Sensitive to nails going in hinds

[Feliz]

I have a new-ish mare who was very reactive to the nails going into her hind feet when shod yesterday – any thoughts of what could cause this?

She’s been with me since March, 8yo, sporthorse bred, decent soles & hoof walls, no issues on x-rays, did come to me with some seedy toe which has now grown out. The first few shoeings she wasn’t especially easy for fronts or hinds – but she has been quite unsettled and anxious at times and I put it down to that. In the last 3-4wks I’ve seen a real, sustained improvement in her overall behaviour – so much more relaxed in general. I think the ulcer treatment, management tweaks and her just settling in to her new life are all paying off.

Yesterday she was relaxed and very easy the whole time – except when he hammered in the hind nails – at which point she would pull her foot away. He was very patient and did manage to get them done (I had her a neck skin pinch and was holding her head) and she was unreactive to the last two nails and was then completely relaxed and easy for him to finish.

But my suspicion is there’s some kind of pain happening as it was so specific when she was “naughty”

So I need to sort this so she is comfortable, plus my farrier is great and I don’t want him to fire us!

[punchy]

Mine used to be like this, he is now barefoot. We just assumed thin walls. X-rays did not provide any answers.

Things that helped:

1. The farrier doing little tap taps instead of big whacks. Sometimes he’d use a rubber mallet. Hitting the actual shoe when the nail was close to being in all the way was the worst.

2. Mine was worse with nails closer to his heel, so we tried to get by with fewer nails closer to the toe.

IME it doesn’t get better. Hence, barefoot.

[Feliz]

@punchy

Sometimes he’d use a rubber mallet.

Oh that’s a good idea for something to try

I’m going to ask the old owner if this has been a problem before. I’d love to go barefoot but as my plan is to jump on grass at some stage studs will be necessary!

[punchy]

Mine couldn’t wear studs—epic lameness—because they put too much pressure on one spot. He was okay with an inner or outer rim for traction, or toe grabs. That was my experience though, hopefully yours will be better.

[scislandsprite]

I’ve seen people use studs with hoof boots successfully for horses that are barefoot but need the extra traction! I think Scoot Boots has a video on how they install studs on their hoof boots