[Dancers Mom]

So the new farrier came out today to trim Dancer. Poor girl, after waiting so long for a trim her front feet where so chipped that after trimming them he said he would not put shoes on her right now anyway because the nail placement would make her feet hurt more. So he trimmed her up and then walked her around and I felt so bad for her. Her stride was short, seemed really sore, almost clumsy. He said that she is a big horse with smaller hoofs and she does not have a thick wall. He also said she looked alittle clubbed on the right front but it could have just been the way she was shod before and the way they grew out long since we had to wait for him due to the other farrier not returning my calls. She should have been done 3 weeks ago. My fault the first week as I forgot since I was so busy, but the other farrier did not return my calls for 8 days and then I had to wait a week for him. He said to give it about 10days and get the boots asap, which I am doing this weekend. He wiil shoe her in a couple of weeks if it does not work. I feel really bad for her right now and wondering if I made a mistake doing this. I wanted try because I know that if it can be done it is better for them but I don’t know. I will spoil her for the next 10days. He also said to get some hoof oil. Any recommendations?

The good news is that I do not need to call him on a regular basis as he has everyone on a 6week schedule and will bill be after he goes out there. YEAH! Gone are the days when I have to run out and take the check the day before. I love that!!!!

UPDATE 2

But it has only been two days. My BO/I instructor checked her last night, walked her around her corral and told me she is really sore. She said the new farrier trimmed her way to short, really short. I went out today after work and she was really grumpy, I don’t blame her, I am mad at me too. I walked her a little so she could graze for a little while and then put her in the round pen and let her just hang out. She seemed to take some strides that were normal every now and then on the softer parts of the pen. All I did was sit and watch her. I got some hoof oil and we are putting Venetian Turpentine on her tomorrow morning. I have to go out and do this everyday and I am working 16 hours of overtime next week so I will be going out at 8pm after work everynight to do this, or at least every other day, maybe my BO can do it on the alternate days. I am not going to use the new farrier and try my BO’s. Her stallion is barefoot and her arab mare goes barefoot all winter. I am really frustrated at myself and the farrier for trimming her so short. I thought he did after he was done but I was not sure. BTW, no one has heard from my original farrier, even others at the barn who use him. I hope he is ok.

UPDATE #3

So I went out to see Dancer tonight and she is much improved from over the weekend. YEAH! She is taking much bigger strides and faster, although still more sore on the right front then the left front. She is back to her obnoxious self, even trying to take a nibble out of my backside while I was doing her front feet. She is very quiet and slow when she does this so I have to watch her with one eye, thank god for the shadow the sun makes, that usually helps me spot her. Anyhow, this is a good sign that she is feeling better. She even did the OTTB walking sideways on the way back to her corral. I had to scold her and back her up, I am sure it did not feel good but she is strong and I can't let her get away with anything even if she is feeling a little under the weather. I am going out there tomorrow after work to have her trot slowly around the round pen for a few minutes to see how she is doing. Don't worry I am not working her at all, just a few minutes to check her out. She does however need to be worked and when I am finally able to do this she is going to need it.

[PeggySue]

why woudl the nails make it more painful?? the nails go into basically dead tissue no nerves are there...

good luck with her

[stephanie]

Maybe because her feet are in tough shape, the nails wouldn't have any solid hoof wall to go into and it could put pressure/tear her hoof wall thus making it more painful. I used to know a horse who went through that

[PeggySue]

porperly placed nails will not cause a problem LOL I know I ahve a mare with thin thin thin walls and does not grow even with bondo feet she coudl get a nail put in with no problem .....

LOOK AT BIG BROWN !!

[stephanie]

I know it shouldn't, however I worked with a horse whose back feet literally crumbled with shoes

[PeggySue]

so as jesse says "you get out the goop and start gooping....." Sassy had her's torn to wear he had ONE NAIL holding the shoe and he clips were barely touching her hoof wall ... two weeks later that crazy shoe that didn't stay on before is still on!!!

[Dancers Mom]

Originally Posted by stephanie

Maybe because her feet are in tough shape, the nails wouldn't have any solid hoof wall to go into and it could put pressure/tear her hoof wall thus making it more painful. I used to know a horse who went through that

That is it.

[HoustonFarrier]

If I could not nail, I would have glued on shoes, and your horse would be sound as the day she was born.

I've glued shoes on a 2000+ lb Percheron, and then showed him at halter and western saddle at the OK State Fair. There were 3 farriers from OK who saw him at the fair and could not believe I did it....the owner told them who I was, and I ended doing an impromptu "clinic" for about 15 people on glueing shoes.

Steve

[Dancers Mom]

Originally Posted by HoustonFarrier

If I could not nail, I would have glued on shoes, and your horse would be sound as the day she was born.

I've glued shoes on a 2000+ lb Percheron, and then showed him at halter and western saddle at the OK State Fair. There were 3 farriers from OK who saw him at the fair and could not believe I did it....the owner told them who I was, and I ended doing an impromptu "clinic" for about 15 people on glueing shoes.

Steve

I am really starting to regret doing this. I thought it would be best for her to try. Its not like I am saving money, I have to buy boots this weekend and hoof oil. I wanted her to be healthy and happy and everything I have read about barefoot says if you can do it it is suppose to be better for them. I will take pics of her hoofs today so you guys can see what they look like. He said her back feet are great but her fronts are not great. Since he won't reshoe her for a few days I just have to wait it out. But I am really, really feeling guilty for trying something that I thought would be better for her. But seeing the way she walked was heartbreaking. Short stride, almost clumsy and heavy if that makes any sense. I know it won't kill her but she is my baby and I only try to do the best for her and I am thinking that this is not. I am going out there today to measure for boots and check her out. I will update later. I'm heartbroken that I may have caused her pain trying to do something that I thought would make her healthier.

[Dawn]

Was she lame before trimming?