Shoe loosing- Help needed

toomanyneds

Active Member
Joined
12 July 2012
Messages
34
Location
Berkshire
Visit site
Hi, i mooch on this site fairly frequently and find the answers to my questions without the need to post but on this occasion i am out of ideas!

I have a Grey TB gelding (all 4 feet black) That cannot keep hold of his shoes!
He is on biotin and farriers formular and wears over-reach boots 24-7.
He is Hot shod by a very reputable farrier every 4-5 weeks but seems to loose a front shoe most weeks if not every other.

I am not convinced that he is 'pulling' his shoes off as over reach boots are never damaged and they are not always tugged from the rear down, he is also not particularly active behind so it would seem unlikely. Im thinking that simply that his front feet are that poor they cannot hold onto the shoes.

When he looses a shoe the poor sod thinks he cannot walk, he regularly bruises his soles and is hopping lame as is very sensitive.

He is even footy in the soles of his feet with shoes on, when i am hacking he limps and staggers across any stony of uneven surfaces but is sound as a pount on even tarmac, grass, woodland etc.

I have discussed with my farrier the option of putting pads on his fronts but he has advised that this will restrict the air flow to the undersides of his feet and therefore make the soles softer and he also believes he is more likely to lose the shoes if pads are fitted.

I have questioned about different hoof oils, Keratex etc and been advised that these are mainly cosmetic and he doesnt feel that they would helf poor Rafi.

I have looked into Equipak for the sore footedness, but this isnt going to resolve the loss of shoes and many people have poor reports on the product.

I would simply transfer him to the hoof boots if i just had him for hacking but i event him so this is not be possible as i regularly require studs.

i know it may sound like ive ruled most things out but please people must have some more genius ideas as im really at my witts end now!

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
I feed him twice daily and in each feed he has;
2 scoops of Fast fibre
1 scoop of Top line conditioning cubes
2 scoops of comp Mix
2 scoops of biotin ( the tiny scoop provided in tub)
1 Cup of farriers formular
2 Pumps of Red cell

(fyi) my scoop is a fairly small scoop, purhaps 1/2 the size of a standard round scoop.

I hope this helps
 
I think that it would be best to get in contact with Rockly Farm with a view to sending him there to help his hooves.

I'm very concerned that he is footsore even with shoes on.

ETA.
1 scoop of Top line conditioning cubes
2 scoops of comp Mix

Too much sugar.
 
Last edited:
Hi Faracat,

Thanks for your post. Purhaps sore footed in shoes wouldnt be the best way of putting it as he is not uncomfortable in the shoes but on uneven ground, if something touches his sole he is really feels it! its not a constant as such but he is really reactive to contact with his sole.

I have looked at that rocky lane online, it looks like a great place, however i doing think ill be able to afford that sort of treatment and im not convinced that Rafi will ever manage unshod as he is just far too flat footed- thats in my opinion which possibly doesnt cound for much.

I may give them a call and see what they can recommend.

Thanks :-)
 
I was convinced that my mare would never cope without shoes, but after a new farrier ruined her hooves - I had no choice.

You can read it all here. http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=549121 My mare's hooves are still not concave in the soles, but she has a new even tighter growth line coming down and I'm really hoping that when it gets down to the bottom, she'll have more concave soles.

It might be worth PM'ing Bikerchickone as her horse has been to Rockly.
 
Great thanks :-)
Your comment regarding feed, is that on opinion or fact? Not in a nasty way!
I was advised to feed him this by my trainer as he is low on weight and energy, do you think the high sugar intake could effect his feet in this way?
He has been on this diet for 2 months but had this problem since I bought him 9 months ago.
 
I feed him twice daily and in each feed he has;
2 scoops of Fast fibre
1 scoop of Top line conditioning cubes
2 scoops of comp Mix
2 scoops of biotin ( the tiny scoop provided in tub)
1 Cup of farriers formular
2 Pumps of Red cell [\QUOTE]


far too flat footed

A + B = C :)

As well as grazing (which has been ultra sweet this year), he is getting lots of starch and sugar.

It sounds like your horse has very sick hooves.

When was the last time he had a break from shoes?

If you feel you need to then it's absolutely fine to shoe to event - but they should have an annual break from constant shoeing when off season.

If your horse is hopping lame without a shoe - it means he has pretty sick hooves and the diet is wrong for him. I would address that before something major blows with a tendon/ligament/joint :).
 
Thanks Oberon
I've had him for 9 months and he has been shod for that time but I don't know about previously
A break from shoes would be a great idea but firstly I compete most of the year and secondly he would be crippled if they were taken off :-(

What would you recommend I feed him to keep weight and energy but not overload on sugar?

Open to any ideas, I totally agree his feet are horrific! Would it help if I posted some pictures of his condition and front feet?
 
Thanks Oberon
I've had him for 9 months and he has been shod for that time but I don't know about previously
A break from shoes would be a great idea but firstly I compete most of the year and secondly he would be crippled if they were taken off :-(

What would you recommend I feed him to keep weight and energy but not overload on sugar?

Open to any ideas, I totally agree his feet are horrific! Would it help if I posted some pictures of his condition and front feet?

Pics would be great (front and side view at ground level and sole view).

Fast Fibre is fine as a base. Look at this stuff http://shop.forageplus.com/epages/es137718.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es137718/Products/FPP

You can knock everything else on the head for now. The maker of that supplement competes endurance - so she understands performance nutrition.

If you need to keep shoes on - then fine. Try the dietary changes for 3 months and then review how he's doing. :)
 
I keep pressing my farrier for ideas and help but he seems to not be too worried and just says 'he is a tb and he has sh** feet' and doesn't seem overly concerned

banghead.gif
 
Originally Posted by toomanyneds
I keep pressing my farrier for ideas and help but he seems to not be too worried and just says 'he is a tb and he has sh** feet' and doesn't seem overly concerned


The untrue TB's = rubbish hooves really frustrates me too and that statement alone would make me look into a new farrier.

Honestly TMN, the one thing that I really regret with my whole saga, is that I didn't sack the bad farrier sooner. I had umpteen excuses from him as to why her hooves were so bad - most of them laying the blame with the horse - when the truth was that he was doing a bad job.

A TB is quite capable of having beautiful, strong hooves shod and/or unshod.


A break from shoes would be a great idea but firstly I compete most of the year and secondly he would be crippled if they were taken off :-(

Think of the long term picture. If you get his hooves sorted now, you should have many, many years with him. If you continue on the current course things could just get worse and worse until it's goodbye horse. I was so close to that being the case with my mare and it happened scarily quickly.
 
Ers pellets r highest energy but low calorie (fed to race horses that tie up) 7% stach. Stay power cube or shoe relate energy cubes r still above 10% starch but only just so may be a better option than current feed.
Alfa a oil or Bailey's outshine work we'll too.
 
Top