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[RC] re: [RC] more on hoof problems - Michelle Fink

She's ouchy for a day or two *after* shoeing?  That would make me look into
either foot pathology or evaluate whether the farrier you are using is the
right one for her.  If there's pathology, she may not be able to stay sound
w/o shoes.  If it's a farrier problem, you might need to either get your vet
and farrier working together or find a different farrier.

I agree with Terry that some farriers do not trim barefoot horses
properly...  They trim short as if to shoe the horse, scoop the sole, then
shorten up a little more with the rasp - which can be TOO short for some
horses.  I had a great shoer that kept my horses looking great all summer,
then when he pulled shoes in the Fall would trim them so short they'd be
lame for a week or two (one horse was ouchy for almost a month). :-(  He
didn't want to come back as often in winter & thought he was doing me &
himself a favor by trimming so short...  It was Not Good.

Also if the hoof wall is trimmed really short and sole is scooped out, it
sets the horse up for a stone bruise/abscess situation.  IMO unless the
horse has a lot of extra sole built up, it should be left for solar
protection in barefoot horses.  Especially in winter, if your ground freezes
and thaws almost every day (as ours does).

OH, also if she DID get a bruise/abscess started when you first pulled her
shoes, if it's headed up the hoof toward the coronet band (as some abscesses
do) it may take a few weeks to fully resolve and she may be intermittently
lame until the abscess blows out.

Anyway, those are things I would consider...  Your vet should be able to
help you evaluate the trimming/shoeing and abscess situation.  I would start
with help from the vet.

Happy Trails,
Michelle
(Colorado)


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