to keep a sore horse barefoot or provide shoes for instant temporary relief?-

[ApacheWarrior1]

As per the title.... my cob has been barefoot all his life, (8)years, but I have only owned him a couple of years.. he is extremely footy on the gravel tracks we are on and I dont know whether to persevere with the barefoot option - with little bouts of exercise, or bite the bullet and have front shoes put on to alleviate things for a while..... neither my vet nor farrier have offered any other suggestions than shoes or a change of yard....

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would be worried about a horse that has been barefoot all its life which can't cope with tracks. I would wonder if he had LGL. I would try hoof boots before shoeing but would probably bring him off grass for a while to see if there is any improvement.

 

[Carrottom]

I would try shoes, you can always take them off again, provided the vet is happy that nothing else is going on.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

If he's been barefoot all his life he should be able to cope with some gravel tracks. Are you sure he doesn't have laminitis? What is his diet like? Could you use hoof boots instead? I had some for my old pony and they were so handy to just put them on if they were needed.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

I would be worried about a horse that has been barefoot all its life which can't cope with tracks. I would wonder if he had LGL. I would try hoof boots before shoeing but would probably bring him off grass for a while to see if there is any improvement.

I would be worried about a horse that has been barefoot all its life which can't cope with tracks. I would wonder if he had LGL. I would try hoof boots before shoeing but would probably bring him off grass for a while to see if there is any improvement.

 

[Kat]

I would buy him some hoof boots (ones that will take a decent pad like the EPS 4lb pads).

If he is that sore I wouldn't be nailing shoes on. At best he will still be sore, at worst he will be really lame.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

Have only owned him two years but as far as I am aware he has never been shod, he spent a harsh winter living out last year in some extremely wet weather - Ive recently moved yards to a very stony gravelly yard and while he has always been sensitive on his feet, now he is definitely feeling it..... currently trying to clear the thrush and upping his balancer to something a bit more fulfilling... he has been brought off the grass at night lately but he wont tolerate any kind of muzzle. Problem I have is if I don't exercise him he isn't going to lose weight.... and I cant exercise him as he is sore on the hard ground - tried various boots but none fit.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

If you can discount laminitis then personally I would boot rather than shoe especially as he has never had shoes. One of mine has been unshod 99% of his life and is still footy on gravel because of thin soles. He has EMS and feels his feet more in the summer even with restricted grazing and soaked hay. It is just his genetic makeup and no amount of supplements makes any difference but he is booted all round to be ridden and is never lame.

 

[ester]

If I couldn't boot I'd shoe, but aim to have shoes off at some point in the year if possible re. surfaces you need to use.

ETA I'd probably be fussy on which shoe though

 

[Kat]

I would speak to a good barefoot trimmer about diet, supplements, boots and hoof armour before I decided to shoe. I would also look at moving yards again before shoeing as he coped at the previous place.


You mention thrush, that can make them very very sore. I would tackle that urgently, red horse or horse leads products are good.


There are loads of hoof boots for different shaped feet now. Unless he has HUGE feet it is likely that there is a suitable boot out there. I would consider padding out a Cavallo or easyboot trail that is a bit big as a temporary measure while he is sore.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

If he's been barefoot all his life he should be able to cope with some gravel tracks. Are you sure he doesn't have laminitis? What is his diet like? Could you use hoof boots instead? I had some for my old pony and they were so handy to just put them on if they were needed.

tried a few pairs of boots and none fit him . vet says he hasnt got laminitis but I obviously need to monitor it - he is on a very small net of wet hay soaked overnight, in his stable 12 hours then out at grass for 12 hours - fairly sparse grass but more than I would like but no alternative available. I cant stable him more and feed him even less as he is getting so hungry and annoyed at not getting out more than 12 hours a day.

I would speak to a good barefoot trimmer about diet, supplements, boots and hoof armour before I decided to shoe. I would also look at moving yards again before shoeing as he coped at the previous place.


You mention thrush, that can make them very very sore. I would tackle that urgently, red horse or horse leads products are good.


There are loads of hoof boots for different shaped feet now. Unless he has HUGE feet it is likely that there is a suitable boot out there. I would consider padding out a Cavallo or easyboot trail that is a bit big as a temporary measure while he is sore.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If he has thrush, that needs to be sorted out before even thinking of shoeing, imv. I would spray liberally with tea-tree oil while waiting for Red Horse products to arrive.

ETA, I would feed him straw to keep him feeling happier/fuller while he is inside.

 

[ihatework]

A cob that is ?overweight and with sore feet I would just assume and manage as a metabolic animal with LGL.

Go in aggressive with the thrush treatment for the next couple of weeks and then, assuming no miraculous recovery, then I would shoe (given you can’t/won’t boot).

Sore feet have a massive knock on effect on the whole body. Priority is getting him comfortable, getting him moving, loosing weight. I wouldn’t discount low dose pain relief if needed and if there isn’t substantial improvement over next few weeks then consider orthopaedic intervention.

You could aim to have him in a position to have the shoes back off for the winter, all being well.

If you have the ability to, then track the grazing. Otherwise you need to be tough and find a muzzle that suits.

 

[ycbm]

I would be extremely cautious about shoeing a horse which has been long term barefoot and happy.

I know of too many examples where that has been done and low grade laminitis has been missed and the horse has exploded into a critical laminitis case that is instantly life threatening.

I wouldn't do it, myself, unless I had identified something like Cushings that is impossible to control in any other way.
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thrush can make them very sore, but low grade laminitis also seems to be a prime candidate. I know the vet has so far discounted it, but seeing as there is an epidemic of laminitis atm due to the weird weather patterns...

Which boots did you try, and who advised you? There are some very good on line retailers who will advise you on which boots to try if you send in hoof pics and measurements.

 

[ester]

Is it possible to give him more hay overnight? that's always worked better for us as they arent then going out on the grass hungry and desperate.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think as long as you can be absolutely sure his not not got ems or cushings which could be causing low grade laminitis well then I would shoe, I struggled with one of mine this year but I tested him for both before putting shoes on, and honestly I wish I had done it sooner his much more comfortable and I am riding him much more.

My horse was x rayed 2 years ago when he went very lame in front and he had very thin soles, he had no sign of laminitis but because his now 17 I wanted to rule out any metabolic issues.

 

[Gloi]

If he has always been fine until now you need to find out what the problem is and fix it. First try would be taking him off grass for a while and treating the thrush and getting blood tested for Cushing's and EMS. Shoeing at this point is just trying to hide the problem rather than fixing it.
Try somewhere like the saddlery shop online to advise on boots.

 

[teach]

Urban horse and hoof boutique both offer hoof boot fitting services. You take pictures using the guide on their website, whilst holding a measuring tape across the foot, then send the pictures to them and they will recommend the correct size and style

 

[spotty_pony]

Just a question but if you are trying to get him to lose weight, why are you upping his balancer to something more fulfilling? Footy on gravel tracks and overweight screams Laminitis to me. I would restrict grazing, or turn out 24/7 if you can on a bare paddock with ad-lib hay which has been soaked for 12 hours to remove all of the sugar and give him a balancer approved by the Laminitis Trust. He will still lose weight on this diet without work. If it is Laminitis it is important that he can move around as it helps to increase the circulation to the feet. I wouldn't put shoes on as they will only mask the condition and restrict the much needed circulation to his feet. It may also be worth getting the horse tested for EMS and cushings.

 

[Reacher]

What shape feet does he have, that are making it difficult to find boots that fit? I know they are clumpy but cavallos come in different models for different shaped feet.

 

[Kat]

Urban horse and hoof boutique both offer hoof boot fitting services. You take pictures using the guide on their website, whilst holding a measuring tape across the foot, then send the pictures to them and they will recommend the correct size and style

This, there are very few horses who can't be adequately fitted with hoof boots. Different brands and styles fit differently. Like our trainers, if you tried on a pair of nikes and a pair of Reebok and neither fitted you wouldn't say trainers don't work for you so you'll just have to wear work boots to the gym you'd get some proper advice and try addidas, new balance, ASICS etc.

In the last few years the number of hoof boot fits on the market has absolutely exploded.

I really wouldn't put shoes on a horse that might have low grade laminitis.

 

[Kat]

Just a question but if you are trying to get him to lose weight, why are you upping his balancer to something more fulfilling? Footy on gravel tracks and overweight screams Laminitis to me. I would restrict grazing, or turn out 24/7 if you can on a bare paddock with ad-lib hay which has been soaked for 12 hours to remove all of the sugar and give him a balancer approved by the Laminitis Trust. He will still lose weight on this diet without work. If it is Laminitis it is important that he can move around as it helps to increase the circulation to the feet. I wouldn't put shoes on as they will only mask the condition and restrict the much needed circulation to his feet. It may also be worth getting the horse tested for EMS and cushings.

Generally I agree but I wouldn't use a laminitis trust approved feed or balancer it is a paid for badge and many of the feeds contain too much sugar.

I would use a barefoot friendly mineral supplement like Forage Plus or Progressive Earth and just use a tiny handful of low calorie feed as a carrier. Something like fast fibre.

 

[spotty_pony]

Fast fibre is also thought be full of sugar..! I think as long as you are sensible there is no issue. All of mine have always had topspec lite and they are all very different horses and all have been fine. I think this is more an issue of management generally than which balancer is best.

 

[I'm Dun]

Fast fibre is full of ingredients I personally wouldnt feed but it is not full of sugar

https://www.allenandpage.com/product/fast-fibre/

 

[SO1]

I put hind shoes on my pony this year for the first time in 14 years this year as he was avoiding walking on stones. Farrier looked at him and said it was because his hooves had become extremely worn down. The ground in the field was very hard and he was doing a lot more road hacking sometimes 5 times a week so hooves were getting worn down a lot more than they normally do.

I presume the hooves have not become worn down due to friction on hard ground and gravel if you are working him more to loose weight then that might be the problem.

I was worried my pony had laminitis as well but was relieved to find out it was excessive hoof wear.

 

[sherry90]

I would be extremely cautious about shoeing a horse which has been long term barefoot and happy.

I know of too many examples where that has been done and low grade laminitis has been missed and the horse has exploded into a critical laminitis case that is instantly life threatening.

I wouldn't do it, myself, unless I had identified something like Cushings that is impossible to control in any other way.
.

This is exactly why I don’t shoe mine. He’s prone to the chub and had mild LGL before. Keeping the shoes off I can notice any soreness before it becomes a real issue.

He is booted to hack as we have very flinty/hardcore tracks so for peace of mind I boot to hack, bare the rest of the time including turn out.

 

[ester]

If he has always been fine until now you need to find out what the problem is and fix it. First try would be taking him off grass for a while and treating the thrush and getting blood tested for Cushing's and EMS. Shoeing at this point is just trying to hide the problem rather than fixing it.
Try somewhere like the saddlery shop online to advise on boots.

The problem as I read it is that the OP has changed yards to more challenging terrain. That was an issue for us too, we had to go back to booting for a while.

There were yards I discounted on the back of how stony their hacking was but granted we didn't have the benefit of having always been bare.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

Thanks everyone for your comments - there's great debate and lots of different opinions as expected - to clarify the vet categorically stated that he was not laminitic - but that his soles are very close to the ground. He has always been footy on stony ground, and only really comfortable on grass. I was only riding on grass or arena for the last year and a half, and while his feet were not brilliant, I was managing to keep him barefoot and comfortable in the work he was doing. The soreness has really just come to the fore since I moved yards a month ago.....I stable him at night, on straw, with a small net of hay that has been soaked for 24 hours..... he is then out for the daytime on grass - which is the only place he can move around on otherwise it means stabling 24/7 which I wont do unless the vet tells me to. All I can go off is that both my vet and my farrier have said to put shoes on in order to alleviate the pain and to enable him to be exercised..... in the meantime I continue to spray his feet with frog aid daily, and hoof paste/clay and feed him Pro Hoof balancer, Mag Ox, Salt, in a tiny handful of Honeychop Lite and Healthy chaff.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

The problem as I read it is that the OP has changed yards to more challenging terrain. That was an issue for us too, we had to go back to booting for a while.

There were yards I discounted on the back of how stony their hacking was but granted we didn't have the benefit of having always been bare.

The problem as I read it is that the OP has changed yards to more challenging terrain. That was an issue for us too, we had to go back to booting for a while.

There were yards I discounted on the back of how stony their hacking was but granted we didn't have the benefit of having always been bare.

The problem as I read it is that the OP has changed yards to more challenging terrain. That was an issue for us too, we had to go back to booting for a while.

There were yards I discounted on the back of how stony their hacking was but granted we didn't have the benefit of having always been bare.