Pull shoes or not?

HappyHollyDays

HappyHollyDays

3 yard cats and 2 ponies
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Bit of a dilemma with my Connie. 13 years old, hock arthritis and has possibly done his suspensory again. He stumbled being ridden on Thursday took 4 or 5 lame steps then appeared sound. Been in due to the heat during the day and out for a few hours when it’s been cooler. Came in after 4 hours yesterday sound but very slow and this morning he is most defiantly lame in walk.

Obviously I will phone the vet first thing tomorrow but in the meantime I will cold hose and keep him in until he can be seen. I will be guided by my vet as she knows him well but just wanted to ask people’s opinions on taking shoes off with a suspensory injury if he has to go on several month box rest.
 
does Mark Johnson have a view? presumably if in the worst case scenario he has to be box rested and then retired his shoes will be coming off at some stage. I would get all the info I could from the vet and then all the info from MJ and see what comes up. Hope you can get it sorted, good luck.
 
Thanks Paddy, MJ doesn’t look after him, he only does DP who is bf, B is my other pony who has always worn shoes. You are right though if I am to retire him they will come off anyway. My concern is would removing shoes inhibit the healing of a suspensory injury or would it actually help it. Don’t want to do anything that’s going to knacker him him even more.
 
My horse did a hind suspensory some years ago and had 6 months box rest so I took his shoes off and he was fine.

I am guessing your horse has done a front suspensory? So in that situation I would check with your vet first as the shoes may offer support in the healing and you obviously don't want that to be affected.
 
I would find out what is wrong first. My old lad ( now retired for many years) went lame. I wanted to pull shoes but farrier pointed out that the change of angle from shoe to no shoe would make him much worse. I clarified this with vet. Shoes were left on and he came sound.
 
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