Morning all, New to the forum. Got a question I'm hoping could be answered or helped with. I was called by a new client to look at an older appy. I know nothing about this horse other than what the owner tells me. This is what I know. She has had this horse for 18yrs tiny feet for this size horse. About 1100lbs with 0 foot. Traditional steel shoes make her lame/soar in front from shock and concusion. Previous farriers have tried glue on shoes. Shes ok for a few weeks but then get unsound again. They had tried adding pads. still the same. added vettec injectable pads still the same. sound for a few weeks and unsound again. She has had the feet xrayed and the vet has not seen anything that would cause unsoundness. She is looking to just keep the mare comfortable. Any ideas? There was a mention of some sort of mesh shoe she had mentioned. I have never hear of this mesh shoe. If there is I'm more then willing to look into it for her. Thanks for any help. Again this is all I know of this horse, so any different questions about her I can't answer. Thanks again
You can find out the answers to these questions: Do you know what the sole depth is from the X-ray, or could you find out? Can you use hoof testers? Has she been like this for 18 years? Pictures would help. First solution that comes to mind is to shoe every "few weeks". I wonder if the "mesh" she's talking about is Equicast? I can't imagine how that could help, it's more for structural support, or for holding on shoes without nails. Some of the rubber shoes on the market, like the EasyShoe might be a possibility. Regards
I can get ahold of them from the vet I'm sure. Just by looking and feeling the sole they are thin and low. I have not use hoof testers. From what the owner tells me her issue has not lasted 18yrs but the past 3 or 4 years it has been. I'm not sure if the owner will go for shoeing every "few weeks" she already was complaining about the cost of glue on shoes every 6 weeks. I can suggest it to her. I think the equicast may be what she is referring to.
Magic Cushion? Durasole? Strong Iodine? Vennice tupintine? Any of these been tried? Has Pedal Osteitis been mentioned? Wide web, deep seated shoe used/tried?
Magic cushion and Durasole I'm not sure of. Iodine and Vennice Turpentine have been with no good results. I have seen the glue on shoes and they are wide web shoes. With a combination of Equipak blue soft silicone. I will try to get the radio graphs from the vet this week.
From what you say, the horse goes great for the first part of a shoeing period, so maybe shorten the shoeing period. If she is complaining about the cost, then maybe she needs to revaluate having a horse. Make sure the shoe is well deep seated. What is the conformation of this horse, does it have a problem with straight HPA? I'm with Chris, there maybe something going on inside the hoof with P3. Just a thought, has an open toed bar shoe been tried? There would be no pressure on the toe area?
