Transition to barefoot... how long should I wait before giving up?!

[Angua2]

Kezimac, My mare has had both ovaries out, and didn't need 8 weeks of box rest, in fact we managed two just while the stiches were in, and the rest she spent out in the field.

I am just starting my 5th week of transition and I am having more problem with thrush causing footyness

 

[cptrayes]

I tried for 10 months to transition my T.B to barefoot, he has navicular and coffin joint issues.
I had an excellent DAEP who advised me the whole time, i did all the walking out in boots and pads made sure the diet was right and even though outwardly his feet looked excellent he never really adapted, was not walkiing properly in boots!
My trimmer said he could do no more and that maybe he should be shod and my vet agreed, so i now have him in eggbars, he is a different horse we are hacking out and he is striding out confidently.
I know this may not last and i dearly wanted him to be barefoot for the longterm good but i could,nt have him so uncomfortable and miserable!

Just out of interest POR, did your horse still graze? I ask because I have had one who cannot have any grass at all, or his feet are too weak to cope with his own weight. He lives life without grazing and is very happy. This isn't always possible for people to do, of course, and if you can't, then your horse is obviously better off in shoes. But if he does get unsound again in future, you might just have one last resort of making him grass free. It's extreme, but it's better than losing them, isn't it? Thank goodness that there are more livery yards opening up now with dry lots for the lammi's and increasing people's options a bit.

Have fun with your boy now he's happy in his shoes.

 

[kezimac]

Kezimac, My mare has had both ovaries out, and didn't need 8 weeks of box rest, in fact we managed two just while the stiches were in, and the rest she spent out in the field.

I am just starting my 5th week of transition and I am having more problem with thrush causing footyness

really - god i hope she doesnt have to have 8 weeks box rest but thats what liverpool are saying at the moment. She lives out 24/7 normally and she really doesnt like being in the stable. Have erected mirror, casting strips, rubber matting, etc its like a padded cell!!!!
I havent been happy with my previous farrier and recently changed as her feet werent well balanced - they are looking better balanced with my new farrier and hoping it will help even more to have shoes off hinds. - will see how fronts go.

 

[kezimac]

Kezimac they are so individual that your horse might be fine on that diet. Her problem with starch and cereals and alfalfa make me very, very suspicious though, and I suspect that she won't. I personally have no problem feeding any of mine unlimited quantities of haylage, though one is definitely lami-prone and another can't eat grass in daytime and stay good on stones.
.

she is just too fizzy with starch and cereal! she is sharp anyway and I dont want to come off!! lol - she is 7/8th TB and a proper stress head. -It may be also combination of hormones with ovary issue too but I have just always avoided cereals etc.
She has been great on the grass nuts - not too fizzy and really rideable. she will also have haylage during winter (late cut last yrs haylage) - will just have to see how she goes.

 

[pines of rome]

Yes, he did graze in the day in a restricted area, in at night, i would also turn him out in boots if he wasn,t looking too good, but they would rub him.
My vet did not think he had LGL and that his joints were more of the problem,i don,t think his barefoot time was in vain though, as even that he is now shod he has much better feet.
If in time he does get worse, i may try again possibly moving somewhere barefoot friendly and invest in some very lightweight boots, he was very happy when he had wraps on!

 

[kezimac]

I am not expert, but could you try her with Dengie Molasses free chaff, [the low alfalfa] as long as she is on box rest, personally I think you must avoid sugars at all costs, and some horses react to badly to alfalfa. My reading of the barefoot research indicates that grass, is the problem with many barefoot "failures", as generally we can't control the intake of low fibre hi sugar green stuff.
Have you thought about Allen and Page Fast Fibre for box rest then Calm and Condition or Competition, they are liked by most horses, and are cereal free, easy to prepare [soak for 5-10 minutes].
It is possible your horse is rejecting quick beet because she has got used to a hi sugar diet!
I think you will have plenty of time to transition as she will have to start out being led in hand and you do road work on tarmac which is easy for them. To be honest I think you need to read Feet First [but check on here about the seaweed], then you have to be prepared to "educate" the feet, if you are already thinking about shoes, you are not ready for barefoot , lol!

I think she is one who reacts badly to alfalfa so not willing to give it to her. Fast fibre is ok she had that last winter but doesnt really hold the weight on her and calm and condition was too much as contains maize so not cereal free. I do have feet first book as previously had a barefoot horse - she struggled with front feet and had to be booted but due to her feet shape the trimmer struggled to get a pair of boots to stay on without twisting.