Sorry - another barefoot advice post......

[mischamoo]

Would someone with a bit more knowledge about bare footers be able to reassure me about having back shoes off my neddies?

Both horses have been without back shoes now for 2 months, one was quite sore when backs came off and picked up a bruise on sole and was lame for a couple weeks (vet suggested it was picked up as feet were cut too short and prepared as if having a shoe put on, soles and frogs were also trimmed very short) but is fine now and both horses seem to be coping well with turnout (pretty much 24/7 at the moment) both get hacked on mixture of surfaces (roads and fields) at the weekend, and get schooled/lunged in the fields 4 times in the week. With the odd jumping comp or dressage comp thrown in a couple times a month.

This shoeing round, I asked for fronts to be done as normal but frogs/soles on backs to be left as they are and pretty much just run a rasp round the edges to tidy them up as they been self trimming quite well on the backs and were in great condition. However I feel like farrier is slightly pushing me abit into get their backs put back on when I don’t particularly feel like they need at the moment, they are coping with the work they’re in, haven’t seemed sore/lame. Have been told that I run a higher risk or abscesses with back shoes off and potentially more injuries. Both horses have decent feet, good conditioned, grow well, may have slightly thinner soles than most horses (they are TB’s) but I would say are in fantastic condition and the best they’ve been since I’ve had both of them.

I certainly don’t want to run the risk of abscesses or injuries having back shoes off but I feel like both horses are content and able to cope with the work they’re in. Do you think it was a bit of a scare tactic to have that said to me as surely horses with shoes still pick up abscesses!! Can anyone provide some reassurance that I’m doing the right thing to stick to my guns and leave back shoes off, or offer some advice??! If at any point I felt that they became sore or needed the support of back shoes, without hesistation I'd put them back on but I'd like to keep them as natural as possible!!

 

[dianchi]

Change farrier if he isn't listening to what you want for your horses.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing! Keep on track!

 

[mischamoo]

Change farrier if he isn't listening to what you want for your horses.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing! Keep on track!

Thanks dianchi for the reasssurance. I think he took the view that because they're both still a bit footy on gravel tracks they need the shoes back on but in my view being a bit footy on gravel tracks for a horse who's had back shoes off for only 2 months is fairly normal? Is the comment about the higher risk or getting abscesses correct?

 

[AnShanDan]

What sort of injuries?? Many injuries to legs are from having shoes on, i.e. brushing/striking into themselves. Every year I have a few of these, not usually serious, but still, kicking yourself with a metal shoe on can cause damage. Not to mention losing a shoe can do damage to the foot itself. Just in the process of dealing with mare with puncture in sole/white line from quarter clip.

One of the additional benefits of no shoes is just this: less likely to injure themselves.

My old farrier told me that one of mine couldn't go without shoes as his feet would wear away walking 20m to the field and back

 

[dianchi]

I don't think its really been given long enough to be fair 8 weeks isn't really that long!

I wouldn't think the risk of abscess is that much higher, unless you have holes or a wide white line there is slight increase, but no more than having shoes on!

 

[mischamoo]

What sort of injuries??

Nothing specific was mentioned.........!

I don't think its really been given long enough to be fair 8 weeks isn't really that long!

I wouldn't think the risk of abscess is that much higher, unless you have holes or a wide white line there is slight increase, but no more than having shoes on!

No i didn't think 8 weeks was long enough either - and no, no holes or wide white lines to increase risk of infection to the hoof.

Have been using Keratex Hoof Hardener as per instructions, so hope that will help with hardening up soles and help with the footiness.

 

[amandap]

I wouldn't think the risk of abscess is that much higher, unless you have holes or a wide white line there is slight increase, but no more than having shoes on!

Having the sole and frog trimmed might well increase the risk of bruising and then abscess as they both need to be thick and for a callous to be able to form for protection from stones etc.
Bruised thin soles is a common cause of abscesses I believe.

It sounds like he is doing well now the sole and frog aren't being trimmed (thinned each trim?). If he is sound and moving well I wouldn't worry, as time passes his back hooves should continue improving.

ps. Just read your last post. Is he footy on his hind hooves? Might be best to keep off gravel atm if so, or get some boots.

 

[amandap]

Also if they've both got thin soles you need to look at diet in the first instance (sole trimming being another cause). I suggest you message Oberon and ask for the diet sheets she kindly gives out.
Much better than my babble!

http://www.hoofrehab.com/WhyThinSoles.html

 

[mischamoo]

Is he footy on his hind hooves? Might be best to keep off gravel atm if so, or get some boots.

Yes footy on hind hooves, only on stoney surfaces really, and I purchased a pair of cavallos just before shoes were removed, to put on for instances where I think we'll encounter gravel out hacking!

Also if they've both got thin soles you need to look at diet in the first instance (sole trimming being another cause). I suggest you message Oberon and ask for the diet sheets she kindly gives out.
Much better than my babble!

http://www.hoofrehab.com/WhyThinSoles.html

Thank you! Yes already messaged Oberon a little while ago, both are on unmollassed beet, linseed and probalance. And looking at all feet, it looks like my instructions were taken heed of this time and the trimming of the sole and frog were left, so hopefully any soreness won't be apparent this time round.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Nothing specific was mentioned.........!



No i didn't think 8 weeks was long enough either - and no, no holes or wide white lines to increase risk of infection to the hoof.

Have been using Keratex Hoof Hardener as per instructions, so hope that will help with hardening up soles and help with the footiness.

Generally speaking the soles and the walls are best left without any treatment, though I can understand you doing it.
How long have you been feeding minerals for the hooves. I am assuming you have!
Also, at first I was fastidious about brushing the soles to keep checking for "gravel" in the white line.
And I made sure he got 20-30 mins per day walking on a tarmac road
There is no doubt in my mind that for most horses shoeing is more likely to cause injury than anything else.
Just watched a cowboy film and noticed they were all barefoot, and walking on very rough trails, all sound, there must have been 20 or 30 of them.
I would phone up pro earth and ask for advice, you might need to go on to pro hoof for a bit.
Is the diet low in sugars......... no molasses/moglo or even worse lickity things...........