Farrier - DSLD and shoeing

[shadesofbay3]

my horse will soon be coming out of layup and to her retirement home… i have reached out to my old farrier (who we were using prior to the injury) and touched base to check to see how familiar he is with DSLD. I want someone who is familiar with the condition to be shoeing my horse. He said he is familiar with the condition and has shod 1-2 horses with it. I’m not sure if I’m being unreasonable, but I’d like to know if there are people out there (farriers) with more experience shoeing horses with DSLD. Currently we aren’t making any changes to her shoeing regimen - she gets shod on the front and trimmed on the back, we aren’t putting eggbars on the back yet.

If anyone would be able to point me in the direction of any farriers with experience with this, or what I should do, I would be forever grateful. I am in the greater Richmond (virginia) area

[4horses]

I have not heard that special shoeing options help. If anything a prolonged trim time is going to make them more painful. These horses don’t stand on 3 legs well because it flexes the other hind fetlock. It may be better to continue barefoot in the hind.

[Angela_Freda]

My horse lived six years after diagnosis, shod all around, with shoes with lift pads on his hind feet to relieve the drop in the fetlock.
There was a DSLD group lead by a vet who had a helpful trimming and shoeing protocol.

[2tempe]

My mare is retired - shod in egg bars behind to relieve the drop as noted above, barefoot in front. She has still shown physical changes - some more drop, noticeably post legged.After several years she is still pasture sound, rarely does more than trot a few strides, but then her life doesn’t require going anywhere in a hurry.
There are varying opinions, and always other factors. Said mare recently diagnosed with cushings and I’m wondering how that will ultimately impact things. I do know that if we reach point where she is difficult to shoe/trim, I will be considering the time to call it quits.