What to "Barefooters" do WITHOUT vet support?

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TPO

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Long story short: I had my horse on trial before buying so got him vet checked. My aim was to do low level BE; as he was slightly back of the knee, rubbish feet and old curbs I wanted him checked out. The vet that came out said forelegs were fine and not an issue. A second (snr) vet came out after I'd bought the gelding to do his teeth and asked to see the gelding trotted up. He then said the horse was stiff left him so to stick him on Newmarket joint supp. Horse at this point was 9yr old ex-racer who'd had 6mths+ turned away in a field not doing anything.

I'd lost 2 previously with navicular so decided to go down the barefoot route; in addition couldn't find a good farrier for love nor money. I was then stung by an incompetent trimmer but have now found someone very capable and trust worthy.

When new trimmer came out she was very negative about any hopes of jumping horse let alone eventing given foreleg conformation (she's a biomechanics science type person). His heel has collapsed and the toes was too long so they are contributing factors. Very much a work in progress.

Anyway, by chance I was chatting with the second vet last week and he asked about my horse in passing. I said I'd been told he wasn't suitable for what I'd bought him for but that I'm just taking one day at a time and will see what he can manage when the time comes. Vet agreed about the conformation aspect (why was nothing said at original vet check or subsequent visits?) and started saying I need to put heartbar wedges on now and then look at shoeing wide and floating the heel.

If I thought shoes would help I would do it BUT I can't get my head around how doing this (and TBH floating the heel sounds quite barbaric, how can he then land heel first or use the back third of his foot?) would fix any issues or do anything other than mask the original problem plus it possibly create more. For what it's worth I don't think his conformation is that bad and I've seen a lot worse out doing a lot more than I want to do but that's by the by. He's in my avatar if you squint you can see his forelegs.

Sorry that turned out longer than I planned but my problem now is (vet has said he doesn't agree with barefoot) what do I do when/if I ever need a vet? It's clear they think shoes should be used and I worry they won't see past that.

I'm happy to continue as I am just now following the advice of this trimmer but just feel that I'd be discriminated against for not having shoes, that being barefoot is the route of all problems and that the initial course of action should be to shoe. Changing vet's isn't an option as these guys are good (and really lovely people) and they are the only equine practice that cover my area. Boxing to another practice isn't an option, especially should an emergency occur.

The point of writing this is to ask how others manage without vet's support and what happens if you ever need vets out for anything lameness related when you won't follow their initial advice of shoeing?

P.S. If I thought shoeing would help in any way I'd do it but I just can't get my head around how the options suggested would. Vet even said that the wedged heartbars would/could collapse the heels further.

Sorry for the waffle but hopefully it's made some sort of sense to some of you. Thank you
 
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frustrating isn't it :(

given you have said that changing vets is not an option ........... if your vet just does not know that horses can perform barefoot would (s)he be open to being given some information in the way of websites to look at etc that can give evidence of horses with various conditions similar to your horses issues being successfully sound and barefoot.

cptrayes should be a good source of that , maybe you can message and ask.

good luck with it ....
 
I lent the vet's wife (she's a friend) Feet First alongside Pete Ramey & Jaime Jackson's books. Vet must have flicked through at least as he said that he didn't agree with the barefoot model being applicable over here, which is fair enough, when we were chatting.

I've said to look at the Rockley site and Project Dextor but I'm not sure that he will. To be fair it is an extremely busy practice and I don't expect them to have time to look at every site client's recommend! I do believe it would be an eye opener, helpful and raise a few questions if they could.
 
Many years ago I was advised the conventional method of heartbars by my vet. They didn't help and in fact began to make things worse, coupled with the fact getting a decent remedial farrier was an issue.

So I went it alone and was dreading having to have any vets visits after going against their advice. The day duly came when I needed a visit after a kick injury and to my surprise the vet commented on how good her feet were and her soundness and now he works alongside a barefoot trimmer as well as using remedial farriery as a treatment. (I'm not suggesting after seeing just my horse though, I'm sure he'd seen many more and researched it all.)

I think the thing is if they are lovely people is to keep in communication with them. They can give advice but not force you to take it, and unless there were compromised welfare issues with you not following advice they'd be unlikely to do anything.
I'd ask your trimmer to have a chat with them and explain what you'd like to try and maybe review the situation in a years time and see how things are going?
 
The problem is vets tend to see what they expect to see.

My horse is Frankie from Project Dexter/Rockley.

When my horse first went lame I followed the vets and farrier's advice to the letter, however what I also did was take pictures of his feet after every shoeing cycle.
Vet and farrier were all congratulating themselves about how much his feet had improved however the pictures show the opposite. I never challenged them on it as it was months later when I went to visit at Rockley and was comparing with the pictures they were taking there that I realised the true picture.

When I first mentioned project dexter to him he went into a complete rant and as Frankie was staying sound for light work at the time I left it.
3 months later and Frankie got much worse and couldn't even be turned out or he would come in non weight bearing on his worse foot.
That was the point at which he went to Rockley. Vet agreed as there was nothing else he could do though he didn't hold out any hope of the horse coming sound.
4 months later Frankie came back and same vet assessed as sound on 10m circle on concrete.

However now he claims he was improving anyway and would have come sound whatever I did. He's had to refer another horse down to Rockley but because I knew the owner and she had seen how well we had done and could see that after a year of following their advice, her horse was still lame.

I really don't think he has looked at any of the information, links, DVDs etc he's been given however he doesn't suggest I put shoes on which the other vet in the practice would.
He may not approved initially but now the horse is happy and healthy he fine with it.

I think the main issue I have with any lameness (and this applied shod as well) is once your horse has a condition everything is attributed to that .
I know if I called him out for any foreleg lameness I would get a sympathetic "bad luck" and he wouldn't want to look any further.
 
Shoeing has always been the 'conventional' method of hoof care. However, despite the Worshipful Company of Farriers, there is no real science behind it - just tradition. Neither is there any science behind the barefoot methods. But that is now changing. There is now serious scientific research going on regarding hoof and foot function and hopefully it wil lead us to a clearer picutre of the function of the foot and how to really keep it healthy in a holisitic sense.

I would go with your gut instinct. Over the years we have met many vets who opposed how we kept or managed injured horses. They come round after time. Also bear in mind if the advice of the vet actually makes this worse he will deny any responsibility - but as you have already noted, some are very happy to take the credit where there is none due too!

With regards to conformation, some of the most horribly put together horses defy the odds and opinion and become very successful, who are eventing at top level with a pigieon toe, or worse. Your horse will tell you what he can cope with and what he can't. So listen to your horse and your instict.

Good luck.
 
My tb has navicular (posted a thread yesterday of him in his new easyboots! )
My vet admitted to me he wasnt a barefoot fan, but when he saw him move he said thats the best iv ever seen him go infront and even started talking to me about boots! He did say though that he was sore on his heels (correct) and that i should speak to the farrier about having shoes put on his backs ;-) Farrier said no :-) my farrier is fantastic and fully supports me, although he wasnt sure at first as he had "crappy tb feet!" but he now says dont shoe him again ;-) Tbh, my vet wasnt overly bothered about me trying barefoot but i know if he had anymore problems the first thing he would say is, oh hes prob foot sore, best bet is stick some remedial shoes on ;-)
 
Thanks for the replies. We'll just keep soldiering on with the help of current trimmer.

I'd just noticed throughout various barefoot threads that a lack of vet support was a reoccuring theme annd wondered how others managed.

Like someone else pointed out once once this is "diagnosed" or "pin pointed" everything is attributed to it.

Thanks again
 
Barefoot is still considered an alternative treatment by vets, I believe.

It would be like telling your GP that you are no longer going to follow his treatment, you are going to the local witch doctor instead:p

No one can prove that acupuncture or shiatsu or reflexology or McTimoney or Bowen works, but many people (and horses) find relief in it.

It is so upsetting that there a still incompetent trimmers who set back the reputation of it.

The only way to move forward is to keep banging on and educate vets that there is a viable alternative to traditional methods - which only try to emulate a natural hoof anyway.
 
I do think there is a difference between consulting your vet on things to do with your horse's soundness and using them for whatever regular or emergency work you need.

If you need them for vaccinations etc. I don't see how your other decisions are in any way pertinent. They can just suck it up and not comment. ;)

Are you looking for the vets to contribute to his soundness in someway, directly or indirectly? Even if you decided to go forward with something like Tildren, they can have an OPINION on your pursuing the barefoot option but I can't see why they would withhold treatment because of that! (They might bitch at you, but that's a different subject.)

I know we go to vets for opinions and to take advantage of their specialised knowledge but it is, at the end of the day, a SERVICE industry. If they want to not serve you anymore, then okay, I guess, they can tell you that. (Although I think if they bullied you into doing something you didn't want to do by threatening to withhold treatment, that might be one for the governing body!) I do realise it's a bit different here than where I come from but you are looking after your horses basic needs, as directed by law, and anything else is OPINION and opinions only. Vets are not gods, they are professionals. If I take a horse for training I do expect someone to follow my advice but if they can give me a good valid reason why that's not possible then I have to acknowledge that and decide if I want to continue or ask them to go elsewhere. (Tbh, anyone who works in/with horses, vets included, can't afford to be alienating customers! :D )

Can you just brazen it through? Smile, nod, thank them for their advice and point out there are lots of ways to skin a cat and we shall see how it all works out? As above, they may very well come around when it all goes well, although they may not admit it!

In the mean time, just let it ride. If the horse needs stitches or vaccs or similar, just call them out with a cheery smile and avoid the subject. If you need help with the soundness then either go to them with a specific request (and allow that they may refuse) or ask your barefoot trimmer which vet they would recommend. I know people here tend to follow the "NHS model" but if you take a horse to a clinic you'll be using another vets services for specialist work so what's the difference if you do the same at home?
 
TPO said:
I'd just noticed throughout various barefoot threads that a lack of vet support was a reoccuring theme annd wondered how others managed.
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We battle, cry, wake up at nights from nightmares where our horses feet have fallen off and grab every tiny bit of support that we can from forums like this one, and UKNHCP.myfastforum.com I strongly suggest that you log on there and ask for help and support very time you feel down, they are a lovely bunch over there. Not that there aren't lovely people here too but there are no naysayers over there to set you back or upset you.

You know in your gut that shoes and wedges are not going to help your horse. The very idea of shoeing him so short that he has a "floating heel" makes me want to scream! How on earth will it help a horse who has understimulated, weak heels to take away any support???

Keep looking at the Rockley Blog, keep photographing your horse's hooves and sooner or later you will see changes that will convince you that you are right and your vet is wrong. Very good luck!
 
cptrayes said:
We battle, cry, wake up at nights from nightmares where our horses feet have fallen off and grab every tiny bit of support that we can from forums like this one, and UKNHCP.myfastforum.com I strongly suggest that you log on there and ask for help and support very time you feel down, they are a lovely bunch over there. Not that there aren't lovely people here too but there are no naysayers over there to set you back or upset you.

You know in your gut that shoes and wedges are not going to help your horse. The very idea of shoeing him so short that he has a "floating heel" makes me want to scream! How on earth will it help a horse who has understimulated, weak heels to take away any support???

Keep looking at the Rockley Blog, keep photographing your horse's hooves and sooner or later you will see changes that will convince you that you are right and your vet is wrong. Very good luck!
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^^^agreed^^^

Get the horse right, forget about the vet, use them for what you have to, you'll need them less anyway as the horse will be healthier all round barefoot. (Now thats an interesting thought lol).
 
the issue for vets is that while a farrier is a protected term and thus ensures they have all had training to the same level, a trimmer is not and so could be anyone- this makes it difficult to reccommend over a farrier. also unshod horses do tend to slip more in bad going and in certain cases this causes more jarring on the legs or sometimes serious injury- its a risk they struggle to advise people to make in a litigation culture
 
overtherainbow said:
. also unshod horses do tend to slip more in bad going and in certain cases this causes more jarring on the legs or sometimes serious injury- its a risk they struggle to advise people to make in a litigation culture
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Do you ride a barefoot horse? Jarring? Never - try trotting on the road in shoes if you want jarring. Slipping? This horse hunts with no shoes and I have evented BE up to Novice in all ground conditions on five others. Slipping is no more an issue barefoot that it is in shoes. For every time my horse slipped out hunting in the mud and momentarily lost his balance, so did a dozen shod ones. And several slipped on the road in shoes and fell right over.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yCd-E43WOw/TbGASmTdZuI/AAAAAAAAAr8/DonyinFe8a4/s1600/Coming+Down+WR.jpg
 
cptrayes said:
Do you ride a barefoot horse? Jarring? Never - try trotting on the road in shoes if you want jarring. Slipping? This horse hunts with no shoes and I have evented BE up to Novice in all ground conditions on five others. Slipping is no more an issue barefoot that it is in shoes. For every time my horse slipped out hunting in the mud and momentarily lost his balance, so did a dozen shod ones. And several slipped on the road in shoes and fell right over.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yCd-E43WOw/TbGASmTdZuI/AAAAAAAAAr8/DonyinFe8a4/s1600/Coming+Down+WR.jpg
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i have 4 horses, 2 barefoot, and compete regularly. if nothing else you cant put studs in a barefoot horse, which obviously makes them more likely to slip.
 
overtherainbow said:
i have 4 horses, 2 barefoot, and compete regularly. if nothing else you cant put studs in a barefoot horse, which obviously makes them more likely to slip.
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True but I'd say that's a dilemma the original poster would love to have.
Mine he has better grip barefoot than he did in shoes without studs and in shoes was never sound enough to compete so I never got to test out how he was in studs.

I know alot of people who compete shod without studs and the vet doesn't feel the need to pass judgement.

Anyway it's swings and roundabouts, I hacked out today with a friend on a shod horse and cringed every time he slipped on the roads and we are very smug when it snows
 
overtherainbow said:
the issue for vets is that while a farrier is a protected term and thus ensures they have all had training to the same level, a trimmer is not and so could be anyone- this makes it difficult to reccommend over a farrier. also unshod horses do tend to slip more in bad going and in certain cases this causes more jarring on the legs or sometimes serious injury- its a risk they struggle to advise people to make in a litigation culture
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Don't agree with this at all.
 
overtherainbow said:
i have 4 horses, 2 barefoot, and compete regularly. if nothing else you cant put studs in a barefoot horse, which obviously makes them more likely to slip.
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I did not find that to be the case. It was my own impression that studs were far more important psychologically for the rider than the horse. Hunters are not studded and they do stuff in far worse conditions than eventers and the riders are unconcerned. Neither of my horses who had competed shod slipped more barefoot than they did before I took the shoes off, except for on the corner in a dry dressage arena if I tried to power around it too hard, but that was not an issue that would ever have caused any injury.

One of my favourite barefoot eventing memories is Henbury Novice, where it was raining steadily all morning. A rider was coming off the course as I went over to it, and one said to another rider in front of me "it's very slippery out there". My horse did not slip at all, although he had done so regularly when shod and studded, and had fewer time faults than many and went clear.
 
But leaving aside whether or not it's a good idea or a bad idea, surely it's the OP's idea and has been made on the basis of her research and the clear evidence that, at least for some, it's a valid way forward.

From a litigation point of view, the vet has made his feelings known so no problem there. Honestly, if vets are going to start "blackmailing" people into particular courses of action (which some do, if you ask me . . . although many others are just telling people what they know they want to hear!) then it's going to get very confusing because they don't all advocate the same path, even for very simple problems!

Vets are not always right. Farriers are not always right. I'M not always right. ;) It's part of the human condition to get things wrong and disagree and change our minds. Even veterinary research is not always cut and dried and it's such a vast field no one can know everything all the time anyway.

I have certainly had vets "advise" me - as in I have asked for the options and they have given them to me - and I've pursued them or not after further discussion. And yes, some have got cranky about it. But most, honestly, have not. Perhaps it's different in the "insurance culture" here where the default seems to be that everyone HAS to do everything possible, no matter how expensive/difficult/at odds with their other responsibilities some of the options might be. But, you know, horses got better before we could do some of the extraordinary things we can do now and horses still get sick/lame/written off/dead now.

I don't agree with trying to convert the vet. He's entitled to his own opinion. If it all goes swimmingly then perhaps he will see things differently, perhaps not. No matter, I still say if the OP is paying for services and not endangering the horse's life in any of the ways controlled by law, then if the vet wants to take her money, he has to provide suitable care. Or HE can say he doesn't want to treat the horse for anything anymore because of the choice the OP has made, which doesn't seem to be the case.

And if that DID happen, and this is the only vet around, then the OP has a choice how to proceed, after discussion with the vet. I have to say, though, I would not think highly of a vet who refused basic care and emergency services to a good paying customer on the basis of a theoretical disagreement!
 
TarrSteps said:
But leaving aside whether or not it's a good idea or a bad idea, surely it's the OP's idea and has been made on the basis of her research and the clear evidence that, at least for some, it's a valid way forward.

From a litigation point of view, the vet has made his feelings known so no problem there. Honestly, if vets are going to start "blackmailing" people into particular courses of action (which some do, if you ask me . . . although many others are just telling people what they know they want to hear!) then it's going to get very confusing because they don't all advocate the same path, even for very simple problems!

Vets are not always right. Farriers are not always right. I'M not always right. ;) It's part of the human condition to get things wrong and disagree and change our minds. Even veterinary research is not always cut and dried and it's such a vast field no one can know everything all the time anyway.

I have certainly had vets "advise" me - as in I have asked for the options and they have given them to me - and I've pursued them or not after further discussion. And yes, some have got cranky about it. But most, honestly, have not. Perhaps it's different in the "insurance culture" here where the default seems to be that everyone HAS to do everything possible, no matter how expensive/difficult/at odds with their other responsibilities some of the options might be. But, you know, horses got better before we could do some of the extraordinary things we can do now and horses still get sick/lame/written off/dead now.

I don't agree with trying to convert the vet. He's entitled to his own opinion. If it all goes swimmingly then perhaps he will see things differently, perhaps not. No matter, I still say if the OP is paying for services and not endangering the horse's life in any of the ways controlled by law, then if the vet wants to take her money, he has to provide suitable care. Or HE can say he doesn't want to treat the horse for anything anymore because of the choice the OP has made, which doesn't seem to be the case.

And if that DID happen, and this is the only vet around, then the OP has a choice how to proceed, after discussion with the vet. I have to say, though, I would not think highly of a vet who refused basic care and emergency services to a good paying customer on the basis of a theoretical disagreement!
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I really do have to agree with this post which, as usual, from TarrSteps makes a lot of sense.

Slightly off topic, well, maybe, but when one of ours had an acute laminitis attack, which as it turned out involved severe rotation of the pedal bone in both fore's. Our vet was called, and after confirming what we already knew, went through the standard treatment advice. I told him we were not going to do that but were going to go our own way with it. He was suprised but just said, 'your on your own' basically. All we wanted him to do way X-ray, which he did.

Cut a long story short, the mare recovered and was out and about again in weeks, and 10 months later when he X-rayed her again and found that she had acheived a complete reversal of the rotation of the pedal bone, was impressed and wanted to know what we had done.

He now still gives the usual advice to lami sufferers, but also says, 'there is another way, but, your on your own'.
 
I don't think this is even a barefoot vs non-barefoot problem, its an issue with the relationship between you and your vet.

It's reading posts like this that make me seriously grateful for my vet. He never presents things in black and white terms, he always gives several options for treatment (including the very important 'do nothing' option which is sometimes the best - 6 months field rest cures a lot of ills) and encourages you to do your own research. He will support you through whatever treatment option you choose even if it isn't necessarily his preferred option.

I know some people don't get on with him because they prefer a vet to come out with a diagnosis and a rigid treatment plan straight away, but me personally I will take the open minded, flexible and pragmatic vet any day of the week. Of course he doesn't know everything, but he will be the first to admit that he doesn't know everything and he allows the horses to teach him too. I like that in a vet.
 
Thank you; just checked back to see more replies on this thread.

As usual a lot of sense spoken ;)

My vet's haven't refused treatment; I'm more than happy to call them for routine and emergency work. They really are nice people but I agree that not everyone can know everything and I believe if I hadn't listened to them with my last navicular mare I may still have her (asked if barefoot would help, told no and as I didn't consider the other options ethical I had her pts). It's a regret I have to live with as if I'd taken her home and googled or posted on here she'd have been at Rockley before you could say "Eric Gillies". However you live and you learn and it's losing TPO that made me read posts by cptrayes who thankfully never gave up banging her head against my brick wall and the rest is history.

I have an initial "irk" that original vet ok'd horse for what I bought him to do (low level BE) and it's now transpired that he is more than likely not suitable for this due to comformation. I feel this is something initial vet should have noticed if it's as bad as otherse seem to think it is. I noticed this conformational fault, back at the knee, but didn't (and don't) consider it to be that bad. So with that in mind I think barefoot and enabling him to grow the feet he needs will help. I own him now and he's not going anywhere so it'll just be one day at a time, trial and error, to get the right balance for him without pushing him or causing him any harm to the best of my abilities.

Trimmer is registered with same vets but as far as I'm aware has only used them for vaccinations.

When the snr vet was out the one and only time and seen him trotted up llast Aug/Sep when he was shod th vet mentioned a stiffness in left hind. Like most things it's a chicken and an egg situation. The hope is that once his feet have improved his way of moving will change (he gets weekly sports/remedial massages and seen by another therapist) so it's baby step by baby step and there have been improvements since changing trimmer.

I guess I have a niggle (currently unfounded) about this left hind and my overactive imagination has me wondering what would ever happen if I wanted a work up (horse is not currently lame). I feel that the initial reaction would be any lameness (unless abscess etc) would be attributed to him not having shoes.

I have listened to the vets opinion which he based on the information I gave him. I do not believe that shoeing of this type will help at all so I'll continue as I am as long as the horse is ok and so far he is.

It was more a pondering of what happens when you do have a lame horse. For all intents and purposes putting shoes on may make it instantly sound but I'm now, having read and seen what I have, of the mind set that the shoes will merely mask rather than solve any issues. To the vets it would possibly be seen as a sucess to have a lame horse return sound simply through shoeing. I was just wondering if anyone had been in this situation and how they had managed it?

Thank you again for taking the time to read and reply. It's been most helpful :)
 
Re back at the knee. Mine is too, and tbh it has stopped me from doing lots of jumping, galloping, etc. but I have had him from 2, knew the defect when I bought him and I want him to last for ever!

However, I saw Vere Phillips giving a demo on assessing event horses, and one was slight bak, but it jumped well and he said he would buy it. You see some terrible conformation on horses that are hunting/eventing etc. I think you could have a moan at the vet, didn't he ask what you wanted to do with it?

I too have heard vets look at horses that were going to be PTS with foot problems, come sound with barefoot and the vet say, "Oh well, it was improving ..............." and it makes you want to kick them, after all the sleepless nights and work and worry to get the thing sound again, and instead of being amazed and impressed they just dismiss it as their treatment must have worked after all!

Any period without shoes, with a correctly trimmed and balanced foot is going to be beneficial. Keep looking at the Rockley Farm website, and other websites. You will find that the horse's hooves with alter a great deal, and the one big benefit is that in time the horse will grow a foot to support what is above. It might not look pretty to you or the trimmer or the vet, but it will do the job for the horse.

You may well decided to return to shoes at some point, but any time without is going to improve the health of the foot.

I know some school of trimmers don't advocate hoof boots, but if you are desperate to get out and about and exercise the horse I would get some. Introduce them gradually, i.e. don't put them on and go for a 2 hour hack, start off with about 10 minutes and gradually build up. The designs are improving all the time and because the horse is comfortable it will be able to walk out and use the hoof correctly, they are great for road work and I know some people do endurance.
 
Thanks Orangehorse.

I said to the vet when she came out that I would like to do X, Y & Z. I feel it would be my word against theirs as it was a "vet check" not a vetting. It's done now and as "irked" as I feel now it's too late to change any of it. Really don't want to rock the boat and risk losing them as vets. Said vet isn't at the practice any more so nothing can be achieved by raising the concern anyway. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that.

It's just unfortunate that I didn't know any of that before making the decision... I completely agree and hopefully we'll not need to return to shoes if things improve the way that they should.

He's out of work at the moment. Trimmer said ok to start long reining so in the middle of a boot saga trying to get ones that fit properly. I'm not against boots and will do/use whatever will help my boy.

He's only been sat on 3x this spring due to ongoing foot sagas so no plans to take him out. He'll get started slowly like any horse coming off grass and planning on doing at least 6wks groundwork before reassessing feet/legs and deciding if ridden work should follow.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer
 
It's difficult, I do find vets are quite changeable in their opinions.

If a horse is lame, they will pinpoint a fault but the same fault in a sound horse and it's "nothing to worry about, seen worse than that go round badminton".

I went from "his feet are fine, nothing wrong with his feet", I raised the issue as he used to pull shoes every 2 weeks but was at this point sound, to terrible feet, worst I seen in a long time when he was lame.
After MRI it turned out the damage in Frankie's front feet was virtually identical however he has differently shaped front feet.

Lameness alternated, if he was lame on the flatter one, the interpretation was that this foot conformation has caused the problem. If he was lame on the better shaped, well that's the problem foot and it is a better shape because it is compensating.

When I sent him off to be rehabbed barefoot, it was a case of it will never work as his feet as so bad because he's a tb, when he was assessed as sound, well it worked with him because his feet were so bad there was something to improve, it will never work with a horse that already had OK feet.
We moved onto "he was improving anyway" several months later and not to my face but to someone I knew who was asking if it was applicable to their horse.

That's why these days I find pictures so useful to get an objective view of where we are at any point. I think if the vet ever suggests I put shoes on I will dig these out and show him exactly how his feet looked in shoes.
 
I have a good relationships with my vets. They advise me well, and are interested to see the alternative appproach working - and support me. It has not always been easy getting to that point.

I trim my own, and the vets have commented that the balance is spot on in the x-rays "who did the trim?". Actually it is spot on because they are hardly trimmed!

That's why these days I find pictures so useful to get an objective view of where we are at any point. I think if the vet ever suggests I put shoes on I will dig these out and show him exactly how his feet looked in shoes.
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I found that very valuable - when the vet had great deal of trouble coming to a single diagnosis with one of ours, I showed just that - and when he saw the massive decontraction 6 months out of shoes he understood the implicaitons of all the radiographic changes he saw.
 
I've taken pictures since the shoes came off and new trimmer also takes pictures before and after every trim.
 
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