Help....please...quickish

[mogadoga]

My farrier is coming next week and i want to discuss going barefoot. Id start with his back shoes, see how he goes over the end of winter/summer, if ok then fronts off next year.

Thing is, he has a few cracks, my friend seems to think that because they arent open or anything and taken care of he should be fine.

Next- he gets thrush alot! Would back shoes being off make it worse as he is closer to the damp etc?

I am thinking of doing this becase he is a heavy horse, and have windgalls and splints. He had them when i got him at 3 1/2- 4. So i want to make less impact for him.

Any advise, hints/tips etc welcome. Good and bad please :)

Quick though cos farrier will be here thurs!!

Thanks in advance

[wonkeywoody]

The cracks will prob grow out much better when he is barefoot as there are no nails weakening the hoof wall.
As for thrush, I would say you get less chance as without shoes the feet stay cleaner as there isnt a half inch depth to get filled - not a very good description!
Personally, its a good time of year to take them all off, invest in a pair of hoof boots for riding in.

[Tatooed Lady]

I've also heard from the farrier that barefoot helps to get rid of cracks, IF the hoof walls are trimmed to take pressure and distribute it correctly.
I think, given proper preventive care as best as you're able (good feed, dry area to stand, regular hoof picking and care), your horses chances of thrush will be minimized more than depending on barefoot or shod...if your guy is thrush prone, talk to your farrier on what you can do to help...whether it's products to apply, feed supplement, raising a spot in the pasture so he can dry off, etc.

[mogadoga]

Hey they are off. He thinks he will be fine but said that if theres any problems after a 2 week settling period then call him out. I have pics (bad as on phone) will post when my battery is charged!!

[lachlanandmarcu]

Hurrah!!! well done! I reckon both the problems you mention will be miles better, incredible how much muck the shoes can hold in. :)

[Boffin]

Have you seen the entry from Chrissy c who had a similar situation to you a year ago?

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122842&highlight=equitech

I did and believe me it works. A bit like Keratex but with other ingredients which make it more of a toughener than a hardener and also very effective against bacteria of all sorts. They call it a soft gel and I found it really stays on the hoof so much better than Keratex most of which seems to end up on the floor! Perhaps that's another reason why it works better.

[Trio]

my boy had bad thrush when he had shoes, i took off his fronts and he coped and then his backs and his feet are now perfect, havent had any more thrush and frogs are full and healthy again.

however, tried the same with my other horse- took off his backs and it nearly crippled him so it really does depend on the horse. I'll never have shoes on Jo again as his feet are so much better without but unfortunately Archie can't cope without shoes yet.

[mogadoga]

Well a little update...NO thrush!!! *dances* I hacked slowly on the roads and ive now been trotting without any problems. Not too much cos i never do too much. But at first i was scared to at all lol.

Hoorah!

[mogadoga]

Heres the pics..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/mogadoga/hoofsole0108.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/mogadoga/hoofside0108.jpg

God they look small..believe me they aint!!!!

[Roofio]

I totally missed this first time around!

I'm finding it much easier to keep thrush at bay with shoes off and if concussion is your main worry you're definitely helping him by taking his shoes off. If you look at some of my old threads there are hundreds of pictures of how Js (18.1 and 700kg:eek:) feet have changed in the last 5 months or so he's been barefoot.