Shoeing Advice please

L

Lauralegg

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2 February 2010
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Hi,
I was just wondering if I could get some advice
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Purdy is an Anglo Arab, who doesn't have great feet. She is only shod on the fronts, but every year when we get to this time of the winter she constantly takes them off. She was shod about 2 weeks ago, and within a few days we were down a shoe. She just stands on the back of them, and because her feet aren't great, the ground is so wet, causing her feet to be so wet, they come off a lot easier. As I said, It's just Feb and March i have this problem. The rest of the year, she is fine.

She is only out from about 8am til 4 pm. She needs turnout everyday as she is quite highly strung and weaves when in for too long. I've tried over reach boots and they make no difference.

So, she pulled the last shoe off within a week of having it put back on, so I decided to leave it off, and see if she was sound enough to be schooled. Unfortunately not. She's fine in walk, but footy in trot.

As she is highly strung, she really does need riding daily to keep her sain.

So the question is, what do I do now? I can't afford to have the farrier out once a week, and having nails hammered into her feet so much would just cause them to crack and fall apart, but if I leave her with no shoes on, she will go loopy from lack of regular work.

I think the only option I have is to try some of the boots that you can put on and take off. I've spoken to my farrier about them, and he doesn't rate them at all and put me off a bit.

So any suggestions, experiences with the boots would be great. Thanks a lot!!!

Laura
 
Hi, you may get better advise from barefoot folk. There are boots, but to get the best out of them apparently is to have them professionally fitted is what I understand
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I use Old Mac's G1's, G2's and Boas on mine (for different shape of feet) and they are all great. I've heard good things about the Easyboot too but they don't make them big enough for my clodhoppers. The most important thing with the boots is getting the fit right - if it's not they don't work at all. The easycare site has lots of good info about this, and you can sometimes pick up cheap used boots on Ebay to try for fit.
 
Sounds like shoes off in the winter is your best bet, you can measure her feet yourself and then find boots to fit her. the different makes often have slightly different shapes and the best thing you can do is get them fitted. See if there is anyone near you who perhaps does it or ask someone you know to help you or ring some of the companies with her measurements
 
I use hoof boots a lot and compete in them too - I'm surprised your farrier dismissed them so out of hand... has he ever used them or competed in them? I've done 50 mile endurance rides in hoof boots, over and through mud, rocks, rivers, roads etc etc. In the States people have won 100 mile race rides in them - if they can cope with doing a 100 a miles in a day I reckon they can cope with anything! I run a hoof boot fitting service if you're close enough to me or can advise by email or phone if not. It's not quite up and running yet but will also be selling boots online via my website and in person to my clients (I'm a trimmer). If you measure up your horse's feet I can advise you further... PM me or have a look at my website and email me from there. There might also be things you can do to make her sound without boots or shoes - particularly having a look at her diet.
 
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