Feet problems/food problems

[Gill]

I'm fed up! Went to get my pony in today only to discover that he has lost a rear shoe, again. It is about 3 weeks since he was shod and I knew his feet were not too good. I have fed him "surelimb" all winter but to no avail I think. He is also putting on weight having been moved onto a new field 2 days ago, but if I can't ride him then I can't get the weight down. I am supposed to be taking him to our lesson in the morning, but can't go now. Instead I will be out in the field tomorrow putting an electric fence across to restrict his grazing. It seems impossible to feed natives correctly at this time of year, he needs the nutrients for growing good feet but must not get any fatter.Help please!

[Allie]

I don't know the ingredients of Surelimb, but many people say biotin is good for hooves. I have never used it myself, so maybe there are other people here who have.

Allie

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I have a friend who's horse is on Farrier's Friend. I've heard good things about it.

Maybe it's partially the environment he's in. Spring=rain=moisture=weaker hooves, i don't know though.

Is it your horse's feet or the farrier. If it went 3 weeks it probably isn't the farrier's fault, but i thought i'd suggest it.
As far as excirsizing, maybe with the right footing you can lunge your horse, or just go walk him.
Also there is this system that i just learned about (i think it's called ABC or something lettery) where there are a roe of boxes each with a different nutrient in them. It runs on the system of a salt block where the horse takes what he needs and i've heard really great things about it. Like a salt block when it's first introduced they will devour it, but in time they will only take what their bodies need.
i thought this was interesting.
i am in no means an expert on the shoe thing and probably working him would be a risk, but the idea came to mind.
hope it helps,
Allie T

[bartera]

Biotin is excellent, also, there are topical treatments for strengthening your horse's hooves...if your farrier is worth his beans, he should be able to tell you SOMETHING, or check with your vet... :) good luck!

[Daventry]

It sounds like your horse doesn't have great hoof walls! Boitin is great but you have to make sure that the product you use also has zinc in it. These two ingredients work together and if the product only has biotin in it, it won't work.
Are you sure you can't ride him without a BACk shoe? I know you shouldn't ride without a front shoe but sometimes you can ride without a back shoe - light hacking.

[Wally]

Try using Keratex that's great for hardening soft brittle feet. EPC in Frome somerset sell it. It aint cheap but one bottle lasts for ages.

[Gill]

Hello, thanks for your replies everyone. I have a really good farrier, he manages to get shoes on very difficult feet. My pony lost his shoe on thursday and he was here on Friday, that is good service too. He has recommended a supplement called Bio Trition which he has experience of, so I am trying that. He did not have much to say for Farriers Formula and it is also very expensive. I had heard that Rose hips were good for feet and there are lots of them in our field hedgerows in the autumn. One of our other horses eats them off the bush, but I have never seen my boy nibbling them. Lets hope this supplement is some help. Gill