Shoes on a pregnant mare?

Tempi

Tempi

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I know shoes are taken off for foaling however i was wondering if anyone has ever left them on?

Basically last year at this time my mare had just come sound after being out on loan and being very badly shod, she had corrective shoeing (from my farrier as i took her back from the loan home) and she came sound (back in full ridden work - elementary/medium level dressage). I then put her in foal (vet agreed she was fine). Shes been out of her ''special'' shoes for about 6 weeks now and is now lame on the same leg she was lame before, shes not that keen on walking but she is still being turned out daily to try and stop her from getting stiff. Obviously the weight of the foal has aggrevated her old injury which myself, my farrier and my vet had all thought was fine. She is the size of a house (seriously!!) and is due any day (day 355 today) but obviously i want her as comfortable as possible and if this involves putting her shoes back on to help her then so be it.

Suggestions? Ive contacted my farrier who is like every other farrier in the country and takes about a month to reply or phone back, am also waiting for my vet to phone me back (he also takes ages but will phone me back today at least). Ive just bought her some alphabute which she will start tonight (its fine for pregnant mares and the vet at Global Herbs advised it as its meant to help provide instant relief). I will also bandage her legs every night for extra support. I was also thinking about getting my Bowen lady out to check her over?

ETA - its definitely not laminitis or anything like that its exactly the same ''lameness'' that she had before.
 
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She wont walk in boots, we've already tried. I know it sounds pathetic but i dont want to bully her at this late stage and she literally hated the boots. If she wasnt pregnant i would have made her at least try and walk in them but not when shes so far gone.

She needed the shoes before because her foot conformation had got so bad where she was badly shod by the loan homes farrier, thats why i was thinking putting shoes back on her might help.

I had thought about trying to poultice her feet instead of the boots?

ETA - PS, you're back :) :D
 
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I'd be looking at pads or boots if you think its her old injury for turnout. Hope you get something sorted poor girl, hopefully baby will come soon and relieve the pressure.
 
She wont walk in boots, we've already tried. I know it sounds pathetic but i dont want to bully her at this late stage and she literally hated the boots.
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Perfectly fair enough.

How about wrapping them up in nappies??
 
Oh we cross posted. Look at pads, you can cut them to size and duct tape on. They work really well to relieve pressure. I think its podiatry supplied if you want to look. : )
 
Super - thank you :) Am going to my local tack shop after work to pick up her supplement so will see if they have anything suitable before ordering online - or if not will get nappies! :D
 
I can't think of a stud I've worked on that has ever removed the shoes on foaling mares. I'm talking front shoes, as obviously hind ones are not worn ever, on a stud. We've one fabulous mare that simply cannot have her fronts removed. Druid on here knows her too. She's had laminitis previously and her feet have never been the same since. So whilst I understand your worries, what I'm trying to say is, you can leave her fronts on xx
 
Ok thank you :) Ive got the farrier coming tomorrow to do Jupi so think i'll see if he can put her fronts back on then to make her more comfortable (thats providing she dosent foal tonight!!)

ETA - They have different farriers as im paranoid about Bloss's feet and only let one farrier do them but am sure if i keep a strict eye on Jupi's farrier (!!!) he'll be ok to put fronts back on Bloss.
 
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How about imprint shoes?? They are plastic shoes u glue on, bit pricey but wud poss do less damage, u cud always use for one set then go back to normal once foal is a little more with it n agile :)
 
Thank you for the replies everyone - have padded her front feet with towels cut to shape and about 2inches thick and attached on with duct tape. She was much happier after being in the field today so think the walking around did her good too as it loosened her up. Have just bandaged her back legs.

She's literally pouring milk now so am really hoping for tonight bless her.
 
Yeah my mare, lottie, had front shoes on as she was crippled without the heel support (she had an kick injury to her hind leg which meant she loaded her weight on to her fronts). Everything was fine, and she was a maiden :)

Good Luck with Blossy :D hope she foals soon and it all goes well!
 
MillionDollar said:
Yeah my mare, lottie, had front shoes on as she was crippled without the heel support (she had an kick injury to her hind leg which meant she loaded her weight on to her fronts). Everything was fine, and she was a maiden :)

Good Luck with Blossy :D hope she foals soon and it all goes well!
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Thats exactly what Bloss is doing, shes got this old injury behind and is loading all her weight on to her fronts.

Problem is though she cant stand on 3 legs for very long (!) so i dont think putting her shoes back on is going to be an option any more as she wont be able to stand for the farrier (poor girl).
 
Our mare is due next week, nearly two years ago she broke her knee and subsequently developed foot imbalance which made her lame so she is in front shoes all the time. She was shod about 4 weeks ago, and will be a bit late being done this time due to foaling, as I don't think its not fair to have her standing on 3 legs for very long!
 
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