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 I hear your pain.  I had Beau on a 5 week cycle due to atomic hoof growth and high-low syndrome.  I kept on firing farriers.  I would get them fresh out of farrier school, and they would be great for 3-4 cycles, then all of a sudden they think they are uber farriers, get an ego, and start fixing what ain't broke.  And Beau would suffer for it.

 

After the last farrier left too much sole on and Beau got contracted heels, I decided to get busy with rasps and nippers and doing it myself.  I absolutely detest doing it - not my idea of fun.

 

I have completed a few LD's on Beau and Beamer with my own trimming and Epics.  All my real endurance miles were in steel shoes.  Don't  recommend endurance without some kind of hoof protection.  That's my take on it for now.  If and when I get back to real endurance, I'm sure that I will be looking for more solutions.

 

K.

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 12:25 PM, Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF <carrie.kitley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Ok, I know we have all discussed this before, but I'm in need of some
commiseration and encouragement right now.  (And I know there's a
barefoot horses group, I just want to post this here to start with).
I have decided to take my mare barefoot now.  I've had the same farrier
for the last couple years and because she has high/low syndrome, we have
been doing balanced trimming, pads and shoes, trying to correct that.
It costs me $185 every 6 weeks and I just can't do it anymore.  I spoke
to my farrier today and told him I'd like to have him give her a good
balanced trim and go barefoot and he said (in a nice way) that he
doesn't want to have any part of it, that I need to find a natural
barefoot trimmer if I'm going to go that route.  He said he does NOT
recommend going this route with her because, he thinks "her feet will
fall apart and she'll likely have lameness issues."  What??!!  He also
admitted that he may be totally wrong, but there you have it. . . .
There's nothing wrong with her hooves except the high/low and having
been out of balance for the last 3 years (which has since been correct
with xray imaging aids).  And frankly, I think her feet would be better
off barefoot in the long run.  We actually had her bare on the rears for
awhile and she seemed fine.  I realize it's a different ball of wax for
the fronts though.
My dilemma is:  Now, he's gotten me very nervous about taking her
barefoot and I'm questioning my decision.  I don't think he has any
basis for the comment about her feet 'falling apart', but if he's not
comfortable having a part in taking her bare, then that is his
prerogative and I did appreciate his honesty.
The other thing is, I vowed to myself that I would not get involved with
the Easy Boots as I've seen too many people have issues with them as
well, so as far as our endurance career goes.  It's seemingly over
unless I can find an alternative that is simpler or more foolproof than
the boots.  *sigh*
Sorry to dump, but I need help here.  Thank you.
Please send your replies to carrie.kitley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for today.


Carrie Kitley
30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB
DMLSS Database Sustainment Specialist (DSS)
CACI International Inc, www.caci.com
Fax: 805-606-1179



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