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| Slipper sfor Hampton |
I 100% support barefoot trimming and trying to keep your horse barefoot. It was going really well with Hampton up until recently. And actually, it's not going BAD right now. Which is one reason I put shoes on. I wanted to do so before he started having problems.
Here is why I put shoes on.
He has started wearing off his hind hooves again. Pretty badly. He did this when he was 3 and 4 and I blamed it on growing, weak hind end, lazy young horse stuff. He did stop doing that last year. Within the past 4 months or so, he has started it again. He was wearing his hind hooves so weird. His toes were worn down like stubs, and he was wearing the outsides off faster than the insides - which would almost get a flare.
His front feet looked good, but he was just a touch short-strided up front. I'd like to see him roll out of his shoulder more.
I know there are excellent barefoot trimmers out there. But I just could not keep waiting around and watching him wear off his back feet so badly. He was becoming more and more unbalanced back there. And with his recently hitch in his hind end, I made the call. Shoes it is. Which now means I will be keeping the bell boot industry in business. *sigh*
He also got a massage today and his massage therapist found a pretty big knot on the right side of his butt (the leg I thought he was off on). For some reason he has been overusing this muscle. She did say his back seemed good and found no other real issues. That was good news. The chiro comes out Thursday (omg SPOILED horse! Ramen noodles for me). We will see what she has to say.
Hamps was pretty good for his first time getting shoes. We made it through the front feet ok, but decided on some mild drugs for the hind feet. Of course we'd all like to avoid drugging our ponies, but I would rather we not fight and risk hurting humans and horses and just give him something to take the edge off.
I'm interested to see how he goes tomorrow.
Barefoot isn't for everyone, and shoes aren't for everyone. Whatever works for your horse, works!
ReplyDeleteLOVE Alexi Murdoch. Hope that shoes help Hampers. I think Hue is probably due to see the chiro soon too. I'll prob try to get her out in the next couple weeks. Ideally he would have been looked at Today since I think our chiro is in Louisville every Tuesday but she usually recommends no work following and with a show this weekend and given that he is not actually hurting and this is more preventative I want to wait so it doesn't interrupt this weeks plan.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, barefoot isn't for everyone. Do what is right for your horse and your horse will be right!
ReplyDeleteRiva has lived in shoes all around since she was 3 - our OTTB goes in front shoes only. Whatever works for the horse is how I look at it!
ReplyDeleteI keep those super thick pull on (bear to get on and off!) bell boots on Riva and they save many a shoe.