So here goes....trying barefoot.

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Polonaise

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Mare has been intermittently footy in front for several years, have managed well enough up til now using various shoeing techniques, picking best ground to run on etc but has now been lame (albeit subtle) for 3 months, always sorted it in a week or two before. Have grown more heel and improved lameness but not cured. Nerve blocks to back of hoof (navicular). Mare has nice shaped strong feet but they are small and her frogs are tiny. Has never had shoes off.
So last ditch attempt we (owner vet farrier) discussed "taking shoes off and leaving in a field for 6 months", farrier surprisingly supportive says main worry is heels breaking down but says can just put shoes back on if this happens.
So, what next? Pony currently has fronts off, backs were only put on last week so waiting for a few more weeks growth before they come off too. How should I manage her feet? If she comes sound what are the chances of managing to compete to previous level (BE100)?
She is at livery so not alot of flexibility in management, good doer on short grass/sand paddock 24/7, gets small amount of leasure mix/chaf to put glucosamine in and keep her quiet.
Of course at this moment in time she is glaring at me complaining her feet dont work....
 
It would be well worth your while looking at the Rockley Farm Blog (if you haven't already) and maybe even contacting Nic for advice. You will need to get the feed right (low sugar, high fibre good vit&min supplement) and stimulate the hooves via movement. Of course you need to work (in-hand to start with) on surfaces that your pony is comfortable on, or get boots if she is too footy without. Once she is happy on smooth tarmac things will get much better. :) Don't forget to slowly increase exercise as her hooves need time to adjust. Also some people find that their horses go through a footy patch after a month - six weeks, so don't worry too much if this happens. Again, boot if needed and keep her comfortable.
 
Turning her away may not bring her sound. These horses seem to do better if they are kept in low level so work. If she was mine I would be walking her as much as I could manage, in hand if necessary.

My second rehab was still unsound after a year turned away, but sound within three months of graduated work.

Had to smile at the idea that her heels might break down,sorry :D. THat isn't going to happen.
 
Here is some interesting reading about navicular syndrome:
http://www.hoofrehab.com/NavicularSyndrome.htm
(if you press back at the end of page, you can find some other articles about barefoot).

You want to make sure the horse has a heel first landing or reestablish it if she doesn't. A bit puzzled with the heels breaking away comment. Don't panic if stuff breaks away, that's self trimming and that would likely be the wall chipping.
 
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It sound like weak heels are one of the main problems to begin with, and that will only be made worse by shoeing. From your description, it sounds like she has contracted hooves and the back of the foot is very weak. Hooves in this condition are very unhealthy.

I agree that a graduated walk programme is the way forward - hooves don't decontract and become stronger just by taking shoes off; stimulation is vital.

Also research barefoot diet, as you may need a suitable mineral balancer.
 
Thanks guys, there's some very interesting reading out there. I have more questions, sure they've been asked before but please bare with me while I get my head around this...
She's starting to realise her feet do still work but presumably she has to be comfortable walking around the paddock before we start walking out? Unfortunately any ride from ours starts on stone tracks before we have the choice between grass or tarmac, I also have access to a rubber/sand school at the yard. I'm a little confused about the progression of work, one article said the horse must be comfortable otherwise it wont land heel first but all seem to agree you have to work the hoof to get it to develop, presumably initially she is going to be uncomfortable on any given surface until the hoof develops?

I had added a salt lick and a Dengie lite lick (low sugar) to the field when the weather warmed up, the lite lick claims to contain:
Alfalfa - provides highly bio-available vitamins and minerals that help to promote healthy coat, skin and hooves.
Biotin - is also included for healthy hooves – the typical consumption rate supplies 2.5mg which is a good level for maintaining hoof quality.
Chelated minerals - are included for improved bioavailability to promote good health and condition.
Did I read somewhere that Alfalfa has caused problems in barefoot horses? I thought it provided protein which is of course is necessary for hoof growth? I keep all my horses on fairly megre rations anyway but am aware I may not be providing sufficient protein, vits and mins when the grass is poor.

Thanks again for your input
 
Keep the salt lick, but definitely consider removing the Dengie one. However 'lite' they claim it is, I will put money on it being loaded with molasses.
Alfalfa is great for horses in hard work, but if you have any footie issues it is best avoided. How about a good hoof supplement such as ProHoof or ForagePlus fed in a little Fast Fibre or unmolassed beet?
 
Got to ForagePlus and get yourself a bag of their winter balancer (if she is not getting much grass, the winter one) and feed that - takes the guesswork out of it.

Most of the commercially available licks are a waste of cash to be honest and get washed away.

Salt licks good, but better to put it in their feeds.

AS CPTrayes says - plenty of work on whatever surfaces she will tolerate and make sure you keep on top of any thrush or infection in these developing frogs
 
Boots and pads are really useful for horses like these; it'll keep her comfy enough to start some gentle walking in hand, and removes the worry about what types of surface she'll have to negotiate.
 
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