Shoeing help?!?

HannahPatsy

HannahPatsy

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Hi... just after peoples thoughts and experiences on different types of shoeing and whether different types of shoes can cause a horse to move differently, to the point of going lame or stiff in their movement?
My farrier recently changed my horses front shoes from quarter clips to natural balance shoes and I don't think she has looked right since - looks very stiff in front and doesn't move through her shoulder as much. She did go very lame the day she was shod and my farrier said she had mechanical laminitis from the shoeing and she came sound in a few days.
Her feet look very boxy compared to normal, but also very uneven (if that makes sense?), as she is very slightly pigeon toed.
I'm going to ask him to put the quarter clip shoes back on and hope that I see a difference for the good! But would like to hear if people have had any similar experiences?
Thanks
 
Hi Hannah
hang on in there with the natural balance - it's the only way to longterm soundness - I found 2 great websites and both farriers were happy to advise over the phone if you need reassurance David at www.totalfootprotection.com and Clive at www.equinefootprotection.co.uk I have used NB for all my horses for over 10 years - it has scientific evidence to back it up in addition to common sense. Don't take too much notice of the front feet it's the hind feet balance thats really important. Make sure your NB farrier has been trained to trim and fit these shoes. Call David to check as he runs the NB farrier quaifications in the UK.
 
how long has she been shod NB? What was her hoof pastern axis like before? Broken back? Why did your farrier think NB should be the way forward.

My farrier shoes all his horses so the hoof pastern axis is correct. With the aid of NB this can often been corrected.
 
Galaxy23 is correct about the hoof pastern axis but the breakover point is more important and only NB shoes allow for this. Horses should be shod according to movement too and not enough farriers care wether a horse is correctly shod or not or are too ignorant to find out how.They do 4 years training and then NOTHING. All professionals in other fields do post graduate training as part of their registrations - too many farriers fit shoes like they are laying bricks and not offering a professional service.
 
easypeasy said:
not enough farriers care wether a horse is correctly shod or not or are too ignorant to find out how.They do 4 years training and then NOTHING. All professionals in other fields do post graduate training as part of their registrations - too many farriers fit shoes like they are laying bricks and not offering a professional service.
Click to expand...

Do you know this as Gospel, or are you tarring the majority with the same brush because of the minority.
Farriers do take part in CPD to improve their knowledge and to keep up with Modern methodology as and when it becomes available.
If you think your Farrier is not offering a professional service, then there is a procedure for complaints.

OP
Some horses do re-act negatively to NB when first fitted, perhaps your horse is one of these.
 
Horses are all indervidual some will go better with one type of shoeing others better another NB shoes can be very effective and work very well with many horses however not all horses like them. mechanical laminitis due to the shoes is possiable but would be more likley due to the trimming done did he take lots off?? or it was complete cocincednce and nothing to do with the shoes.
My horse had a very strange reaction to lateral extentions and pads behind she had had them on for one shoeing fine the next shoeing developed a very strange gait (strignhalt like)vet and farrier very confused by it took them off and within 48 hours stoped it??? S o theydon't always follow the text book!
 
Peter026
In this area we have a sad lack of farriers undertaking CDP. Many slap shoes on and undercut other farriers - I want cheap soap powder not cheap shoeing. 30 years ago my farrier always watched my horses move before shoeing them - how many farriers do even a simple check like this. I am lucky and have a good farrier - I pay him a decent amount for looking after my horses feet and expect him to take notice and respond to my comments about how my horse feels when ridden. I suppose its down to the Professional bodies to improve standards.......
 
As easypeasy says it might be a good idea to check that your farrier is properly trained in NB techniques. No disrespect to him intended but anyone can buy NB shoes and the trim used is very different from the traditional.

If your horse had long toes then the blood supply to the circumflex (sp?) artery may have been restricted (the same effect as you standing on a hose pipe - your weight will slow the flow of water. The first time horses have Natural Balance applied this pressure should be relieved so it may be the correct flow of additional blood to the foot that your horse is feeling.
 
easypeasy said:
Don't take too much notice of the front feet it's the hind feet balance thats really important.
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Uh??????????????????????????????

What a very odd statement to make when a horse carries the majority of its weight on its front feet and when navicular syndrome is very rarely found in a hind foot and when many horses only require shoes on the front feet. How on EARTH can the front feet not matter?

If your horse has very flat feet and thin soles, then a Natural Balance shoe wil run directly under the point of the pedal bone and can cause significant lameness as the pedal bone presses onto the shoe through the sole.
 
Thanks for all your advice... it is extremely helpful!

I am in the process of finding out if my farrier has been trained in NB. I only just found out that he is letting the apprentice shoe her, when I specifically told him of her previous problems (inflammation suspensory/annular ligament in hind leg) and advised that the vet thinks the main cause of this was bad shoeing!... Think I need to look for a new farrier??? lol. But there are no decent ones in the area?!

When he said that the horse had mechanical laminitis the day she was shod my response to him was 'is that another meaning for bad shoeing' - he had no come back!

This is the second time she has been shod with NB and she seems worse this time round. The toe is overhanging the shoe and the shoe itself is very close to the frog, so no wonder she is feeling pain.

He is coming out this week, so will be having a long discussion and make sure he does a proper assessment so that she is shod correctly in future, or I will be trawling the length of the country every 5-6 weeks to get a decent farrier!!
 
It is correct that the toe is over the shoe and the shoe is near the frog as they are designed to support the pedal bone.

This is not to say that your horse is well shod. Sometimes they do go lame before they come sound.

Can you speak to David Nicholls about your farrier and check he is properly trained?
 
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