Ok, I’m a newbie here, so I’m just wondering about natural balance shoes. I’m not seeing a lot of research on the web, and I’ve had one horse-shoer suggest them, and another tell me never to use them. They are more expensive, and the horse I’m leasing doesn’t have any hoof issues. Why do people use them instead of regular shoes? I’ve also heard you aren’t supposed to use them long term, but there’s a boarder at my barn who does to improve the horse’s performance.
Natural balance shoes are not magic. The key to getting the most out of them is in the preparation of the foot. I’ve had farriers who understood the methodology and did a great job with them, and farriers who didn’t. Visit www.hopeforsoundness.com for a list of trained NB farriers, then call the contact number to ask who has the most experience of those listed in your area.
My horses have benefitted from NB trims/shoes, but have also been beautifully maintained by non-NB farriers who care enough to be really educated about/good at their job. If you have a farrier who doesn’t understand hoof balance and function, no shoe will make up for it.
Search in the ‘Horse Care’ forum.
This topic comes up fairly frequently with some pretty lengthy (heated) discussions on the subject.
Melissa just gave you the synopsis of most of those threads though.
If your farrier knows how to use them and what they were designed for, they can be a great tool. We have used them at times on both my horses for specific reasons that could not be addressed with an average keg shoe. And the end goal is always to work them back to a “normal” shoe.
As in all things horses, “always” and “never” are pretty much meaningless. They are a tool designed for a purpose and like all other tools, require an educated eye and hand to apply. If the person applying is not one of those, then don’t do it.
But in the end, it’s a horse shoe. No more, no less. It is not an “additive” that will add some new, improved powers.
But if it (the horse) ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If he’s doing fine in the shoes he’s wearing, for cod’s sake don’t change them.
[QUOTE=formersoccermom;7385263]
They are more expensive, and the horse I’m leasing doesn’t have any hoof issues. [/QUOTE]
When it comes to horses feet, “if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it” is a very good philosophy to live by. Trust me, I have had horses with special hoof/shoeing needs…
Several reputable farriers have told me they will not use Natural Balance shoes for most horses (and they should be used for very specific problem cases only). A few years ago I leased a TB who’s owner tried NB shoes at the suggestion of her farrier. Horse did not do well in them and had to have 2 months off due to sore feet. My current farrier says NB shoes on TBs is a big no-no and only certain breeds may do well in them short-term and under special circumstances.
You may want to post in the Horse Care Forum as there are several farriers who are regulars there. Nice guys - prepare for some blunt but informative responses. 
Did you ask these farriers that told you this “why” they recommend them for your horse? I know there are farriers that will support something or not put a particular shoe on a horse but what I always want to hear is WHY…
My farrier just put Natural balance shoes on one of my horses but it was for a particular reason. He has inflammation in the navicular and a collateral ligament. The shoe he used is a wide web aluminum shoe. The Natural balance is designed to assist in break-over. We wanted to calm the areas and with the easy break-over so far it has made the horse much more comfortable. But close attention is being paid to not allowing the foot to get too long so more frequent shoeing will be necessary.
I think it’s a good shoe for a particular situation.
I just moved my mare from a wedge shoe to a natural balance and have been very happy with them. She does however have a non typical Tb foot in that she’s not flat footed. I do like how she moves, she seems freer through the shoulder and does well in them.
I’ve used them in the past on an extremely flat footed/thin soled gelding and while I liked his movement and how he went in them initially…they did end up making him sore because despite beveling the edge of the shoe, there was still some sole pressure because his foot was just SO flat.
As already mentioned, “always” and “never” have no place in the horse world. The three brilliant farriers I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years have used NB shoes when there’s a reason to, but are just as comfortable using other types of shoes as well. I’ve had horses kept in them for the long term and others where we might use them for a cycle or two and then back to something else. Totally depends on the horse.
My TB developed fever lines because of several factors all at the same time. Because of the preasure that the line caused while growing out of the hoof my farrier used Natural Balance shoes, fill and pads on his front feet. Once the line grew out we were able to take slowly take away the fill, the pads and then switch to regular shoes. He had NB shoes on for about eight months. I noticed a big difference in his movement after we stopped using the NB shoes, in a good way. Also, my body worker said that he seemed less tense/sore through his shoulders and withers.
Well, good grief, don’t tell my TB that! He’s been in NB shoes since 2009, and he loooooves them. My current farrier doesn’t adore NB shoes either, and convinced me to put him in a keg shoe for one cycle last year. Horse didn’t like the keg shoe very much (wasn’t lame, but sure didn’t move nearly as well in them), so everyone (vet, farrier, horse, and myself) agreed that he should be put back in the NB.
My former farrier did the NB shoes and he was a tremendous farrier up until about 8 months ago and we started a downhill slide. That being said my friends’ 28 year old horse in them and he’s a happy little clam. He’s not riding sound, but he’s 28 and retired. So as long as he’s comfortable then that’s what matters.
My current farrier put my friend’s horse in them. We have 5 horses between 4 of us. Four of them go barefoot and the 5th has terrible TB feet. He CAN go barefoot, but the previous farrier had done a really good job, then lost her mind and all the horses’ feet went to pot. His were the worst. We’re about 6mo out in fixing his feet (everyone else was fixed in a couple trims). The farrier said he doesn’t normally use or really like NB shoes, but said they would be a good solution to help fix this horse’s feet.
I don’t know a whole lot about them, but they absolutely have helped fix his feet. I could see them not doing all that great in some applications though. They could potentially have less traction on some surfaces given the fact that they’ve got a pretty good size smooth area to them.
