Shoeing options for soft, tender footed white feet?

[doccer]

What do you use? Toe clips? Side clips? Pads? Bar shoes?

my horse is tentative on hard ground and even short steps on road rides. If he steps on a rock he definitely feels it. I hate to generalize but every wives tale regarding white feet is what I’m dealing with. Regular stone bruises, etc. Basically a healthy foot but so so weak.

I’m working with my farrier and getting shoes installed on Monday. Still doing my own homework for any new ideas that’s out there.

I’m pretty ignorant on the subject tho. Regular shoe vs a bar shoe? What is the purpose of the toe or side clips?

horse is sound otherwise. Being used for low level dressage and jumping.

educate a blissfully shoeing ignorant rider

[ToTheNines]

Management problem? Are you able to keep his feet nice and dry? Or is he in a wet stall, mud, too many baths?

Sorry to digress, but to me, soft feet says management solution not farrier solution. I have many white feet and they are hard and strong, but I keep their feet very dry.

[doccer]

@ToTheNines

Management problem? Are you able to keep his feet nice and dry? Or is he in a wet stall, mud, too many baths?

Sorry to digress, but to me, soft feet says management solution not farrier solution. I have many white feet and they are hard and strong, but I keep their feet very dry.

He’s outside 24/7 … I’ve owned him for 2 years (so have seen him thru all seasons wet and dry) and always been tender footed on hard surfaces. The hoof appears healthy (by both vet and farrier). What kind of management do you mean? Please elaborate?

I’d like him to be as comfortable as possible. Shoeing is definitely the option I’m going with him at this point. Barefoot is too hard on his delicate tootsies for us to do any sort of regular riding. Wives tale or not, his feet are the generalization of it.

Really curious what people use for shoes and why…

[PonyPenny]

Your farrier would be the best one to advise on what shoes will work best.

[S1969]

I have a mare that needs shoes and sometimes wears pads - and no white feet. So, it is likely nothing to do with the color of the feet.

Lots of horses need shoes and lots need shoes + pads. It really depends on the hoof itself, plus the type of terrain for turnout and terrain for riding.

My mare was perfectly fine barefoot in Kentucky as a broodmare. But, in NY even just turnout was tough in winter, and riding was tough without shoes. So, we changed things.

I’d go ahead and start with basic shoes and see if that makes her comfortable. There are many options to go beyond just plain shoes if the horse seems to need it. Xrays of the feet would help you determine the best choices.

[PrincessPonies]

Your farrier can answer all your questions if you ask. Every time my horse has been done I’ve asked questions. First I’d suggest asking about finding a product to help topically. My horse only stays sound if I dress her hoof properly every other day. I’m in a very dry area and her hoof is prone to getting dry and cracked. There are different products for different needs.
In general I’ve always been told to start basic, just plaim shoes, and work up from there. If rocks really bother him you might end up needing pads. But I always try for less and work to find what works.
Mad for clips I’ve always been told it helps keep shoes on place. Mine has to have two clips or the shoe will slid back, doesn’t matter what farrier it’s her movement that causes it. Never used toe clips. You’ll also want to experiment with that since I knew a horse that was so picky she refused to move if she had clips put on her shoes.
Good luck.

[doccer]

Thanks for the discussion guys

I really am looking for a general discussion on it. Thanks for suggesting other things. I’ve been talking to the farrier and I realize I’m generalizing the white foot syndrome not looking for advisement. Looking to chat about it. Helpful lol

makes sense that clips keep the shoe in place. That only makes sense Haha never would’ve thought a hoese would hate toe clips that much.

once I started looking up different types of shoes and showing for healing purposes it’s big nee world! So much to learn

[DawningDreams]

Regular shoes: This shoe supports the normal hoof and protects it under regular riding circumstances. Most horses never need anything more than this.
Rim shoe: A rim shoe is very much like the regular horseshoe, only with a deep, wide groove through the middle. This groove allows the horse to get a little more traction. Rim shoes are popular for sports that require speed and quick turns, like roping or barrel racing.
Bar shoe: bar shoes consist of some sort of extra “bar” on the back part of the shoe, generally for increased support in the back of the hoof, heel, or leg. A straight bar, like the one above, is often used for heel support, and it can also help hold the hoof together if excessive hoof movement is counter-indicated, which might be the case in a hoof injury.
Egg bar:An egg bar shoe provides even more support to the back part of the hoof and leg by extending beyond the heel. It is often used for horses with navicular disease.
Heart bar shoes offer the same advantages of the other bar shoes, only with the addition of frog support, as well. These are often used for horses with laminitis.
Things to consider with regular shoes vs. bar shoes:

• Hooves are designed to be somewhat elastic. They expand every time a horse steps down, to help absorb the impact. A bar shoe limits that expansion even more than a regular, open-heeled shoe.
• The bar portion at the back of the hoof is easy for the horse to catch with a hind hoof and makes it more likely to come off.
• Bar shoes are a little heavier than a similar non-bar shoe, making your horse carry more on the ends of his legs than he needs to, increasing potential stress injuries.
• Less is usually more.

Here's an article on clips: http://www.georgiafarriers.org/articles/clip-effects.pdf

Pads with a shoe (depending on what your farrier and vet recommend) may work wonders for your horse for extra cushion and protection.

I’d be interested to hear what your farrier decides on trying and how it works for you!

[mlb722]

Is he bare or already shod? If bare, I would try boots, perhaps with pads.

[S1969]

@mlb722

Is he bare or already shod? If bare, I would try boots, perhaps with pads.

Horse seems to be barefoot and OP has decided to put shoes on.

Boots have their place but for horses that have thin/sensitive hoof and/or soles, turnout can be as difficult as riding. And since boots can’t be worn 24/7, they may not be the most practical.

OP, I might start with nothing but regular shoes, and see how much that helps your horse. You could apply pads, but not all horses need shoes and pads; shoes might be enough, and then that keeps the sole/frog exposed which is good for the horse.

Unless your farrier thinks your horse needs special shoes for some reason, I’d start with the simplest option to start - and see how it works. If you then feel that your horse needs even more protection you can add pads at the next appointment, but you’ll have a baseline from which to work.

[MysticOakRanch]

Color of feet has nothing to do with how tender the horse’s foot is - that is an old wives tale… Having said that, some horses are tender footed (irregardless of foot color). As already pointed out, horses with continuously wet feet may be more sensitive - so the “management” issue is to keep them out of the wet - clean stalls, or pastures that drain and have dry shelters (my horses are out, but I have run in shelters that are raised and matted so they can always get out of the wet).

So, assuming it isn’t a management issue, as already discussed, look at shoeing options. Talk to your farrier. I have had horses who are just tender footed. Put them in shoes and they are fine. You can start with front shoes and see if that helps. Some need pads, or further support.

Clips are a tool for keeping a shoe on - for the horse who loses shoes due to insufficient hoof wall. My horses are out 24/7 - most are shod (we have HARD rocky ground), but generally, it is just plain ol’ shoes, no clips, no pads, nothing special. I would start there, and see if it helps your tender footed horse.

[Jungle_Monkey]

Keep feet dry…paint iodine or venice turpentine…Keratex hoof hardener…look at diet deficiencies, proper trim?

[theresak]

I would get some shoeing radiographs as soon as you can also - these may show thin soles or low angles, which will change the approach the farrier takes.

The only topical recommended by farriers/vets in my area is Keratex Hoof Gel applied on the nail holes/hoof wall. If you have a very tender-soled horse, there are some things you can put on the sole as well.

Make sure your horse has good nutrition - especially enough biotin, omegas, and amino acids.

[mswillie]

@doccer

Really curious what people use for shoes and why…

My horse has relatively thin soles and flat feet and is prone to bruising. He has front and hind shoes, leather pads on the front with side clips.

The entire barn moved to a new facility last year. The arena footing is a stone dust mix instead of sand. Some horses that were not shod are now wearing shoes because the stone dust is a more abrasive surface. I like the footing much better but his shoes really do wear out between farrier visits, fortunately he grows a lot of foot during prime riding weather.

[DoubleDown]

I’ve had great luck with Durasole hoof hardener on my tender footed guys.

[doccer]

@DoubleDown

I’ve had great luck with Durasole hoof hardener on my tender footed guys.

I havent heard of this one, just the old venice turpentine and pine tar brands.

We did a plain old shoe (as we thought) it helped his ‘tentative’ movement but if he hits a rock on his sole he bobs and feels it. wait to get thru the wet season (which will be till july i’m sure as we just got another 6 inches of snow overnight!) dammit lol

Thanks again for chatting! always good to hear personal references/opinions. Thanks

[SharonA]

What is his diet?
How many hours a day on grass?
Have you checked insulin?

[kiwichick]

I have 2 horses, one with 3 white stockings and 4 white feet, and a bay with 4 extremely tough black hooves. The horse with the white feet is more sensitive than the one with black feet, and both these horses are hardy half cart horse breeds.
So all things being equal I believe the white hoof composition to be softer.
However my white feet horse does better on stones, than some black hooved thoroughbreds around that are fully shod, and thats where the comparison runs into issues.
So I agree there is a lot LOT more too it than the colour of the feet too.
Neither of my horses are shod.

[walktrot]

I have a sabino Paint so he has 4 white legs. He came to us from Iowa, and whoever bought him from the breeder neglected him. He was picked up at a sale and wound up at a dealer in Maine, He was on the thin side and his toes were very long.

The farrier put him in Natural Balance shoes so she could round his toes and move the breakover back. He has been in them since I bought him in 2001. Just fronts. The only thing that changed was the vet recommending a 2 degree pad with support for the frog. She uses medicated packing and he rarely gets a bit of thrush.

About 18 months ago he developed a very shallow quarter crack on his left hind that didn’t want to grow out. I put him on biotin and the crack grew out and he has had a real improvement in quality of the horn. Thicker walls and soles. I’m keeping him on it.