barefoot advice

[parsharainbow]

can a horse with navicular, pedal osteitis and ringbone be kept barefoot at all :confused: He's now been retired and I'd rather have him out in the field barefoot if he doesn't need to be ridden as its healthier for him, I just wondered if anyone knew anything about barefoot farriery :)

[MelanieD]

Horses with hoof problems like that are often better off barefoot, but you need someone that really knows what they are doing with sorting out problem feet rather than just take shoes off and hope for the best and you are quite likely to have to do some faffing about with pads and boots if he isn't comfortable barefoot to start with.

[Yann]

From everything I've read on the subject taking the shoes off a horse with these sort of problems is the best thing you can do for it, and once de shod and correctly trimmed they'll often show dramatic improvements in soundness, even when previously written off. Agree a consultation with a specialist would be a good idea, even if you don't plan to use them, but you've nothing to lose if the horse is retired.

Two good places to start would be

http://www.uknhcp.org/page4.html

http://www.epauk.org/findep.php

Worth remembering that they tend to travel over a much wider area than farriers.

[Bay Mare]

I agree with Melanie :)

Check out EPAUK site (http://www.epauk.org/register.php) for qualified trimmers or email Justine on there for students in your area.

The barefoot forums at Enlightened Equitation (http://www.enlightenedequitation.com) have a range of different trimming schools on there who will be able to help find someone in your area.

All the best x

[Alibi]

Yes, but second what MelanieD said about getting someone who knows what they are doing. I'd recommend getting an EP out to evaluate your horses feet. http://www.aepauk.org/

My fat cob who is 18yrs, has high & low ringbone and navicular (all can be clearly seen on x-rays) and is kept barefoot. He can be ridden in the school or in the field when its not too hard, but I don't have time so he's happily out in the field, keeping the youngsters in check!

When we were given him nearly 4 years ago (a so called "free horse"), he was lame in heart bar shoes, which he had on for the navicular. As he was only going to be a companion, we took the shoes off, did some light conditioning work and he's been sound for nearly 3 years, give or take a few days, when the ground is rock hard in the summer or when its frozen he isn't lame but isn't sound, he's not footy its just his arthitis playing up.

[parsharainbow]

Thanks everyone :) that was exactly what I was hoping to hear! Will definately be going down that route, one last question though he has thin soles and thin walls will that matter :confused:

And one last thing, do you know how much it is on average for one of these trims??

[parsharainbow]

Thanks for that Yann, the second link actually gave me the name of a specialist in Cardiff :D :D

[Yann]

one last question though he has thin soles and thin walls will that matter

You might need to take it into consideration in the early stages and protect his feet from surfaces he finds difficult to start with, but the amazing thing about taking shoes off and trimming the horse sympathetically is that both will wall and sole will inevitably thicken, surprisingly quickly in some cases.

And one last thing, do you know how much it is on average for one of these trims??

The going rate seems to be £40 whoever you use. Not cheap compared to the average farrier trim, but you generally seem to get what you pay for.

[parsharainbow]

You might need to take it into consideration in the early stages and protect his feet from surfaces he finds difficult to start with, but the amazing thing about taking shoes off and trimming the horse sympathetically is that both will wall and sole will inevitably thicken, surprisingly quickly in some cases.

Brilliant news :)

The going rate seems to be £40 whoever you use. Not cheap compared to the average farrier trim, but you generally seem to get what you pay for.

thats fantastic :) my farrier charges £30 a trim now for my mare, and for Red, the horse I'm asking about its costing me £170 for two front shoes :o Money isn't an issue for my boy but making sure he's healthy, happy and as natural in his retirement is :)