Hoof care subsections?

[Scarlett 001]

I was just thinking, I shoe my horse on the front and I *never* post my hoof trimming/shoeing questions on NR. I am hesitant as invariably it ends up with suggestions about barefoot conversion, rather than advice for the current situation. I know people mean well, but if I am after shoeing advice, then that is what I would like to talk about and it would be good to keep discussion focussed.

I saw one horse forum that had one section for hoof care for people who are barefoot, and another for hoof care for people who shoe. This setup would keep the debate out of the way, and people could get their advice. Maybe subsections in the horse and health care section?

Given how very very important hooves are as a discussion topic, there seems to me a real lack of people posting questions about shoed horses (not sure if this is for similar reasons as to why I don't post). It does seem to me that there are a few barefoot threads, so those who this is relevant too are hopefully getting support/advice which is great. It might be nice for barefoot threads to be in one place too perhaps. Hooves are just so important, that it is a shame I hesitate to ask shoeing advice on NR. :)

[MelanieD]

It was EE that had a separate section for shod hoofcare, it's still there but has very few posts because most of the hoof obessed people on there are barefooters. Most barefoot fans don't try to make a pain in the backside of themselves going on about it but since that's what they know how to do that's what they are more likely to comment on.

If I saw a post about shoeing with a request to not suggest barefoot I'd try to keep quiet about barefoot, though admit I can't always resist when I see feet shoes are doing nothing to help. While I can spot a cr*p shoeing job and can see an unbalanced foot whether it's shod or not, there's not a huge amout of advice I could give since I don't know a huge amount about shoeing.

There are a lot of hoof posts on here so a hoof section would be nice but don't think it needs splitting as long as it's made clear that it's for shod and barefoot hoofcare, hopefully we can all play nice together :)

[Shadowlark]

hmm I have to admit I am guilty of exactly what you are describing.. because I really DO believe in it, and I really HAVE seen tremendous changes in total write off cases. I think I have a bit of a thron in my own foot about farrier's due to what was done to Splash and other arthritic horses.

I have to agree with Melanie.. if you said specificly.. what do you think of this shoeing job or something along those lines I know I for one would respect your position. I wouldn't add if I had nothing of any real value to say.

But then I also take "Shauna get lost with your natural mambo jambo and help me for god's sakes" really well :) Not that I am the only person on here.. but you can always sift through the gobity goop for what you want from the people you want it from.

[Scarlett 001]

SL, do you like the idea of a hoofcare section? Maybe there won't be enough posts in it, but the topic is so important and I like reading hoof posts, barefoot or shoed, to learn more and I have to sift around NR a lot to find them - they are in health care, general, NH sections - all over the place.

In the end, hoof shape and hoof balance have to be optimized whether a horse is shoed or barefoot it seems. There surely should be enough commonality for these kinds of issues to be discussed and advice shared. There will be specific issues that pertain to one or other type of hoof care, but lots of information could be shared too.

I got thinking about this today, as I picked up Skeet's old left front leg xray from pre-purchase exam. His bones are not perfectly shaped, and some of his hoof issues are to do with the bone structure it would seem. Whatever caused this, it is now the reality. Shoed or barefoot, I have to optimize balance in a hoof/leg with awkward bones at best. I'd like to post about it, but the discussion may well end up in a barefoot discussion, and not focus on hoof balance. It'd be nice to have an environment one could talk about hoof balance and shape, and not debate shoeing or not. (p.s. SL - it appears he has a hoof abscess brewing by the way, as the vet tested him and he came up very sore with hoof testers in one location).

[Shadowlark]

I think it could be a very positive thing, there are certainly no lack of discussions about feet.. be it laminitis, white line, ring bone etc. a correctly balanced horse is a correctly balanced horse wether you feel shoeing is necessary or not.

I also think folks who shoe shouldn't be worried about posting about such things for fear that us Crazy barefoot hippies will pounce on them ;) Heck i kept my horsees shod for a LONG time.

I am really sorry to hear about poor Skeeter. Abcesses are a nasty thing that I can honestly say I have NEVER had to deal with in my own horses (cause I keep them all barefoot :P ) kidding kidding..

I would certainly be interestead in seeing photos of his legs and feet.

Thank you tho, it's important to remember to respect everyones opinions and ways of keeping horses and working to meet thier needs within the scope of how they wish to keep their horses.

[Scarlett 001]

I am really sorry to hear about poor Skeeter. Abcesses are a nasty thing that I can honestly say I have NEVER had to deal with in my own horses (cause I keep them all barefoot :P ) kidding kidding..

Good sene of humour there!!! :p ;)

I think this is the 2nd abscess Skeeter has had since I had him. Poor boy. The ground was very wet with all the snowmelt last week, and then there were still icy/stony patches. And then he runs around galloping and rearing/bucking with his buddies. I think he likely got a bruise and it may be turning into an abscess. :(

[Shadowlark]

Hey now Styric has posted warnings to put down beverages before reading my posts...

Well, now you have me sitting here attempting to think outside the box.

about ways to protect his feet, about ways to try and prevent the heat drain from his legs to minimize the arthritic implications.. Without pulling his shoes.. I keep coming back to these new rubber/plastic shoes on the market but maybe there are other ideas.. I am going to do some digging to see what other answers I can find.

Pads also come to mind to try and protect his souls from bruising.. however..Pads in general worry me, I have had a lot of people go do pads and then have a devil of a time trying to transition out of them because the soul became to soft..Splash's were a mess when he had pads on.. god that poor horse had just about every kind of corrective shoeing possible done to his feet!

So yes.. I would say a forum dedicated to feet would be a good idea :)

[Scarlett 001]

Way off topic now, but what about Keratex. Many barefoot people seem use it during transition or difficult ouchy phases (lots of posts on here about it). So when conditions are rough in the field, I could use it. When better conditions, I could not use it. See, I've been reading barefoot posts as they do contain helpful information even for shoed horses! :D We do have things in common!

Pads worry me too. Don't want to go that route, and just weaken his sole more. He is on farrier's formula. Perhaps pm me with any more suggestions, as I feel bad for digressing on my own post. :o But it does show a need for a friendly section where we can all discuss foot care in a constructive manner! :D

So back to the question at hand re a special hoof section of the forum...

[Shadowlark]

http://www.hoofarmor.com/

I HONESTLY know nothing about this product.. I have seen it advertised around and about which is how I knew to go looking for it.

http://www.keratex.net/hoof_hardener.htm

Vs. the Keratex..

Totally got me on these ones... neither seals the hoof which is what you want..not sure how Kevlar stays breathable tho!

Does Skeeter's sole get pared down? Maybe if it was left to calous as if he were barefoot..it might raise the way our barefoot horses do.. hmm interesting thought I wonder if anyone has tried it..


HA that was MEANT to go private.. such a twit..

[Yann]

The problem is that once people start taking a serious interest in what's going on with their horse's feet they often end up following the barefoot route, that was certainly what happened to me :o The shod forum on EE is a good idea but is usually as quiet as the grave, it's also the case that it's often unfortunately the barefooters who are best placed to answer the questions that might be posted there, as feet are feet shod or not. Not sure whether NR needs a seperate hoofcare forum though, it would just be lots of posts by the usual suspects:D

Keratex hoof hardener does work, and might help you.

[Scarlett 001]

I guess maybe a hoof section was not such a useful idea. I was just trying to find a way one could ask hoof questions for a shoed horse on NR (and there are quite a lot on NR) in a way where the discussion could stay focussed on the questions being asked. There are other forums where I can ask shoeing questions, so that's where I will ask them.

[MelanieD]

In what way are Skeeter's bones not the ideal shape? Is it conformation or is there actual damage to the bones causing them to be odd shapes? If it's just that the legs aren't perfectly straight then a farrier that balances using live sole plane could be a big help, natural balance farriers use that and some others. It lets the hoof be balanced to the leg whereas using a T-square type approach where the foot is balanced against the cannon bone doesn't work at all well on a leg that isn't perfectly straight.

I've found keratex so be s*d all help on my barefoot horsie but it did help a bit with keeping shoes on when she was shod so must have been doing something, could be worth a try. Pads are a bad thing for long term hoof health even if they help short term, far too much opportunity for nasties to grown underneath. The main thing that helps weak soles long term is to get rid of all flare because flare pulls the sole outwards with it and leads to a thinner sole.

[KarinUS]

The problem is that once people start taking a serious interest in what's going on with their horse's feet they often end up following the barefoot route, that was certainly what happened to me :o

:D Same here!
After years of trying to improve things by using specialist farriers and specialist shoes (I should have bought stock in the company that makes aluminium Natural Balance shoes!) and building hoof wall with all kinds of stuff and ZERO improvement I arrived at barefoot 2 years ago and wouldn't consider anything else now. Not because I like to be preachy or anything but rather because I have gone both routes and one has done so little for us and the other has changed everything.
IMO barefoot is not just for horses with great feet; it's for horses with all kinds of problem feet because it could quite likely be the only thing that will make them into great feet rather than just patching up a problem. For us comverts it's simply tough to respond to 'shoes only' questions because asking for improvement suggestions excluding barefoot is a little bit like saying your thirsty but you don't want any suggestions that include water. ;)

I love the idea of a hoof section though and I am SOOO happy that it was implemented. THANKS Scarlett!

[poohsmate]

[QUOTE=Yann;1177108]The problem is that once people start taking a serious interest in what's going on with their horse's feet they often end up following the barefoot route, that was certainly what happened to me :o

are you suggesting that as my horses feet are shod that i don't take a serious interest in their feet!!!!!

[Yann]

Not at all, where did I say that? :D If you have a good farrier and horses with nice strong feet there would be no reason to consider taking their shoes off.

[Scarlett 001]

I could say a lot more, but all I will say is that some of the replies discussing barefoot in response to my idea for a hoof care subforum (with subsections) have made my point why we do need two separate sections for barefoot and shod hoof care! And that is what Mike did in his reorganization of NR as one can see. :)

[KarinUS]

Exactly! It's perfect. :)