Very sore after taking shoes off

[Katieg123]

Hi Everyone, On Saturday I got my horses shoes taken off to give him a bit of a holiday (with this weather and dark I've given up trying to ride for a bit). For the first day or two he was fine but now he seems sore, especially in the mornings. He doesn't want to leave his stable at all for turn out (which he gets about 12 hours a day) but once hes out he seems fine. It seems that hes mostly sore on the concrete outside his stable as is moving around in his box fine. Is there anything at all I can do to help him? I just feel so bad for him!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Can you put boots on him to walk to the field if its a long walk?

 

[Landcruiser]

This is very common as his hooves "relax" and start to be able to flex rather than be held rigid by shoes. A bit like when the blood comes back into your own fingers after they've been freezing cold, it can be painful. The blood supply will be finding its way around his hooves and they'll be sensitive. His sole isn't conditioned and may be thin, and he'll be sensitive on it. All of this will improve over time. Could you lay mats or carpets over the ouchy bits, and let him pick his way slowly? walking a few mins on smooth tarmac (increasing a bit each day) is great conditioning for newly barefoot hooves. A bit of bute wouldn't hurt but I'm not sure it's warranted if he's ok once he's out on the soft and moving. Good luck OP

PS Edited to add

Home

Get FREE TRAINING and support with a Hoof Geek Academy membership 5 Products I Use to FIGHT Hoof Infection (and 1 that I AVOID!)How to Take a Digital PulseHow to Use Therapeutic Pads Ebooks and more... Never miss a blog post, and get priority notifications of new courses and offers. Get Access...

hoofgeek.com

Lots and lots of easy to understand info freely available on Debs' website

 

[Katieg123]

Can you put boots on him to walk to the field if its a long walk?

It isnt a long walk - only maybe 20m from his stable! It seems to be the first step off his rubber mats onto the concrete he is particularly opposed to. Once he gets going he is generally fine!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A rubber mat just outside the door might help

 

[Katieg123]

This is very common as his hooves "relax" and start to be able to flex rather than be held rigid by shoes. A bit like when the blood comes back into your own fingers after they've been freezing cold, it can be painful. The blood supply will be finding its way around his hooves and they'll be sensitive. His sole isn't conditioned and may be thin, and he'll be sensitive on it. All of this will improve over time. Could you lay mats or carpets over the ouchy bits, and let him pick his way slowly? walking a few mins on smooth tarmac (increasing a bit each day) is great conditioning for newly barefoot hooves. A bit of bute wouldn't hurt but I'm not sure it's warranted if he's ok once he's out on the soft and moving. Good luck OP

Good to know thank you! Is there a timeline for how long it takes?

 

[Katieg123]

A rubber mat just outside the door might help

Thanks, I might give that a go!

 

[j1ffy]

More than likely it's the adjustment as Landcruiser mentions, although I've taken shoes off many horses (including ex-racehorses) and never had a serious problem. There are a couple of other things to look at:

What feed is he on? High sugar levels in feed can cause sensitivity. Adding some magnesium to his feed may also help, mine are noticeably more sensitive if I run out of mg.

Thrush can also cause sore hooves. I'd get some good thrush treatment on them as it won't hurt (I do it weekly regardless of whether there are symptoms - my hoof guy recommends this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GDSL6HS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details)

 

[Landcruiser]

Good to know thank you! Is there a timeline for how long it takes?

It varies from horse to horse, weather, how long the horse has been shod, hoof condition, etc etc. How long is a piece of string? My lad was sound and comfortable straight out of shoes 15 yrs ago, and fun riding on flint downs a month later. My older horse was never really comfortable on stones, and he'd never been shod (he had multiple issues and was retired early).
In your circumstance I'd say he'll improve slowly as his hooves return to function, and if you can support him by making it as comfortable as possible he'll move around more and better. Mats or carpets over the concrete will do the job alone if all you are doing is giving him a break and he's ok in the field. If you wanted to go barefoot long term, then boots with pads would be my recommendation.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can you put boots on him to walk to the field if its a long walk?

This is a good idea. My pony sometimes feels his feet if they are in a certain field as i have to cross a road and a bit of a stony drive. I bought cavallo's they are easy to get on and off.
In your case when the shoes are back on they are still really handy to hold onto incase of a lost shoe or to hold poultices on etc.

There are lots on FB market place. I have always found the size comes up big though (or i have always measured wrong!)

 

[Landcruiser]

And look at his diet as ybcm says!

 

[YourValentine]

Transitioning a shod horse to barefoot takes time, and has to be done carefully to be successful. Some horses can go from shod to barefoot easily, but many don't.

If this is just a short break, maybe it would be better for his comfort to put front shoes back on? He is clearly finding walking on hard surfaces painful and may even be finding the field uncomfortable, particularly if its frozen hard.

If he is sore all round it will be hard to pick up lameness as you can't limp in all 4 feet.

I'm not against barefoot, it suits some but I do think just whipping the shoes off and expecting them to cope is unfair, especially if they clearly show signs of being foot sore.

You need to either support him with bute or boots till he is comfortable or just put the front shoes back on. Accepting lameness as part of the "transition" is unethical and cruel.

On this forum at any other time a sore/lame horse would be met with shouts of call the vet etc I don't understand the apparent acceptance of lameness in a transition to barefoot...

 

[Landcruiser]

Transitioning a shod horse to barefoot takes time, and has to be done carefully to be successful. Some horses can go from shod to barefoot easily, but many don't.

If this is just a short break, maybe it would be better for his comfort to put front shoes back on? He is clearly finding walking on hard surfaces painful and may even be finding the field uncomfortable, particularly if its frozen hard.

If he is sore all round it will be hard to pick up lameness as you can't limp in all 4 feet.

I'm not against barefoot, it suits some but I do think just whipping the shoes off and expecting them to cope is unfair, especially if they clearly show signs of being foot sore.

You need to either support him with bute or boots till he is comfortable or just put the front shoes back on. Accepting lameness as part of the "transition" is unethical and cruel.

On this forum at any other time a sore/lame horse would be met with shouts of call the vet etc I don't understand the apparent acceptance of lameness in a transition to barefoot...

Have you actually read this thread, including the answers? OP asked for help to make her horse more comfortable during a break from shoes. Several of us have answered that exact question. Nobody, but nobody, has "accepted lameness."
Sorry, OP, I should have just said don't bother, bang some shoes back on and all will be well with the world again.

 

[Polos Mum]

You can get second hand boots (there are a couple of good facebook groups). some are very forgiving on sizing so you don't need to spend hours measuring / consulting.

You could probably pick up a reasonably worn pair of Cavello's for £20-£30 that you can just slip on to walk him to the field and then leave them outside the field gate for the return journey.
It'd take seconds to slip on if you're only going a short distance unridden you probably don't even need to do velcro up.

With nice thick pads in (I use the thick easy care comfort pads) it could really help with little cost / time faffying.

 

[ycbm]

It isnt a long walk - only maybe 20m from his stable! It seems to be the first step off his rubber mats onto the concrete he is particularly opposed to. Once he gets going he is generally fine!

Carpet offcuts do well in this situation if it's only 20m

I also have some Cavallo size 3 going spare if they would fit. Good boots for this situation but not for turnout.
.