Hope I've done the right thing

[u83sh]

Tigers feet aren't looking the best, think it's because they're so dry after living in most of his life and now he's living out but since I've had him he's been losing 1-2 shoes a week and it got to point where his feet had crumbled away so badly that my new farrier has told me to leave him without shoes until they start to look stronger and more healthy.

So I now have my new horse that I can't ride hobbling round the field.

I've decided that I'm going to leave him about 8 weeks and I've got to say after about 2/3 weeks all the dead crappy hoof seems to have gone and although they're short they already look more healthy.

I feel there's no rush with him as we have our whole lives together and I'd rather sort out his feet now than spend the whole winter struggling.

What's everyones opinions good or bad - do you think I'm doing the right thing?

He's on Farriers formula, kevin bacon hoof moist stuff everyday and cornucresine.

Thanks, Sarah xx

[paddysmum]

You must be doing something right hun,
if after 2/3 weeks they look healthy,
i would just carry on the way you are hun

[bobby]

Well as you know for the last couple of years bob has had to have rubber pads and gel (his slippers) on his feet underneath his shoes because his feet are ever so delicate. Because he has been on holiday keeping Duke company he hasn't had any shoes on and he's still sound. The field has got a good coverage of grass, and I don't think for one minute he would be able to go ridden barefoot. but his feet are looking better so I would go with it, the changeable weather will help because the ground won't be rock hard.

[pst]

I was in exactly the same situation last year, a new pony & no feet. The shoes were falling off left right & centre, he had pads on his feet it was a nightmare....... he was lame I got a new blacksmith & he told me shoes off (there wasn't any foot left to shoe them too) it took 3 months before my blacksmith would attempt to put his shoes on. He gets fed top spec which has a foot supplement in it & he gets cornencrecine put on as much as possible.

My blacksmith still doesn't like to come any sooner than every 6 weeks as we just don't have enough foot growth. I'm often struggling to keep the shoes on for the last week but he's put an extra nail in this time to see if that'll help but I can't complain it's better than loosing shoes like we were.

[gemmat]

I think you have done the right thing.....for sure...! My lad was lame after getting shod and was not doing much work so in Oct of last year I took the shoes off him...he spent the first wee while hobbling round the field looking a bit sorry for himself, but once his feet toughened up he never looked back. He is now back wearing fronts, but I am convinced that his feet improved as a result of his time minus shoes!

xxx

[toto]

this is just the kind of stuff i need to be reading, strav has a shoe off at the front and the farrier is coming on fri to either take the other off or try and get it back on. he has no foot left to nail to so i would prefere him to go without for a while. The problem is he is a big softy, i bought some cavello boots and he has one of these on his front at the moment, although he looks a bit footy on it to say the least. how long untill they toughen up? i havnt been putting them on in the feild, just to get him there and back.
What do you think?

[valerief]

Yeah I think your doing the best thing too.My horse Todd has his shoes taken off every winter,because of his heals and also just to give his feet a break from shoeing.
My blacksmith also swears by using Kevin Bacon,so I also use that too.
Don't worrry it will all be worth it in the end.

[misstickle]

I'd booked the farrier to come and put shoes on Tickles front feet on Thursday. I cancelled him today and just asked him to come and trim her as usual. I'll keep using the hoof boots. It's so wet, I really cant see the point in putting shoes on her

[liberationsquare]

A good thing, which some of you may have used previously which is now in fashion again, Ireland newmarket and the older guys is yes its Linseed.....PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU FEED IT RIGHT!!!! (this is probably where i tell you how to do but i dont know)

[cloisterchalice]

It needs to be boilt but unless you have a lot of horses I would just buy the ready to feed prepared boiled linseed. This is about the cheapest I have seen it.

www.shop-com.co.uk/Linseed_Oil_0_5L-41731886-p!.shtml?sourceid=363

[mysticforest]

I was using Biotin for my horse, but his feet are pretty good although he's flat footed!

My old horse, Chester, was a nightmare to keep shoes on. when i bought him i was told he'd just been shod, i'm guessing by Stevie Wonder! His feet were very dry and brittle, he was on Biotin, twice a day til i sold him but his feet improved greatly in that time.

You must be doing something right if his feet have improved already! Farriers formula is good, but me personally prefer Biotin