shoes too big?

[twhs]

Anybody ever have shoes put on their horse that look like they might be too big for the hoof?

We’ve had our farrier for a couple of years and have been satisfied. Any problems/questions we’ve always worked out. Today tho the shoes on the rears of both my horses look too big – they are outside the hoof by 1/4 inch on inside and outside. The rears are aluminum; the fronts are not and I wonder if the farrier didn’t have the right size shoes with him. . . .

I’m concerned that my horses could step on the shoe and tear their hoof. Or catch the shoe on something in the pasture or on the trail.

Anybody?

[AKB]

Our farrier made the shoes big a couple of times. There was something that he was trying to accomplish related to ?heel growth or not interfering behind. Whatever it was seemed to work the way he wanted it to work. After a couple of weeks, the big shoes seemed to fit fine. Five weeks later, the farrier was happy and smaller shoes went back on.

[BuddyRoo]

did you ask your farrier why?

[goeslikestink]

it might to encourage the foot to grown into the plate ask here www.horseshoes.com

take a piccy of front back sides and underneath the foot/feet plus horse standing front back and sides
then they might be able to help you further

[merrygoround]

Not infrequently done to encourage hoof to spread and/or give wider base of support.

They are less likely to pull off back shoes in this case, fronts they tend to remove in a heartbeat. Less likely does not mean will not. With hores anything is possible.

[eruss]

What is the purpose of having aluminum on the hinds when you’re riding on trails?

[twhs]

Thanks for all of your helpful replies.
eruss: My horses are gaited and to help them stay in gait, we use lighter weight shoes in back.

The farrier said that my older horse’s shoe was wider one one side of the frog that then other which was why the shoe was bigger on the inside. Except the shoes are bigger on both sides of both feet! With my younger horse, I was told that they wanted to get the foot to grow wider, to open up at the heels which was why they also used fewer nails at the heel. The extra shoe in the back and on the sides would provide more stability for the hoof.

The reason I was skeptical (and am embarrased to be so) is that the farrier’s son told me during the winter that sometimes they don’t have the right shoes on the truck and then “wing it” and that his dad was better at talking the ladies into accepting the shoes (giving them an excuse) than he was. I was in the barn the entire time the horses were being shod. If they were doing something different or there was something new that needed attention (widening the heels for example), it seems they would have told me as they have in the past.

But your posts reassure me. Like too-short haircuts, the hooves will grow. In the future, before the farriers leave and before I give them the check, I think I’ll ask, “Is there anything new or different or any issues that were addressed this time that we need to discuss?”

[dbadaro]

my horse’s hind shoes are slightly wider than his hoof and my farrier and i are trying to widen the heel.

[dbadaro]

my horse’s hind shoes are slightly wider than his hoof and my farrier and i are trying to widen the heel.

[kookicat]

Why don’t you give your farrier a ring and ask?

Something like ‘Hey, farrier, I noticed that my horse’s shoes are wider than his usual ones. Could you explain why to me?’

[goodhors]

A set of overlarge bell boots on the hinds, could prevent hoof snagging on the “sticking-out” edges of the shoes. Boots coming down over the shoe will cover that edge that sticks out to make a smooth line if he should brush together. I would boot up my horse for turnout in the field or paddock, until the hoof spreads a bit to better fit the shoe, or shoes are more tightly fitted to the hoof wall in another shoeing.

I would be checking the horse daily, to make sure the bell boots do not rub his pasterns to make any sores. Especially if grass is dewy or you have rain and mud.

I like the solid rubber bells, with the double velcro closing. They take abuse well, stay on pretty good. I would get a bright color, easier to find if it comes off in the field! Get a size bigger than he would normally wear, you want the boots to come down around hoof well, and stay down. Tight bells may not stay in place over the hoof as well and could chafe easier.

Hope the shoes help the hoof situations.

[eruss]

Farriers are like everyone else, good days and bad days. sometimes they fit better than others.

[lstevenson]

Setting the shoe “full” with extra room in the quarters and the heels is a good thing. Many farriers seem to be afraid to do that. Sounds like you have a good one!

[walkinthewalk]

@twhs

Thanks for all of your helpful replies.
eruss: My horses are gaited and to help them stay in gait, we use lighter weight shoes in back.

The farrier said that my older horse’s shoe was wider one one side of the frog that then other which was why the shoe was bigger on the inside. Except the shoes are bigger on both sides of both feet! With my younger horse, I was told that they wanted to get the foot to grow wider, to open up at the heels which was why they also used fewer nails at the heel. The extra shoe in the back and on the sides would provide more stability for the hoof.

The reason I was skeptical (and am embarrased to be so) is that the farrier’s son told me during the winter that sometimes they don’t have the right shoes on the truck and then “wing it” and that his dad was better at talking the ladies into accepting the shoes (giving them an excuse) than he was. I was in the barn the entire time the horses were being shod. If they were doing something different or there was something new that needed attention (widening the heels for example), it seems they would have told me as they have in the past.

But your posts reassure me. Like too-short haircuts, the hooves will grow. In the future, before the farriers leave and before I give them the check, I think I’ll ask, “Is there anything new or different or any issues that were addressed this time that we need to discuss?”

1. There’s no reason for those over-sized shoes. The only time I saw over-sized shoes on a TWH was the 18 month colt I bought at auction. They had him shod with bigger shoes to make his reach more impressive to potential buyers:(

2. I am sorry – I have done nothing but hard trail riding my entire life and have had Tennessee Walkers for 29 years. They don’t need special shoe set ups to make them gait better – especially the older Walkers that hit the ground gaiting.

they need a proper trim, like any breed of horse and sometimes they need a chiropractor as pain or structural discomfort can make them lose their gait.

And they need some hill work with a knowledgeable rider to help re-set their gaiting “muscle memory”.

My champagne-smooth TWH that could carry a glass of champagne and not spill a drop doing his running walk has been barefoot on the trails the bulk of his life. He only wore shoes a few times when I wasn’t sure of the terrain.

My TWH’s that did wear shoes for trail riding were trimmed according to what the hooves asked for and they all wore standard steel St. Croix rim shoes.

[goodhors]

Looks like the robot folks struck again. 10 year old thread. Reported.