Thought's on shoes and Ringbone?

[0310Star]

Long story short, my mare has been barefoot for almost 4 years and diagnosed with Ringbone, DJD and sidebone for nearly 3 years. I have always managed her barefoot (strictly 6 week trims), with a joint supplement, keeping her legs warm in winter and not doing any fast work on hard ground.
She has had Tildren twice within a year (before insurance stopped) which worked well and has lasted about 2 years but recently I have noticed she is getting quite stiff. I don't think the cold is helping but I am also well aware that her problems are degenerative. She isn't lame, but she doesn't seem quite right either.

I am going to call my vet in a minute and I have just spoken to my farrier to see if there is anything we can do to help and he has suggested comfort front shoes which are made with leverage reduction in mind. I am going to run this past my vet, baring in mind my vet has ALWAYS wanted her in pads and wedges since diagnosis but I have always been reluctant to put shoes on until she really needed them. The same with bute, not used bar the odd sachet a year until I really need to.

Can I have peoples thoughts on these type of shoes for her condition? I have also changed her bedding from pellets to straw in the hope it would help with the warmth factor but she still seems quite stiff even after a day in the field.

Thanks in advance

 

[0310Star]

Nobody?

 

[Scarlett]

Have you thought about putting her on something like Devils Claw or Boswellia instead? they are anti-inflammatory and might just make her all the more comfortable. I have an arthritic boy we got injected, it's worn off a bit but he isn't lame, just gets a bit stiff especially in cold weather, so he gets one or the other and it keeps him happy. Daily bute would be to much and I'm wary of the long term effects so this is an excellent happy medium.

 

[0310Star]

Scarlett, I will certainly look into this. Using bute long term isn't a massive concern as 3 years ago on diagnosis the vet assured me that her leg issues would kill her far sooner than any effect of long term bute. Its just more a case of not wanting to use it until I have to I think.

I am still waiting for the vet to call me back but she definitely is starting to feel it a bit I think! I just want to make her comfortable and happy

 

[poiuytrewq]

Op, I'm in a similarish position but reversed!
My horse has shoes and is shod in a way to help his arthritis. In my ignorance I know little about shoes having always just trusted my farrier to do a good job! *shameful I know
Just recently some one asked me why on earth I insist on shoes and in what possible way did I think nailing metal to my horse would help his joints!
Threw me a bit and I'm now trying to become more clued up in this field but if my horse were already comfy without shoes I think I'd be inclined to stick to that going on the little I've learnt so far.
Mines just had his removed to see if he gets used to it whilst having a bit of a break.
I'd highly highly recommend equine America Buteless extra strength to try. It's cheap and worked for years for my horse.

 

[Sukistokes2]

Hello

My lad Ffin had ringbone of his front foot. My farrier always stated that he felt that they did better barefoot, however my horse hated being bare footed. We used natural balanced roll topped shoes and these seemed to do the trick for my horse. I also used Devils claw, which I had seen make a huge difference to my dog, so I gave it to my horse as well. He also was on Danilon, at first, one every other day and then once a day. I developed a regime which helped my horse and helped keep him going. It is as follows......I kept him a low weight, just under good. His saddle and back were checked at least three times a year and believe me that makes a huge difference. He has acupuncture, which he loves!! I would always walk him out in hand for the first half a mile. I would lead down very steep hills ( I live on top of the north downs, when I mean steep I mean STEEP!) If I trotted on the road it was very short bursts. When the ground was hard I kept to walk and took up dressage to help pass the time in the summer and also to help my horse have a better way of going. I never jumped him. I was told I had three riding years if I was lucky........I did four. He is now going feral in a field and having a great time, laughing at my other horse for having to do all the work.

 

[0310Star]

Op, I'm in a similarish position but reversed!
My horse has shoes and is shod in a way to help his arthritis. In my ignorance I know little about shoes having always just trusted my farrier to do a good job! *shameful I know
Just recently some one asked me why on earth I insist on shoes and in what possible way did I think nailing metal to my horse would help his joints!
Threw me a bit and I'm now trying to become more clued up in this field but if my horse were already comfy without shoes I think I'd be inclined to stick to that going on the little I've learnt so far.
Mines just had his removed to see if he gets used to it whilst having a bit of a break.
I'd highly highly recommend equine America Buteless extra strength to try. It's cheap and worked for years for my horse.

Poiuytrewq - It really is a minefield! My mare has rock crunching feet, she really can work on all the same ground shod horse can (And she's a TB ) But with her ringbone it is all about balance. She is slightly pigeon toed too which doesn't help! Trouble is, I have kept her barefoot for as long as I have been able to but I knew eventually she would need remedial shoeing. My farrier has always agreed that she is fine barefoot so to leave her to it but even he has agreed that it may be time now
I will do what I need to to keep her happy and comfortable though so I'm not ruling it out.

I just wondered if anybody else has had to shoe later on after diagnosis and if it has helped?

 

[0310Star]

Hello

My lad Ffin had ringbone of his front foot. My farrier always stated that he felt that they did better barefoot, however my horse hated being bare footed. We used natural balanced roll topped shoes and these seemed to do the trick for my horse. I also used Devils claw, which I had seen make a huge difference to my dog, so I gave it to my horse as well. He also was on Danilon, at first, one every other day and then once a day. I developed a regime which helped my horse and helped keep him going. It is as follows......I kept him a low weight, just under good. His saddle and back were checked at least three times a year and believe me that makes a huge difference. He has acupuncture, which he loves!! I would always walk him out in hand for the first half a mile. I would lead down very steep hills ( I live on top of the north downs, when I mean steep I mean STEEP!) If I trotted on the road it was very short bursts. When the ground was hard I kept to walk and took up dressage to help pass the time in the summer and also to help my horse have a better way of going. I never jumped him. I was told I had three riding years if I was lucky........I did four. He is now going feral in a field and having a great time, laughing at my other horse for having to do all the work.

Thanks Sukistokes2, that's good to hear. My horse is good barefoot but like I say I think the time has come she may need a little help. The farrier has suggested putting flat pads under the comfort shoe's to help with concussion which may be an option! I try not to treat her too differently to other horses as otherwise I think you get really wrapped up in wrapping them in cotton wool, I also try and keep her a little below the perfect weight, not trotting on roads unless I need to for short bursts, No jumping and her supplement on top of that and this has worked for the last 3 years. I think it may just need a little tweaking

 

[cptrayes]

I can't see where you have said, but have you told us how old the horse is?

 

[0310Star]

I can't see where you have said, but have you told us how old the horse is?

Sorry, she is 16 nearly 17!

 

[skint1]

I haven't read all the replies so apologies if I am no the wrong track,
My mare has sidebone, she is barefoot behind and currently her front feet are shod with some kind of pink putty pads with plastic mesh over the top. My farrier doesn't like the idea of using pads long term so I think she'll be in "normal" shoes again this time round.

I am currently trying to get a certain farrier to take her onto his books, I really like his approach to her issues and he would like to try these: http://www.easycareinc.com/our_shoes/easyshoe.aspx which I think (in principle) seems like a good compromise, but I haven't yet researched it to a huge degree, will do closer to the time

 

[Firefly9410]

Have you tried using stable bandages to keep her legs warm at night? If you use fybagee underneath you can stick it out both ends so it covers the knee and coronet too. With a split down the back at the top so the knee can bend.

 

[0310Star]

Have you tried using stable bandages to keep her legs warm at night? If you use fybagee underneath you can stick it out both ends so it covers the knee and coronet too. With a split down the back at the top so the knee can bend.

I use stable wraps at night and they dont seem to be doing much!! Have just spoken to the vet who has suggested back in for xrays, blocks and re medicating if needed and then probably shoes... Not a great time of year for a bill of that size!!

 

[Firefly9410]

Has anyone told you what it is that the shoes would do, that the natural hoof will not do? As an outsider who does not have all the facts, I am struggling to see how shoes could help. I am interested because I have a horse with arthritis in fetlocks.

 

[0310Star]

Has anyone told you what it is that the shoes would do, that the natural hoof will not do? As an outsider who does not have all the facts, I am struggling to see how shoes could help. I am interested because I have a horse with arthritis in fetlocks.

Its to do with the balance, I am no expert but the vet has just told me they recommend them with horse with ringbone. I think its basically anything to help slow down degeneration which good support with shoes can do. She has advised not to use pads but to use the shoes and to ease break over.

She did also just say though that I must have been doing something right between now and then as for her to stay sound for this long without bute etc is bl**dy good going! Makes me realize how glad I am that I went with my gut 3 years ago and kept her barefoot.

 

[Firefly9410]

Thanks. It still does not make any sense to me why the hooves themselves can not be balanced and trimmed to ease breakover. I think I will be keeping mine unshod for now. He is sound enough anyway and his hooves look balanced. I hope you can find a solution for keeping your horse sound

 

[cptrayes]

Its to do with the balance, I am no expert but the vet has just told me they recommend them with horse with ringbone. I think its basically anything to help slow down degeneration which good support with shoes can do. She has advised not to use pads but to use the shoes and to ease break over.

She did also just say though that I must have been doing something right between now and then as for her to stay sound for this long without bute etc is bl**dy good going! Makes me realize how glad I am that I went with my gut 3 years ago and kept her barefoot.

I'm struggling to make sense of this, sorry. She's sixteen, and you are being congratulated on how long she has kept sound with no shoes on, and now she is lame shoes are the answer.

Unless they are proposing something like wedges to change the angle of the foot completely, I can't see why she can't be trimmed to bring the breakover back.

I think if I was you I might ask what shoes will do that trimming can't, but at the end of the day, one set can't hurt, and you should know pretty well immediately if they reduce the pain from the arthritis.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I am no expert, no experience of ringbone at all, but if you look at Rockley there are some horses with very strange hooves which have been allowed to self trim/balance. Nic is very supportive, I would drop her an email.

 

[0310Star]

She is 16, and at the age of 13/14 she was expected to be no more than a field ornament. I have been congratulated on the fact that I have managed to keep her sound and in full ridden work without the help of bute.
Shoes or not, something like ring bone can be mamaged and although I prefer her barefoot I am willing to try anything that will give her a pain free and happy life.

I am in the mind of quality over quantity, so the reason for this thread was to ask for anybody with experience of shoeing for this as it is something I am new to, not to start a barefoot debate.

I trust my vets and my farrier and I will be going on the advice they give me once she is re X rayed if I feel what they are suggesting is right for her.

Thanks again for all of the replies