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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Jan 3, 2012 15:55:56 GMT 1
taking my horses barefoot again... apart from farriers keep letting me down I have been thinking about it over the winter. However, I am worried due to the previous bodywork problems I had with Nancy because of sore feet, I will get boots this time around, but will also need them for Mcgyver as he is foot sore on concrete even. Also, they have limited turnout in the winter... will this have an adverse effect? What are the implications of leaving hoof boots on in the stable overnight if I need to? What if they are in 24/7 with just an hour or so in the indoor whilst I muck out?
All these questions... They are on a fibre diet but... the yard I am on fertilize the fields!!! They come in during the day in the summer because of this...
All advice greatly appreciated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2012 16:04:29 GMT 1
TBH with all the trouble you've had in the past I'm not sure I'd be taking their shoes off again. Usually winter is a good time to transition due to less grass and softer ground, though if they're not getting much turnout I'm not sure how effective it will be. You could boot in the stable, but not 24 hours a day, so I'd be more inclined to bed up the stable and use the boots when out.
I have found with Talin that no matter how good his diet is, he needs exercise to keep his feet in tip top condition, and the breakthrough which improved his feet most when I got him was exercise, so I think you'd struggle if they're not working much and not getting out much.
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Post by laurac on Jan 3, 2012 16:04:46 GMT 1
I think find a super barefoot trimmer who is reliable and you can trust My current trimmer is superb and very experienced does loads of rehab work (lami navicular etc), my boys have only had 2 trims so far (3rd tomorrow) but their feet look amazing and both have coped with walking up the concrete farm track with small stones on it totally barefoot, walked BF out for 50 mins day before yesterday and he was absolutely fine This lady although based south east does go to nottingham once a month as in demand and someone wanted her to travel ! Surely you wouldnt need boots in their stables if they have rubber and bedding? Being in during day when grass is rich is a good idea
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Post by donnalex on Jan 3, 2012 16:13:36 GMT 1
If I was in your shoes (sorry, couldnt resist!) and I really wanted to do it I would put them on Farriers Formula or get an analysis and make sure they are getting the right balance of minerals and no excesses before I took the shoes off. A half way solution is shoes off for the winter then back on for summer, you would be surprised how much improvement you can get over the winter months meaning when you come to put shoes back on the feet are healthier with no flare for the farrier to address. Also there is not the 'I failed' feeling when you put shoes back on in Spring as that was the plan anyway
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Post by jen1 on Jan 3, 2012 16:13:56 GMT 1
there feet could be extra soft with the lack of stimulus,you could get there diet right over winter and see if the horn improves and pm amber she has a wonderful farrier who is trained in bf , she may pass his number onto you, or pm me and i will send you mine, you need to talk someone who knows feet while they look at them, or another option might be to do 1 stable with red horse bedding and do it that way with boots and pads,
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Jan 3, 2012 16:35:57 GMT 1
Jen Pm'd you and Amber... if you could let Amber know that would be great- her farrier would be a great one if he would travel to me as understanding botyh aspects of shoeing & barefoot would be a great option as my farriers don't agree with barefoot. Bronte is barefoot and does brilliantly and she gets no exercise as she is retired... Nancy has lost a shoe and seems to be coping well without that shoe (my farrier won't come out at weekend and won't come out in the evening, he says if I leave them in he will do them... don't want to risk having to leave them in on a day when all the others have gone out, plus I like to be there to know how they are handling my horses! So not an option for me as Mac can be funny with his back legs & bronte can be flighty...) Why does everything have to be hard work? Pony-Nutt liked the pun .
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Post by donnalex on Jan 3, 2012 16:46:09 GMT 1
This winter I seriously considered filling one stable with sand to see how it worked but I chickened out.
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Post by mandal on Jan 3, 2012 16:47:27 GMT 1
What are the implications of leaving hoof boots on in the stable overnight if I need to? What if they are in 24/7 with just an hour or so in the indoor whilst I muck out? I don't know about boots in a stable but you shouldn't need them there. Deep supportive bed and thick matting should be fine if not a full bed. Really, (quality) movement is crucial to building the internal hoof structures so unless you can provide lots of comfortable walking progress may be slower than with more turnout. Apart form sugars mineral status can be important especially if there are deficiencies.
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amber
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,661
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Post by amber on Jan 3, 2012 16:52:30 GMT 1
...have pm'd you....
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Post by mandal on Jan 3, 2012 17:00:19 GMT 1
I second those who say get a good and experienced professional who is committed to barefoot. 90% of the work is down to you, read, read and think how you can do anything to promote comfort and movement in your circumstances. Good luck.
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Post by Yann on Jan 3, 2012 20:11:22 GMT 1
I'm similarly considering whether I should try keeping Tess unshod this summer, even if it means turning her out in boots or using glue ons for a little while, shoes are fine and we have a good farrier but there have been enough drawbacks to make it worthwhile.
Given your previous difficulties I'd definitely go equipped with boots and pads, all round if necessary, so that's not going to be cheap. Echo the lack of need to boot in the stable, and most horses soon become OK on concrete so long as they're not being trimmed too short and their diet is OK. The bit about regularly fertilised fields rings alarm bells with me though, it might be the case that all the commitment, skilled professionals and conditioning in the world aren't going to give you sound barefoot horses if your grazing is unsuitable.
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Post by jen1 on Jan 3, 2012 23:07:57 GMT 1
see you just need to move!lol we are about to put the rd plainings right down the side of the out door arena,
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Jan 4, 2012 14:36:32 GMT 1
Haha jen... I cant afford to move. I also like them in at night in the winter :-). I spoke to my trimmer & she said when you have a metabolic horse it has to be so closely managed its almost impossible when on a yard so looks like its out for nancy...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using ProBoards
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Post by laurac on Jan 4, 2012 14:48:37 GMT 1
Oh does Nancy have EMS? 12 hour soaked hay will help BigFella just had 3rd barefoot trim today with new trimmer and new trimmer said 'b1oody hell, theyre great' (think its down to his guts working better since worming injections ) and he can walk 50 mins on concrete & stones with no ouches already, he hadnt left his field all summer up to 2 weeks ago, dont give up yet
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Post by jen1 on Jan 4, 2012 16:07:27 GMT 1
Haha jen... I cant afford to move. I also like them in at night in the winter :-). I spoke to my trimmer & she said when you have a metabolic horse it has to be so closely managed its almost impossible when on a yard so looks like its out for nancy... Sent from my GT-I9100 using ProBoards i think she is talking bollards sorry!
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