Remedial or no shoes for hock fusion/ arthritus

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Polos Mum

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I've just taken on lovely 14 y/o SJ who's had ethanol treatment to both hocks, one worked well, the other he's still 2/10ths lame. His feet look unhelpful to me - small upright and boxy - front ones actually worse than the back - he's supposed to have had remedial shoeing - but the outcome of what's been done isn't great.
For others who's successfully got somewhere with arthritis please do share your experiences of what has worked shoeing wise. In others with leg problems I've found taking shoes off helps let the feet improve in shape to support the legs above, but I've not taken fronts off and left hinds on before ! Obviously I'll be speaking to my farrier (who works closely with the vet) but looking for options other experience to help consider best next steps.
 
I've got a 6yr old with hock arthritis in both hinds. We've put on hind shoes with plastic pads underneath raising the heels up.

His had these on now for coming up 15 weeks and I've noticed no difference in his lameness etc with these sadly. Am actually going to speak with vet tomorrow about is it worth carrying on with these.
 
Mine is also 6 with arthritis in both hinds. She's always been barefoot and the vet sees no issue in keeping her that way - just wants her on a regular trimming cycle.
 
My old boy had raised heels on the backs and rolled toes on the fronts for 12 months during the fusion. He was immediately more comfortable with the raised heels. Over time the angle of heel was slowly reduced. I have the shoes off without any issues.

He had previously been barefoot for 8 years, had the shoes on for a year and shoes off again.
 
Old mare had hock arthritis and when I made the decision to stop shoeing, and put her on a fibre only diet, trim every 6 weeks and she improved no end. We went from being lame every 6 odd weeks to pretty much no lameness.

Not saying this would work with every horse, but the change in her was noticeable.
 
Thanks all - interesting range of options, he's not looking great with the shoes he has so feels like it's worth trying something different and glad to hear barefoot works for some - my TB's feet are 100 x better without shoes and just boots to hack in.
 
Dancing_Diva said:
I've got a 6yr old with hock arthritis in both hinds. We've put on hind shoes with plastic pads underneath raising the heels up.

His had these on now for coming up 15 weeks and I've noticed no difference in his lameness etc with these sadly. Am actually going to speak with vet tomorrow about is it worth carrying on with these.
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My horse started placing his off hind midline following post fusion complication four years after fusion so he had lateral extensions on both hinds and he still has them on now. They really helped him. i cant remember if he had any remedial shoeing at the time of fusion although i seem to remember he had his toes rolled to increase the breakover. i dont think going barefoot would make any difference but i am not really qualified to comment either way having no exp with BF.
 
I've got a (nearly) 20yr old advanced dressage horse who has arthritis in both hocks. He was shod with raised heels in his previous home, which made him worse, and is currentyl unshod behind, which seems to work for him. I have to keep him well trimmed, as he starts struggling if his toes get long, so my farrier checks him/takes a little bit off every time he visits (every 3 weeks).
 
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