What to do - horse has bent his shoe!

[happihorse]

My horse is due to be shod next week but has managed to over reach out in the field and stand on the back of his front shoe. The nails are still holding fine but the back part of the shoe has bent away from his foot by about half an inch at the back.

I rode him lightly last night (because he needs to be worked every day) but I'm concerned he will trip on it and either fall or pull the whole shoe off and damage his hoof. Also, I'm concerned that something will get in the gap and get into his hoof.

I can't get hold of my farrier at the moment and need to keep working him (although I am not turning him out). Do you think he will be ok to continue being ridden or should I try to get him re-shod?

 

[Angelbones]

My own personal opinion on this (I am no way a prof!) is that I wouldn't ride with it like that. I would take the shoe off (do you have any tools?) - get a different farrier if you have to. If you have to exercise your horse daily how about walking on the lunge? If he overreaches again or catches the shoe, I would have thought he could do a lot more damage to his hoof and possibly be off work totally for a while which sounds far from ideal for him. Could you tape over his hoof and shoe to close off the gap / secure it whilst turned out? Sorry not to be of any more help, but I really wouldn't risk it (not having see it obviously).

 

[Letslip]

Completley agree with Angelbones in not riding your horse and getting any farrier to you asap. Could you put overreach boots on him as some protection when working on a lunge or long reining, perhaps a size bigger than usual so that they really cover the back of the foot and the shoe.

I have to say that I am quite precious re my horses feet, but have seen so many bad outcomes that could have been avoided and as the old saying goes 'no foot, no horse'!