Horse pulling front shoes

[Posting_Trot]

I’d be very hesitant to put clips on a horse that has pulled shoes this often. You’re more likely to have a lot of the hoof wall come off with the shoes, particularly if the wall is already somewhat weakened because of multiple nail holes.

As others have suggested, pulling shoes this frequently is often a function of a bad trim and or bad shoe placement on the hooves or both. Posting pictures would help inform some of the opinions you’re getting.

Having the horse go barefoot would certainly fix the problem of the horse pulling his shoes off. But it wouldn’t fix a bad trim or bad hoof balance if that’s the underlying issue.

[Meshach1]

agree! since crunching my horse’s nutritional numbers, those nail holes are now tiiiggghhht even in the summer here in hot humid NC. At end of 5 week cycle, I don’t hear any clinking walking down the aisle.

[anonevent]

The Equusport don’t rotate? I’m intrigued. Could you say if you find them to fit large or small. I have a TB with stereotypical, dainty, TB feet.

[PNWjumper]

They don’t rotate while riding. But I don’t think I would want to turn a horse out in them. My TB had relatively stereoptypical TB feet - size 2 shoe, so I guess fairly average. You could tighten or loosen the straps, but I don’t remember thinking they could go way down. If you search for leather quarter bell boots I think you can find them in smaller sizes (https://www.bigdweb.com/featherweight-lightweight-hinged-quarter-boot?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8diwBhAbEiwA7i_sJYZxOXg-c8B7omrUxiKpqPDqX-_VCVv16wk0ZAM28dDAOtqN0ZSQ2xoC0LMQAvD_BwE)

[anonevent]

Thank you! I’m going to try these. I found a “pony” size used that seem worth a try. He’s ok in regular bell boots and overreach boots, but they’re constantly spinning while riding. Something that fits closer to the hoof like this might work well.

[awaywego]

Just thought of this thread as I came out to ride only to discover my mare has pulled the same damn shoe that she pulled Saturday, was replaced on Monday, 2.5 weeks after they were first put on

I guess we will probably go to glue-on. I’m so tired of everything.

[fivestrideline]

My 4YO did that - shoes on, less than a week later he’d pulled the RF. Farrier came out and tacked RF on and clinched LF. Horse pulled LF 2 days later. This is after pulling both fronts when he originally arrived (they were very overdue…), and another shoe near the end of a cycle.

Long story short, he’s barefoot now with boots and doing well . I HATE dealing with pulled shoes!!

[sara78]

Yes it IS a reiner, hind sliders are necessary but hé throws front shoes

[sara78]

Well, actually hé has very good hooves, i really think it IS more a biomecanical issue

[FjordBCRF]

He either doesn’t have really good hooves or you have a farrier problem. Or could be both. And you did say rads showed some issues too. It’s impossible for anyone to really help you if you don’t post photos of the hooves and wont answer what his diet is.

[awaywego]

@fivestrideline

I HATE dealing with pulled shoes!!

Same. She was barefoot for a long time, wish that still worked for her because this is maddening. I’m pretty sure my farrier hates me and my problem children.

[sara78]

Oh, i understand you, mine also pulled his shoe last tuesday, farrier put it on friday and today hé Lost it again. I m AT third week cycle and allready had 5 shoes pulled on my two show horses and two loose hind shoes, i m done.

[sara78]

Ok so an update, my 3 horses are now losing shoes all thé Time, thèse last 4 weeks they pulled a total of 8 shoes, front and hinds, so an average of 2 shoes per week. I am very frustrated because i am thinking and overthinking why does this happen on and on on my 3 horses. The other horses in the barn are also shod by the same farrier and not pulling shoes but he s been shoeing the other horses only since two months and my horses since a couple of years.

[thereadinghorse]

Pictures would really help evaluate the situation.

[fivestrideline]

So usually when more than one horse starts pulling shoes (or a horse that usually holds them starts doing so), it’s very likely to be a trim issue. However, it is also possible to be a management issue - diet, lack of or conditions in turnout (ie mud), way of going, incorrect sizing or lack of bell boots.

Pictures would really help, if you feel so inclined. Someone has posted a link of how to take good pics - I’ll see if I can find it.

Usually, a horse pulling front shoes has too long of a toe and/or incorrect breakover - the front foot is staying on the ground too long and not getting out of the way of the hind. NPA behind can (in my experience) make the horse overreach more than they would and end up pulling shoes. Both of these things, if bad enough, can usually be seen externally. Same thing for a close stance, which can make them pull shoes behind.

Reiners DO tend to pull shoes in training just due to the demands of the discipline, but most trainers have a million tricks to prevent this. I assume your horses are tossing shoes while not being ridden?

ETA here’s the link: https://www.all-natural-horse-care.com/good-hoof-photos.html

[sara78]

Exactly, not while been ridden, in thé stable or in turnout but There IS absolutly no mud.

[candyappy]

@sara78

Exactly, not while been ridden, in thé stable or in turnout but There IS absolutly no mud.

You don’t have to have mud for your horses feet to get soft and lose shoes.

The last 2 shoe cycles have been difficult. We have had abundant/ frequent rain. We have no mud but the damp ground, wet grass ( rain and humidity/heavy dew) have my gelding’s feet soft all of a sudden. As his foot grows he starts to pop clinches and lose hoof around the nails making things loose.

The first time he lost the shoe and I went to a shoeing cycle 2 weeks shorter and sure enough 3 days before the scheduled visit I could see it happening again. Thankfully he held onto both fronts.

He has always had rock hard feet but we had been in drought conditions the previous 2 Spring/ Summer months so no wet. Farrier said his feet were soft and has me putting a water sealing product on ( like he does right after shoeing) to help seal out moisture 1-2 times a week.

Will see how we are the end of August. Still getting plenty of rain here.