Shoeing advice for a horse who brushes...?

cc14

cc14

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My new horse brushes his back legs so wears bandages when ridden and in the field. However someone has suggested that the farrier may be able to do something to help. Does anyone have ay knowledge or experience of this? He does it more when he is out in the field than when ridden so it is more for his own safety than my inconvenience of always having to bandage!

Thanks :)
 
No back shoes is one thing I considered was hoping someone migh bring it up!

And I bandage simply because it means less chance of dirt/grit getting in there and causing any problems...just a personal preference :)
 
Removing hind shoes stopped my horse brushing within 48 hours but you have to let the horse wear his feet to the balance which suits him. You will still need somebody very experienced to keep him trimmed right for his conformation.
 
planete said:
Removing hind shoes stopped my horse brushing within 48 hours but you have to let the horse wear his feet to the balance which suits him. You will still need somebody very experienced to keep him trimmed right for his conformation.
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I agree with the first half of this but not the way the second half reads (but I think it was meant to mean what I would agree with). You need to let the horse produce the foot balance that he wants for himself. This requires NOT trimming, not trimming. You may need an experienced trimmer to know when it is right not to trim. Take his shoes off and do as much work on rough surfaces as will match what he grows. He knows what foot he needs to cope with whatever lack of straightness makes him brush. He may completely stop doing it. He may, though, grow some odd shaped feet with natural "extensions" on them or collateral grooves higher on one side that the other. If he does, and is sound, they should be left alone.
 
My horse did this for a short while when he was a baby, as he got stronger he grew out of it but we over came it by putting a sausage boot on him when he was in field and ridden. Also the farriers feathered the inside edges of his hind shoes so he couldn't catch himself with them.
 
My old mare is still booted up in the field for fronts. Young horse wears sausage boots on BOTH ! back legs and over reach boots but I don't worry about him as he will change as he muscles up. Is the brushing really that bad you need to think about taking off his hinds? and if you did, have you had advice on the best way to get your horse ready for it as its not as straightforward as just taking them off? As a precaution when my new horse arrived, he and his friend from the dealers both had hinds taken off till they sorted themselves out with the field hierarchy and then put back on a week later. Mine brushed the same without shoes as he did with. I also only worked him lightly till he was shod again.

Interesting comment about the boots and dirt but with the better fit of the new ones it shouldn't really be such an issue. My yard tends to keep more of an eye on the legs overheating and turn out boots are washed weekly regardless.
 
Cptrayes. I realise the second part of my answer was a bit ambiguous. I think it reflects the mixed feelings I still have at the odd shape my horse self-trims his hind feet. I feel that left completely uncorrected the imbalance would get worse and worse making him put more and more weight on the outside of his hooves. My compromise consists of keeping en eye on it and lightly rasping down the higher heel by about half the difference in height between it and the inside heel when it seems to get too much for comfort. Am I wrong and would the increasing imbalance actually start correcting itself if allowed to go further? I am afraid I have been too worried about possible joint and muscle strain to use him as a guinea pig in this way but would be very interested in anybody else's experience.
 
planete said:
Cptrayes. I realise the second part of my answer was a bit ambiguous. I think it reflects the mixed feelings I still have at the odd shape my horse self-trims his hind feet. I feel that left completely uncorrected the imbalance would get worse and worse making him put more and more weight on the outside of his hooves. My compromise consists of keeping en eye on it and lightly rasping down the higher heel by about half the difference in height between it and the inside heel when it seems to get too much for comfort. Am I wrong and would the increasing imbalance actually start correcting itself if allowed to go further? I am afraid I have been too worried about possible joint and muscle strain to use him as a guinea pig in this way but would be very interested in anybody else's experience.
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That's such a difficult question. I don't know what I'd do if he were mine unless I could see how he moves. If he seems to move better after your trim then I'd probably do what you are doing. You are right to be concerned that it is "experimentation" to see how he goes best. I wish there were some hard and fast rules, but there aren't! Except perhaps "if the horse is sound, trust the horse".
 
I think the vast majority of horses could go without back shoes, even if their fronts might be difficult. None of my three ever need boots at the back, but two of them often do in front. The only reason I would see for having back shoes on is if you wanted to stud.
 
Thanks everyone :) Was just doing a bit of research before the farrier this afternoon! Currently trying a sausage boot in the field and seems to be working well...fingers crossed! :)
 
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