is a seller that is prepared to travel a horse without receiving paymeny
 
FfionWinnie said:
Sounds like it has the potential to be the most expensive horse you've ever purchased.
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Exactly this. If you vet now you could save thousands later.

Basically the answer to your questions is that this lameness is not normal, so I don't understand why a) you are still proceeding with the purchase, and b) you are still not considering a vetting?
 
I agree with muckypony.
I would send it back to the dealer to be honest.
If it comes sound in your hands, which it could do if it is basically sound, then I would have a 5 stage vetting with Xrays, and would not under any circumstances transfer ownership without a vetting. You have the option and if you decline it, then in law any case is weakened.
 
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If the horse is suddenly lame with shoes on then alarm bells should be ringing - it's normally the other way round. This isn't a problem that will be miraculously solved by taking his shoes off. I wouldn't be buying without a vetting and particularly foot x rays, no matter how cheap the horse is. If you really don't want a full vetting, have a full lameness work up as minimum and still get the feet x rayed. It could save you thousands in the future.
 
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