Pulled horse’s front shoes, he is immediately MORE comfortable?

[ihearttbs]

Has anybody had a similar experience or has any explanation for this scenario?

I have an event horse who has become worse and worse for the farrier over time, and also constantly pulls shoes. He has lumbar arthritis and probably some neck/poll stuff. He has always really struggled/been resistant towards being round and wants to carry his head high.

I was tired of dealing with his behavior with the farrier, and felt like things just weren’t working for him so decided to pull his shoes since he isn’t doing a ton of work right now. I was expecting it would take him a while to adjust and he would be uncomfortable for a while.

Instead, he seems to be moving better, is calmer on the cross ties, and more willing to stretch down in long lines. He does take ouchy steps if actually on a rock but otherwise seems happier, so I’ve even started riding him again and same thing under saddle. I have been packing his feet with magic cushion and do put hoof boots on him whenever the ground has been dry, which has been rare over the last 3 weeks. He is mostly on large grass turnouts so that is probably helpful.

[cilla1]

Our haflinger kept pulling her shoes, she seemed to do it on purpose, she stepped on the shoe with the other foot and just slip it. Farrier said she did it because she touched her feet when tired. We pulled all four shoes and she never touched a foot with another again. I think she was just uncomfortable in her shoes

[4horses]

When a horse is barefoot the entire hoof can help absorb impact. Shoes distribute impact through the hoof wall but the entire foot including the bars underneath are designed to help with weight bearing.

[Bonnie2]

That would tell me to call a different farrier if he needs shoes at some point. Maybe it’s angles, maybe it’s nails or sole pressure or weight. Very smart to try pulling the shoes! Always worth a try if work level and footing are amenable.

[ihearttbs]

The person I have as a farrier is the one recommended by all the vets in the area/generally considered the best farrier in the area and has actually fixed the feet of a couple other horses that have come to my barn and made them sounder. It’s just very odd nothing has worked with the horse in question.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Sometimes they don’t read the text book. It might all look exactly as it should, but clearly horse is feeling something.

I’d try barefoot as you’re doing. Use hoof boots as you need. This might be exactly what works.

[Renn_aissance]

Does he have arthritis in the coffin or pastern joints? I wonder if the weight of the shoe bothered him or just put some leverage on the wrong angle.

Hopefully his improvement persists!

[LazyA1]

I had a horse with corns. He was sound in an expensive shoeing job or barefoot. Guess which route I chose?

[ihearttbs]

He does not have arthritis in the coffin or pastern joints unless it’s developed really recently. He does have neck and lumbar arthritis

[JB]

@ihearttbs

I have an event horse who has become worse and worse for the farrier over time

For front feet, back, or doesn’t matter? Having seen how high some farriers/trimmers (HCPs from here out) crank a hind leg up to work on it, I can only imagine how awful that would feel to a horse who has lumbar issues.

If front feet, it can be the same sort of thing - leg folded up or pulled out in front high enough it pushes the horse’s body balance to asymmetrically onto the other side, and tweaks his neck issue

@ihearttbs

he seems to be moving better, is calmer on the cross ties, and more willing to stretch down in long lines. He does take ouchy steps if actually on a rock but otherwise seems happier, so I’ve even started riding him again and same thing under saddle. I have been packing his feet with magic cushion and do put hoof boots on him whenever the ground has been dry, which has been rare over the last 3 weeks. He is mostly on large grass turnouts so that is probably helpful.

I might want xrays of each foot, even if you only do 1 lateral and one A/P view to check lateral and longitudinal balances. It may be that things are just a bit off, shoes are exacerbating that, and removing the shoes has allowed the foot to be more balanced on at least softer ground

[punchy]

If he has thin walls the nails could bother him, and if so he would be happier barefoot. If he is a thoroughbred, given your name, he may be more likely to have thin walls.

[Arzny]

I have one who is the same way. X-rays are unremarkable. Changing farriers doesn’t help. He is a completely different horse barefoot. If shod, he is a basket case - very very sharp to deal with and pro type ride. If barefoot, he is quiet, puppy dog personality and happy to pack kiddos around.