shoe puller!!

charlie44

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15 June 2011
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My horse keeps pulling her shoes off and I can't seem to find a decent over reach boot. Everyday she comes in with rips in her boots so most of the time they are saving her shoes but on average she pulls one a week. Not just the front backs aswell! Have gone back to rubber ones because they are cheaper to replace, unfortunately she has to be shod very wide and needs support for her heels and she has gell pads on the front that are very expensive! And i can't afford to keep replacing them! All her boots are very big so they do all touch the floor.
Anyone know anything else i can try?
 
Are her toes long? Long toes will alter the breakover which makes it hard for her to get her front hooves out of the way, before the hind hoof lands.
 
I'd be checking foot balance as that can be an indication it's not correct. She could also be short coupled which can also cause an issue. Mine is short coupled and not totally balanced and he's a bit clumsy and has a tendency to catch himself in the field. Although nothing like as regular as yours, he did it more when I first got him but it's much better now, which makes me think it was partly new horse messing around, getting used to being shod, and perhaps better balance and shoeing with a change of farrier.

I use cheap overreach for the field and the kevlar/neoprene ones (currently have a good pair of Masta ones which have lasted a while) for ridden work.
 
If the field is boggy or the grass has a lot of moisture in it then this will enlarge the nail holes, a bit like when we are in the bath too long and our nails go all soft and weak. This will make the shoes pull off easier. Also as Faracat said, the breakover point sounds like its wrong. Maybe the farrier can alter the shoe to encourage the breakover point to produce a quicker range of movement (if that makes sense).
 
This is normally a breakover issue .
Look at the back feet if they are running forward with weak heels there's your answer .
 
She is quite a clumsy but big moving pony, if the weather gets worse she'll be staying in more because she sulks by the gate if its cold and muddy so that'll probably help! Farrier is coming out beginning of next week so will see if theres anything different he can do for her
 
If she is pulling shoes off because she is clowning around in the field, consider restricting the amount of speed she can get up by creating a pen with electric fencing. So many horses damage themselves by galloping around and then banging the brakes on. Had to restrict my horse like this because he was pulling shoes off (especially when newly shod) and also hurting his back by galloping down the hill and then skidding into a halt or bucking like stink.
 
You might like to consider Keratex Hoof Hardener. Its brilliant stuff. It prevents the horn from taking in excess moisture, making it resistant to softening and weakening in wet conditions. This results in a reduction in shoe loss and abscesses.
 
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