Shoes, boots, or barefoot?

Drafty · 08-09-2006, 07:38 AM

OK everyone, I need your help! My thoroughbred mare has bad feet, thatâ€™s all there is to it. They are soft and prone to gravel and the toe grows faster than the heel. Well, now thereâ€™s a new horse at the barn where I ride, and while his feet arenâ€™t as bad, they are tender on rocks. Is this a Thoroughbred thing? The owner doesnâ€™t have a lot of money for shoes right now, as she is going through a nasty divorce, so what would you suggest? I have no experience with boots, but wouldnâ€™t a good pair help? I was also thinking that front shoes might make a big difference, too, as they do a little jumping. In case itâ€™s important, she jumps, trail rides, paper chases, and visits the occasional w/t/c show. She just bought this guy from an auction and heâ€™s her little pet. Thank you so much!

cowgirlmommy · 08-09-2006, 02:11 PM

Hi! I also own a 12 yearold Tb mare and she has shoes on as we need them with our type of riding. But she is also my first TB( i was a die hard QH owner forever til my hubby bought me my dreamhorse,myTB!), so I do not know if bad feet is a TB thing or not! My farrier said her heels are as perfect as she has seen, not too long and not too short,growing uniformily as is the entire hoof. But right now her feet are very dry due to our weather and lack of rain has made for very dry conditions. She also had a small abcess from a little gravel piece working its way up there before we bought her and I had missed it, and the farrier drained it, put shoes on her and she has been awesome since! She has been shoed 3 times since the abcess, and all is well. As far as soft feet, there was no sign of it in the spring when it was wet either! Anyways,good luck and take care!

ToveroMom · 08-09-2006, 03:41 PM

Some Tbreds are prone to have what is known as shelly feet. They rather chip and shred off chunks.
Sounds like this horse may have poor feet that may need shoes.

cowgirlmommy · 08-09-2006, 05:42 PM

Thanks T-mom, for the info on TB hoofs! As a new Tb (not horse!) owner, I appreciate all new advice on my new favorite breed! So thanks again!

anglojumper · 08-09-2006, 05:48 PM

Hey,
My Tb is the same way...when its wet out he doesnt like to walk on any gravel or concrete barefoot so I just shod him however my trainer told me about using Venice turpentine (sp?)and it seriously helped, his feet toughened up and made it so he didnt really even need the shoes... I just opted for them because the venice stuff is hard to put on when you are like me... I got more on myself and in his tail than on his soles lol

beckyp · 08-09-2006, 06:16 PM

My TB has minor feet problems,but luckily he really doen't need special shoes,most of the farriers we have used have commented how good his feet look and he is usually least of our problems when we have farrier here.

08-09-2006, 07:38 AM
Drafty Coming two Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,564	Shoes, boots, or barefoot? OK everyone, I need your help! My thoroughbred mare has bad feet, thatâ€™s all there is to it. They are soft and prone to gravel and the toe grows faster than the heel. Well, now thereâ€™s a new horse at the barn where I ride, and while his feet arenâ€™t as bad, they are tender on rocks. Is this a Thoroughbred thing? The owner doesnâ€™t have a lot of money for shoes right now, as she is going through a nasty divorce, so what would you suggest? I have no experience with boots, but wouldnâ€™t a good pair help? I was also thinking that front shoes might make a big difference, too, as they do a little jumping. In case itâ€™s important, she jumps, trail rides, paper chases, and visits the occasional w/t/c show. She just bought this guy from an auction and heâ€™s her little pet. Thank you so much! __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi Breeding solid paints is like breeding spotless Appys - just plain wrong!

08-09-2006, 02:11 PM
cowgirlmommy Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Rocky Mountains of British Columbia! Posts: 1,469	Hi! I also own a 12 yearold Tb mare and she has shoes on as we need them with our type of riding. But she is also my first TB( i was a die hard QH owner forever til my hubby bought me my dreamhorse,myTB!), so I do not know if bad feet is a TB thing or not! My farrier said her heels are as perfect as she has seen, not too long and not too short,growing uniformily as is the entire hoof. But right now her feet are very dry due to our weather and lack of rain has made for very dry conditions. She also had a small abcess from a little gravel piece working its way up there before we bought her and I had missed it, and the farrier drained it, put shoes on her and she has been awesome since! She has been shoed 3 times since the abcess, and all is well. As far as soft feet, there was no sign of it in the spring when it was wet either! Anyways,good luck and take care! __________________ "There is no seceret closer than the one shared between rider and horse." www.rockymountainridingservices.webs.com

08-09-2006, 03:41 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Some Tbreds are prone to have what is known as shelly feet. They rather chip and shred off chunks. Sounds like this horse may have poor feet that may need shoes. __________________

08-09-2006, 05:42 PM
cowgirlmommy Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Rocky Mountains of British Columbia! Posts: 1,469	Thanks T-mom, for the info on TB hoofs! As a new Tb (not horse!) owner, I appreciate all new advice on my new favorite breed! So thanks again! __________________ "There is no seceret closer than the one shared between rider and horse." www.rockymountainridingservices.webs.com

08-09-2006, 05:48 PM
anglojumper Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Edmonton Posts: 443	Hey, My Tb is the same way...when its wet out he doesnt like to walk on any gravel or concrete barefoot so I just shod him however my trainer told me about using Venice turpentine (sp?)and it seriously helped, his feet toughened up and made it so he didnt really even need the shoes... I just opted for them because the venice stuff is hard to put on when you are like me... I got more on myself and in his tail than on his soles lol

08-09-2006, 06:16 PM
beckyp Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: utica,ky Posts: 4,471	My TB has minor feet problems,but luckily he really doen't need special shoes,most of the farriers we have used have commented how good his feet look and he is usually least of our problems when we have farrier here.