touchstone
Well-Known Member
I was told to go the heartbar route, my farrier at the time cold shod and so didn't want to do heartbars as the fitting has to be so precise, instead he put set back hind shoes on the fronts to bring the toe wall back. After a few months my horses feet looked awful, contracted and boxy and at that point I pulled the shoes off and began barefoot.
To be honest I've never looked back and that must be about ten years ago now, I can spot straight away when laminitis is rearing its head and take action. I wouldn't resort to shoes again and if a horse is sore without shoes then boots and pads can help enormously, plus they aren't nailed to the hoof if the fitting isn't quite right and can be easily adapted to suit the individual.
I've also become much more aware of managing my horse more holistically and paying attention to diet and environment and I think I learned more in the past ten or so years than in a lifetime of having horses.
To be honest I've never looked back and that must be about ten years ago now, I can spot straight away when laminitis is rearing its head and take action. I wouldn't resort to shoes again and if a horse is sore without shoes then boots and pads can help enormously, plus they aren't nailed to the hoof if the fitting isn't quite right and can be easily adapted to suit the individual.
I've also become much more aware of managing my horse more holistically and paying attention to diet and environment and I think I learned more in the past ten or so years than in a lifetime of having horses.