Barefoot advice please!

[wills]

Ori has been barefoot her entire life, recently though she has been struggling and has developed some severe bruising on her front feet (not the cause of lameness) nothing has changed other than the fact we have had the wettest year in a long time and her hoof quality is utter cr*p prior to this year she has always had very good hoof quality and strong feet. Due to lameness issue she will be on box rest for the next 6 weeks and vet has adviced to have her shod in front to help the bruising, I am really not keen to go down the shoe route but obviously want to do what's best to make her comfortable and I don't want her sore at the front and behind. Should I shoe just now, allowing bruising to heal and hopefully her back end will be sorted and then start again barefoot or what? Just seems to be masking an issue to me by whacking shoes on. Sorry if this doesn't make sense. A bit rambling today.

[alonerawnut]

Particularly as she's on box rest, would booting be an option rather than shoeing?

[companymagic]

Noo don't shoe her. Personal I wouldn't.

I can't see how that will help at all. If she is Stabled anyway on nice big bed her feet shouldn't bruise anymore than they are.
Look at supporting her feet via diet while she is in and see how she is. I would be very reluctant to shoe a horses that's always been BF. I was advised to do it with Ailsa and I am sure it made her much worse.
However you know her best, and I am.sure am sure you will do what's in her best interest I am just a bit passionate about feet lately

Wishing her a speedy recovery x

[wills]

Sept 1, 2015 21:15:20 GMT 1 companymagic said:

Noo don't shoe her. Personal I wouldn't.

I can't see how that will help at all. If she is Stabled anyway on nice big bed her feet shouldn't bruise anymore than they are.
Look at supporting her feet via diet while she is in and see how she is. I would be very reluctant to shoe a horses that's always been BF. I was advised to do it with Ailsa and I am sure it made her much worse.
However you know her best, and I am.sure am sure you will do what's in her best interest I am just a bit passionate about feet lately

Wishing her a speedy recovery x

I am really really reluctant to shoe but to be honest I am pretty frazzled of late with this lameness issues and just want her to be comfortable. It just didn't sit right with me to whack a shoe on especially when I have had no need to before. I shall have to start doing some research I think on barefoot. I have always been lucky with her that simple foot care routine had kept them good.

[wills]

Sept 1, 2015 15:35:21 GMT 1 alonerawnut said:

Particularly as she's on box rest, would booting be an option rather than shoeing?

Thanks I will look into that, I don't no much about boots, would they be suitable to have on the best part of 24 hours?

[alonerawnut]

You'd have to look at the types of boots available: some of the ones that sit higher up might rub if worn for a long time, but if she's indoors you're not going to have the same issues as ponies out in the field, where mud can get in and cause irritation.
There are some boots that just fit neatly around the hoof, which might be better. Even if you had her wear them either during the day or overnight, (whenever she's more likely to be standing) it might give her some relief.
I'll have a search and try to find a link to a few recent hoof boot discussions on here ...

[companymagic]

Wills I completely understand, and like I say you know her best and will do what's right for her. If you want some BF info I have found the Barefoot horses owners group uk on fb really helpful for stuff.

Good luck and hope she is feeling better soon x

[nich]

Phoenix forum is great, really knowledgeable and helpful folk.

[Deleted]

If she's on box rest bed her box up and leave her bare. If she's in a well bedded stable she can't possibly bruise her feet more and shoes won't change anything. If she's coming out for short periods of turnout boot her. Boots protect the whole sole and frog - shoes don't, if they stand on a stone that's thicker than the shoe they can still bruise and abscess the sole.

Ask the person who trims her if her horn quality has deteriorated - you can feel how hard it is when you rasp or nipper through it and someone doing her feet regularly should notice if they are softer than normal. If they are there can be a number of reasons.

Number one I'd look at if she's been on the same yard for a long time is minerals, any deficiency in grazing and hay is amplified year on year that the horse stays on the same pasture/hay supply so problems can creep in that weren't there before. Look at Forageplus for a decent balancer, any of the ones you can buy in tack shops have such low doses of everything in that they actually cost more per day while giving the horse less minerals.

You say it's been a wet year but has it been intermittently wet and sunny, if so that's perfect grass growth conditions and lami risk, it could be that she's in need of a whole lot more magnesium and salt, have a read of Calm Healthy Horses website and the Gravelproof Hoof site.

[laurac]

Hi wills

Sorry about Ori I personally wouldn't shoe I would deep bed, I am having similar issues with little biscuit who's always had good feet he had had low grade laminitis twice this year farrier came yesterday biscuit now has soft soles farrier recommended ketatex hoof hardner which you paint on soles and lower hoof so am giving that a go I also have some sole mate pads you cut to shap and duct tape in so sm going to give that a go also
I hope Ori is soonest better x