Shoeing question

B

baymareb

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 July 2010
Messages
524
Location
California, U.S.
Visit site
My TB mare tends to drift to the side a lot when I ride on the road that circles our yard. I realized the other day that she's moving to walk on the softer verge. Which makes me think the hard road (and it's very hard - like concrete) bothers her.

She doesn't limp or short stride, I don't think it's anything in her legs (she just had a chiro adjustment 2 weeks ago and he found nothing wrong in her legs) - I'm thinking her soles are tender even though she does wear shoes.

So I'm thinking pads may be the answer. Does that make sense to you? Honestly, I've never had a horse that had foot issues - all my former horses had feet like iron. I'm going to discuss it with my farrier of course, but thought I'd get from feedback from others.
 
Come on - someone must have an opinion. You guys have opinions on everything!

Also want to say, she is not necessarily flat soled and she's not bruising. But I do think she's sensitive to it and I don't think it's her legs.
 
I'm a Huge Fan of waring Old MAc generation 2 Boots, i have single handedly converted all my livery farm onto them, where the metal shoe can cause weakness and sensitivity, the Old Mac, has a sole that covers all the hoof and gives you additional grip, its like a trainer for horses, i wont lie, they dont look as appealing as a shoe, but you also get the benefit of over reach protection, gaiters to stop rubbing, and sole is spongy to a degree so your horse prob wont try and walk on the grass, and i also discovered they are pretty useful if you have to ride out in the snow and ice, they are washable ..... and this is the biggest reason id ever give you, i bought my pair last year for £120, im still using them today - i have saved over £400 in shoeing fees.... honestly they are amazing, but it'd be handy to get you farrier to measure the foot, coz there are other boots on the market that will suit your horses foot better (easy care website) has most the details,

have a look and see what you think? you can do everything in them
46955_422610166790_558991790_5436835_3037739_n.jpg
 
I think most horses shod or otherwise would choose to walk on the nice soft verge, rather than the hard and concusive concrete?

She could of course have a touch of LGL?
 
Talk to your farrier.

I tend to agree with Ellesbells that any horse - shod or not would prefer to walk on softer grass (possibly even with the chance to snatch a mouthfull!) than on hard tarmac. Indeed I think most humans would proabbly prefer to do the same.

If she is preferring to walk on grass because of pain, rather than just the comfort factor, there could be any number of reasons which are not directly foot related. Hard surfaces will jar all the joints.

If anyone knows if she is footy then it will be your farrier. Start with him. Pads under shoes have thier own problems - not to mention cost - so you need to know it is the right thing.
 
Have you had her long?
When I first got my horse who was shod all round, he used to try to walk on the grass too. According to his previous owners, at some point he had only been shod on the front and so would try and walk on the grass to cushion his feet, and it had become a habit. I just rode him firmly and he stopped doing it.
 
noblesteed said:
Have you had her long?
When I first got my horse who was shod all round, he used to try to walk on the grass too. According to his previous owners, at some point he had only been shod on the front and so would try and walk on the grass to cushion his feet, and it had become a habit. I just rode him firmly and he stopped doing it.
Click to expand...
Mine has pads, they cost £25 a pair, but the farrier said that they should last for several months and re-fits - they have gone back on once so far. He puts them on eventers and says that they last the whole season. I was watching my horse walk across the field yesterday and he has a perfect heel first landing, and he does seem happier on the roads.

I don't know what the pads are, but they have some reinforcing at the frog and they have some yellow on the edge, so I have to put black varnish on if we are showing.
 
I don't think it is the hardness of the road, I suspect what she feels is the camber on the road. The roads I ride on, and some are worse than others, have quite sever cambers - that means they slope down towards the grass verge, this makes it uncomfortable for the horse, so my mare always wanted to walk in the centre of the road, where it is more flat. You should try walking the same route as your horse, you should feel what she feels regards the camber.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top