To Shoe or Not to Shoe- that is the question!

[EquestrianFairy]

Bascially, my pony has very bad ringbone- both high and low in front two feet.
Shes been shoeless purley because shes unrideable, for about a year.. however my vet mentioned to help with her limited action through her joints i should perhaps try rolling her toes. I had a farrier do this and ive been thnking whether would rolled shoes be more beneficial that rolling her toes?
She can still be very footsore on gravel as majority of her time is spent on cosy grass, but there is a gravel path to and from her stable which she also struggles on now we're moved yards.

What do others think? Is it worth a go?

 

[ISHmad]

We've got one whose ringbone has actually softened since she went barefoot. We use a trimmer rather than a farrier - but I know there are good farriers out there doing trims before I get lynched!!!

Have a look on some of the barefoot forums, there are lots of them. You can get pads to help condition the feet which then helps with stones, gravel etc.

But if she isn't comfortable barefoot then don't hesitate to put shoes on. I wouldn't keep my horses barefoot just for the sake of it, if they needed shoes they would get them, without a doubt. All I would reiterate though is that definitely we have seen positive improvements since she went barefoot - and even our very sceptical vet who is pretty anti-barefoot has seen the positive changes and been impressed.

 

[Daphnelia]

Do give it a chance, it can take a while for their feet to harden up. Road work is good for them if they can take it.

 

[_daisy_]

My mare has ringbone in both her front feet coffin joints and her fetlocks. She was chronic lame on and off for 4 years with both shoes and farrier trims, and she was retired over 2 1/2 years ago. I decided to give barefoot a chance as her last option before her being PTS. Within 4 weeks of going barefoot she came sound and has since come out of retirement.
Like ISH_Mad says it can work wonders on ringbone cases and my vet was really pleased how she has come on since going barefoot.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I know there is no way my mare will ever come 100% sound or be able to be ridden.. shes not lame due to pain its a mechanical lameness due to the ringbone.

My vet has said she will never improve, all i can do is treat her well and give her a better life than hes known some companion horses get (ie. off the meat man!)
Hes not a negative guy, hes actually very well known but he said there really is not much more i can do for her as we;ve had all the injections, xrays, bute etc.

I just want to try and make her more comfortable, to enable her not to look like she can hardly walk as she is a proper head nodder with both front feet joint limitations.

I think ill leave her barefoot and plod on with it, hopefully the winter weather will help her a little as its nice and soft ground with all our rain!