Natural Balance trimming

tiggypoodle · 04-18-2005, 10:25 PM

Well, I have a quandary.... lol. My shoer specializes in Natural Balance trimming and shoeing. I've used her for years and I love her, she's a great shoer and always goes above and beyond the call of duty when I need her. The problem is, I have recommended her to several people and almost all of them have used her a few times then had a problem-- such as a hot nail, etc. I never had any problems so I kept using her. Well, Stella's new owners told me today that they pulled the Natural Balance shoes and pads that Stella had on and put regular shoes on her, and she's almost totally sound now. The shoer they use "pooh-poohs" Natural Balance, which would be a turn-off for me (not at least having an open mind is something I can't stand) but the results speak for themselves. Do any of you have any experience with Natural Balance? I like the idea in theory, and in reality it doesn't make any difference to me if my horses wear Natural Balance shoes or regular shoes (plus my horses are usually barefoot except for Sensitive Stella). I'm just questioning my shoer's methods because, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. I hate to do it, but.........

Any suggestions or comments would be welcome... this is really kind of bugging me, lol!!

Lily

TXCowGrl82 · 04-18-2005, 10:38 PM

Natural balance shoes? I've heard of natural balance trimming, but not shoes. Could you elaborate a little? Even though I've heard of the natural balance trimming, I want to make sure it is the same thing...which if she's putting shoes on at all, I don't think it is...

tiggypoodle · 04-18-2005, 10:42 PM

Yep, Natural Balance shoes. That's what Stella has been wearing. They are quite different from regular shoes, they are thicker all the way around, especially in the toe. It encourages the horse to break over in a different way than regular shoes and to use the frog as a shock-absorbing cushion.

Lily

tiggypoodle · 04-18-2005, 10:46 PM

Found a pic of the difference between Natural Balance shoes and regular shoes. Regular shoes on the left, Nat. Balance on the right.

Lily

TXCowGrl82 · 04-18-2005, 10:56 PM

Ok, I know what you are talking about. There was a guy at work who had his mare shod like that. I never personally cared for it because it seemed to change the shape of their foot too much. I'm more for the long, slow changing their angles (when possible) approach. Maybe I just never had it explained properly to me. But my initial reaction was kind of a "Eh, don't think that'll work." Don't know if that helps you any.

TXCowGrl82 · 04-18-2005, 11:00 PM

Of course if she is working for your mare...don't fix what ain't broken! I was using a guy to shoe my gelding that a lot of people that I worked with didn't like. But I liked the job he did, his shoes never got loose or fell off, the borium on them never fell off or slid on the concrets, and most important, he kept my horse sound! If your mare is doing fine I probably wouldn't worry about it.

muttduck · 04-19-2005, 04:33 AM

Tiggy, the only time I worked with those shoes, they were harder to clean under and (because other stable hands weren't) he got thrush. He was also a severe founder case. The farrier the barn used took one look at the shoes and yanked them off. He never liked the square toe and claimed it caused some problems with other horses he'd done.
Privately owned, and had the natural balance shoes when he came to the barn.

Personally, I'd think they would help rollover on the toe, but I can't bash them or praise them. I only had the one experience with them and they weren't maintained they way they needed to be.

Rocking Horse · 04-19-2005, 11:45 AM

Lily,

I don't have any experience with the shoeing process that you are using.
It does look a little extreme for the foot though. I keep my boys barefoot whenever possible and am now leaning toward the "natural or Mustang" type trim. My QH gelding has some arthritis issues and I and my Farrier have been thru a number of shoe types and they all seem to work the first few times then quit. Now he's been barefoot about 1 1/2 years with no real change either way.
I say go with what works for your horse

Karen

tiggypoodle · 04-19-2005, 02:16 PM

Rocking Horse, we are talking about the same thing

The "natural or mustang" type trimming is what I am talking about, and the shoe is an extension of that.

And none of you are addressing the real issue.... lol........

Stella isn't mine anymore so it doesn't matter what works for her.....

Lily

Rocking Horse · 04-19-2005, 04:58 PM

Lily,

Ooops...

Your right, I completely forgot Stella isn't yours anymore.
Well, I guess her new owners will have to figure it out.

I didn't know that shoes were used for the "Natural or Mustang" trim.
I just learned something new

Now I have to go check into it more, interesting, very interesting

I always like to learn new stuff, well stuff pertaining to horses.

Karen

tiggypoodle · 04-19-2005, 09:14 PM

Lol, now I just have to figure out what to do with my shoer.... what a bizarre process this has been with Stella, lol!

Lily

Rocking Horse · 04-20-2005, 05:19 PM

Lily,

I say, stick with what works for you and YOUR horses....
Farriers and Vet's are not just professional choices but personal as well.
Alot of folks don't like my Vet, he tends NOT to sugar-coat stuff, if you know what I mean? But I love him, he's great and I always appreciate the blunt truth... Plus, he cares, he REALLY cares. Theres no replacing that factor. At least not for me...

Karen

tiggypoodle · 04-21-2005, 01:39 PM

Hmmmm.... that's a very good point..... I love my shoer, I think she's awesome, and SO easy to get ahold of (a big plus in a town where the most popular shoer charges double what mine does and doesn't return phone calls-- or occasionally bother to show up!)

Lily

Brandy · 04-21-2005, 01:40 PM

hey, did you ask Ap Nelson? the farrier guy on here?

04-18-2005, 10:25 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Natural Balance trimming Well, I have a quandary.... lol. My shoer specializes in Natural Balance trimming and shoeing. I've used her for years and I love her, she's a great shoer and always goes above and beyond the call of duty when I need her. The problem is, I have recommended her to several people and almost all of them have used her a few times then had a problem-- such as a hot nail, etc. I never had any problems so I kept using her. Well, Stella's new owners told me today that they pulled the Natural Balance shoes and pads that Stella had on and put regular shoes on her, and she's almost totally sound now. The shoer they use "pooh-poohs" Natural Balance, which would be a turn-off for me (not at least having an open mind is something I can't stand) but the results speak for themselves. Do any of you have any experience with Natural Balance? I like the idea in theory, and in reality it doesn't make any difference to me if my horses wear Natural Balance shoes or regular shoes (plus my horses are usually barefoot except for Sensitive Stella). I'm just questioning my shoer's methods because, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. I hate to do it, but......... Any suggestions or comments would be welcome... this is really kind of bugging me, lol!! Lily __________________

04-18-2005, 10:38 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Natural balance shoes? I've heard of natural balance trimming, but not shoes. Could you elaborate a little? Even though I've heard of the natural balance trimming, I want to make sure it is the same thing...which if she's putting shoes on at all, I don't think it is...

04-18-2005, 10:42 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Yep, Natural Balance shoes. That's what Stella has been wearing. They are quite different from regular shoes, they are thicker all the way around, especially in the toe. It encourages the horse to break over in a different way than regular shoes and to use the frog as a shock-absorbing cushion. Lily __________________

04-18-2005, 10:46 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Found a pic of the difference between Natural Balance shoes and regular shoes. Regular shoes on the left, Nat. Balance on the right. Lily __________________

04-18-2005, 10:56 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Ok, I know what you are talking about. There was a guy at work who had his mare shod like that. I never personally cared for it because it seemed to change the shape of their foot too much. I'm more for the long, slow changing their angles (when possible) approach. Maybe I just never had it explained properly to me. But my initial reaction was kind of a "Eh, don't think that'll work." Don't know if that helps you any.

04-18-2005, 11:00 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Of course if she is working for your mare...don't fix what ain't broken! I was using a guy to shoe my gelding that a lot of people that I worked with didn't like. But I liked the job he did, his shoes never got loose or fell off, the borium on them never fell off or slid on the concrets, and most important, he kept my horse sound! If your mare is doing fine I probably wouldn't worry about it.

04-19-2005, 04:33 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 7,062	Tiggy, the only time I worked with those shoes, they were harder to clean under and (because other stable hands weren't) he got thrush. He was also a severe founder case. The farrier the barn used took one look at the shoes and yanked them off. He never liked the square toe and claimed it caused some problems with other horses he'd done. Privately owned, and had the natural balance shoes when he came to the barn. Personally, I'd think they would help rollover on the toe, but I can't bash them or praise them. I only had the one experience with them and they weren't maintained they way they needed to be. __________________ sigh

04-19-2005, 11:45 AM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,426	Lily, I don't have any experience with the shoeing process that you are using. It does look a little extreme for the foot though. I keep my boys barefoot whenever possible and am now leaning toward the "natural or Mustang" type trim. My QH gelding has some arthritis issues and I and my Farrier have been thru a number of shoe types and they all seem to work the first few times then quit. Now he's been barefoot about 1 1/2 years with no real change either way. I say go with what works for your horse Karen __________________ ~ My treasures do not clink together nor glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night ~

04-19-2005, 02:16 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Rocking Horse, we are talking about the same thing The "natural or mustang" type trimming is what I am talking about, and the shoe is an extension of that. And none of you are addressing the real issue.... lol........ Stella isn't mine anymore so it doesn't matter what works for her..... Lily __________________

04-19-2005, 04:58 PM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,426	Lily, Ooops... Your right, I completely forgot Stella isn't yours anymore. Well, I guess her new owners will have to figure it out. I didn't know that shoes were used for the "Natural or Mustang" trim. I just learned something new Now I have to go check into it more, interesting, very interesting I always like to learn new stuff, well stuff pertaining to horses. Karen __________________ ~ My treasures do not clink together nor glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night ~

04-19-2005, 09:14 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Lol, now I just have to figure out what to do with my shoer.... what a bizarre process this has been with Stella, lol! Lily __________________

04-20-2005, 05:19 PM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,426	Lily, I say, stick with what works for you and YOUR horses.... Farriers and Vet's are not just professional choices but personal as well. Alot of folks don't like my Vet, he tends NOT to sugar-coat stuff, if you know what I mean? But I love him, he's great and I always appreciate the blunt truth... Plus, he cares, he REALLY cares. Theres no replacing that factor. At least not for me... Karen __________________ ~ My treasures do not clink together nor glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night ~

04-21-2005, 01:39 PM
tiggypoodle Coming two Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Home Sweet Home, Badger Canyon, WA Posts: 1,691	Hmmmm.... that's a very good point..... I love my shoer, I think she's awesome, and SO easy to get ahold of (a big plus in a town where the most popular shoer charges double what mine does and doesn't return phone calls-- or occasionally bother to show up!) Lily __________________

04-21-2005, 01:40 PM
Brandy Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Six Lakes, Michigan Posts: 546	hey, did you ask Ap Nelson? the farrier guy on here? __________________