Shod to Barefoot, HELP!

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meganbirbeck

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I have bought a new horse and took her back shoes off 5 weeks ago, in this I have managed to do 2 hour hacks on the road, jumped and completed everything that I was doing with back shoes. So I took the plunge and took her front shoes off yesterday, however it is painful to watch her. She's sore on grass, in a sand arena and terrible on hard surfaces, she actually has started to refuse to move and this is with hoof boots on too. I understand that it is early days, but I didn't expect it to be this bad, I just want some advice really. It's been going so well with my new horse that all I want to do is ride, but doesn't look like this is going to be an option for a while. Has anyone had anything similar? how long did it take your horse to be sound? Is barefoot really worth all of this?
I have had a barefoot horse in the past and he transitioned over 6 months when he was off with an injury, and he came back into work fine. However, I am struggling so far.
 
She needs to be treated as a laminitic, get in on a deep bed, pain relief and vet, no horse should be that sore from having the shoes off, she either had underlying laminitis, was trimmed too short or possibly a combination of both, I certainly would not expect her to cope without help if boots are not making her comfortable even on a soft surface, I have taken shoes off a few and none have been uncomfortable on anything other than stony ground and most have been good on all surfaces, if a little careful on stones, straight away .
 
be positive said:
get in on a deep bed, pain relief and vet, no horse should be that sore from having the shoes off
Click to expand...

This^^

What you are describing is not the usual "footiness" that some horses have when coming out of shoes.


If she is sore on soft grass and with padded boots on, then either something happened when the shoes were taken off (such as over-trimming) or the shoes were covering up something else which you are now seeing. For example laminitis, "navicular" soft tissue injuries, thrush.

Hopefully you have a access to a good vet who won't just advise sticking the shoes back on. If not an experienced barefoot trimmer who has overseen many transitions (whether farrier or qualified trimmer) might be able to advise.
 
Yes, absolutely as above, there has to be something more going on for her to be that sensitive. I would get the vet, sorry :(
 
This does sound extreme, but you can get some thick pads that you tape to their feet and walk them in hand to strengthen the feet.

Did the farrier take off the shoes and trim them down too much? Is the horse on a suitable, sugar free, diet and getting some sort of magnesium oxide?
 
Just to let everyone know, I spoke in length with my vet, kept her in like a laminitic and spoke with my barefoot trimmer. She didn't take much off the feet and she was already on a low starch and sugar diet with the view of taking shoes off. After 48 hours she was completely sound and bute free. After increasing turn out shes back out over night and is out in the field without boots and pads (they are only used to walk up and down a stoney track to the field). I am now starting to get back on her, shes completely sound apart from being footy on stones. Can't believe her recovery. The vet thinks shes just had a bad stone bruise quite soon after taking shoes off. So now we are starting our transiting period. Thanks everyone for your comments.
 
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