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Post by aimee on Oct 16, 2008 15:35:11 GMT
Peanut has really flat feet and they are quite sensitive. As it seems like we are not selling him now I am going on at OH about them. It is a nightmare to hack him out as some parts are quite stony and I just get so paraniod that he is lame/in pain and end up feeling guilty about riding him.
OH is old fashioned and quite sceptical about the expensive boa boots, and I have never had any personal experience with them either so its hard to fight my corner lol. He is happy about getting a set of shoes on him though, which will be better than nothing wont they? Will they actually make a difference when riding on hard ground? Its been a while since I have had a shod horse aswell so any advice would be great. Thanks
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Post by racaille on Oct 16, 2008 17:45:04 GMT
I had to bite the bullet and get Racaille shod - despite having lovely little feet of iron, the stony ground round here is just too hard. It would have been fine if he was on softer ground all the time but there's not much I can do about that. However, front only is an option too.
I'm not sure about boots. I worry about grit getting in and rubbing but also if you're putting them on all the time, isn't it just easier to get the horse shod? Boots seem a very good idea during the changeover to barefoot though.
Those people who use boots seem to be extremely happy with their choice, but I think I'll stick with shoes.
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Post by Becca on Oct 16, 2008 18:39:11 GMT
if you went for boots i would go for the mac boots they sit a little lower so are less likely to rub and you and get little sock things to help with grit.
but shoes done right, nothing wrong with them either
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
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Post by haffyfan on Oct 16, 2008 19:05:37 GMT
Boots evertime!
Like Becca says I personally wouldn't use anything but old macs at the moment (never say never!)
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Post by spotti on Oct 19, 2008 18:26:56 GMT
Boas are good too, they're just quite round so fit horses with round hooves better than those with randomly strange feet (like my hairy pony). We're having Old Macs for our next set though - purely due to the shape and how they will fit Faiths feet better. Boots in general - brilliant things! They are expensive initially, but tell your OH how much he will save over time when compared to having new shoes put on every 6-8 weeks...£100 for a pair of hoof boots that last a year ir 2 .Vs. about £60 for a full set of shoes that last 6-8 weeks...hmm........which to choose?   Obviously, shoes serve a purpose, but if Peanut has never had shoes on before (and he's quite young isn't he?) then it could end up doing more damage than good...putting nails into hooves can actually give the horse slight laminitis (tears laminae and causes pain to horse). I mean, its your decision, but I'd go with the boots everytime - you can always take them off again when his feet grow more/get stronger whereas you can't with shoes (in the mean time, Keratex Hoof Hardener is brilliant stuff for toughening up hooves and making soles thinker and stronger. Its worked wonders on Faiths previously rubbish feet and now they're all hard and strong and she can walk down a road and sound clompy like she has shoes on!!) |
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Post by brigadier on Oct 20, 2008 8:50:54 GMT
Id recommend boots- I use Boa in front only whilst Im adapting Basil to barefoot (I can now ride almost all the time barefoot) as the boa fit his shape- they are fiddley to fit at first but you get used to them quickly and since buying them (£100- Discount saddlery .co.uk) he would have been shod four times (at £65 per set). Theres no wear on them, he has not rubbed and after a few spanish steps the first time he wore them they dont make an awful lot of difference. Riding in woods where the ground alternates between boggy and rough was strange at first, TBs arent that footsure but now he usually looks where he puts his feet instead of tripping and ploughing through anything- your pony should be a bit smarter!!!
Show this message to your OH though re the maths! Also try unshod behind at first- they usually cope better behind with no shoes!
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Post by Becca on Oct 20, 2008 11:22:36 GMT
oh also for boa's (and macs i think) you can buy pads that fit in the boots to encourage the sole to thicken up. Once the boots are no longer needed, in good condition you can get a decent second hand price for them on ebay etc
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Post by aimee on Oct 20, 2008 11:40:53 GMT
Thanks everyone. Has been interesting reading everyones views.
I have also said to him that shoes can mess feet up more than helping. Peanut has never been shod before and his feet are in quite good condition, just really flat! Also think he may have a touch of thrush which probably don't help. I take it you can just have a front set of boots or do you need all 4 as we was just going to get his fronts shod anyway as they seem to be the ones causing probs. Oh I hate winter!!! Will show OH this thread to see what he thinks. Thanks guys.
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Post by brigadier on Oct 20, 2008 12:46:10 GMT
Boots are fine in front only!
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Post by Becca on Oct 20, 2008 14:02:03 GMT
give his feet a scrub once a week with 1part milton 3parts water should help witht the thush.
Speak to your farrier, if he is any good he should be able to help balance out peanuts feet so they become less flat over time, if not may i suggest an ep (or deap). My friends mare had no heels, just the way she had always been but now she a has a lovely balanced foot witht he help of our ep.
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jane
Novice Willy Washer
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Post by jane on Oct 20, 2008 20:35:34 GMT
I have always used shoes, don't know much about boots, although two friends have them and find them difficult to get on.
I had my last pony (who was 40 when he died) in shoes, he never had any foot problems, and was shod up to the end of his life. When I had my hips replaced he had 20 weeks of going barefoot, and occasionally I would leave him without shoes, but the trails round here can be very rocky, and as we were doing about 120 plus miles a week shoes were the best option.
My new girl has shoes on too, you can get cheaper farriers than the one I use but I am convinced that a good farrier is essential to hoof health.
jane
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Post by racaille on Oct 21, 2008 6:54:45 GMT
you can get cheaper farriers than the one I use but I am convinced that a good farrier is essential to hoof health. jane Couldn't agree with you more Jane. I trust my farrier implicitly; he never lets me down and I like it that every eight weeks he has a good look at Paco's feet. He suggested that when Racaille needs shoeing next we might try front only - I like this approach, he is not grubbing for money! |
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Post by brigadier on Oct 21, 2008 11:05:36 GMT
I agree- at first my farrier trimmed my boy really short and he was footsore for a couple of weeks but his feet are fantastic now and really coping with the barefoot malarky (not bad for a TB) I think I would really have to reconsider the shoe option if the tracks were rocky/stoney but at the moment its swell. I wouldnt consider an EP, DAEP unless desperate, a good farrier can do all they can and are not as expensive at trimming either however please note I say good farrier as I know from long long experience there are some terrible ones.
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Post by spotti on Oct 23, 2008 10:34:42 GMT
Re the good farrier thing - I honestly don't what I would have done without ours, he's brilliant! He really has worked wonders with Faiths feet (which were too long, then flat, then cracked, etc etc) and now they're looking in good shape, concave (she has hoof walls again!!!) and she seems very happy with them now. Even when the vet suggested I get her shod on atleast the front - with some very expensive special shoes might I add - he said that for what she was doing at the time (standing in a field with the occasional ride in the sand school) there was no point in shoeing her. He said he'd do it if I wanted him to, but that it wasn't necessary and would probably only b*gger her feet up more than it would help them, hence not going down that route. He actually recommended hoof boots for us (after we'd ordered some ) and has generally just been a superstar ever since! Sometimes I think that qualifications are one thing, but having a good rapport with the horse and a firm but gentle, knowledgable approach is what really counts. I mean, how many of you have complained about your farrier being rubbish/rude? And did the horse behave itself for said farrier? I doubt it! I'd have gone with an EP if I could ever get hold of her, but she charges 2x what my farrier does and although she would have probably trimmed differently, Faiths feet look/feel great now so I guess thats all that matters! Aimee - how did the OH take the idea of boots? |
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jane
Novice Willy Washer
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Post by jane on Oct 23, 2008 17:36:13 GMT
What's an EP?
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Post by spotti on Oct 23, 2008 20:07:25 GMT
Equine Podiatrist - apparently they trim barefoot horses to suit the internal structures instead of just to suit the limb (or something along those lines...theres someone on here who's one, but I always forget who - sorry!)
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Always saddle your own horse
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
