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Threw a shoe and a lot of hoof wall.. now what?

Horse Care
#1

My horse is shod on all fours. He has good sole depth and stays sound without shoes but has very crumbly feet that are prone to cracks and chipping even with farrier visits every 5 weeks. Since shoeing all 4 feet, cracks are totally under control and virtually non existent.
BUT
A few days ago he threw a front shoe during a ride and took off a lot of hoof wall with it. He is sound on it and even finished the ride sound and moving well so I didn’t notice the shoe was missing until we got back to the barn. I was shocked by how much wall came off with the shoe I called my “emergency farrier” (local guy who is great about coming to tack a shoe back on to hold me til my usual out of town guy can come) but he wasn’t able to get a shoe on because of how much hoof wall was missing. He is a pretty simple country shoer/trimmer who doesn’t have the bells and whistles that my usual guy does (no acrylics, pads, pour ins, etc) and said my usual farrier could probably offer some other options (mentioned bondo, cast, acrylics, etc)

I’m worried that he won’t stay sound on it if I leave him barefoot (and have farrier pull the rest of the shoes too) because he’s walking on sole on that one.

So if farrier can’t get shoe back on (due to lack of hoof wall) what are my options? Cast? it can get pretty wet here in FL so not sure how solid this is…glue ons…again, not much left where side clips pulled wall off too but he’s got decent hoof near toe? Nail into Bondo or acrylics? Other ideas?

My trainer recommended riding and turning out in a hoof boot- can anyone recommend a great hoof boot that can hold up to every day dressage training?

I currently have the foot wrapped and slip a Davis easyboot on for him to turn out in for a few hours a day and he is moving well and comfortably in that for turn out but I’m not too confident about riding him in that one. Farrier out Monday and I’ll get options from him, just hoping for some good advice and recommendations in the meantime!
Thank you

#2

I do dressage training in Renegade boots due to the rocky conditions in the boarding barn arena. She has no problems with any movements while booted and I boot all 4. However, I think most boots are thicker than shoes so if you go the boot route, I would pull the other front shoe and boot both for symmetry’s sake. There is a lot of buzz and approval for Scoot Boots too. When we wear out the current set of Renegades, I am going to try the Scoots.

Susan

#3

My farrier has used a combination of acrylic and nails in similar situations. If applied correctly the acrylic/glue can hold up to wet conditions, but the hard part in my experience is getting the hoof absolutely dry before applying. Your farrier will definitely know what has and has not worked in your area.

But I think it’s really going to depend on how much and where the wall is missing. Casting might be the better solution if there is really nothing to nail or glue onto.

#4

I use EasyCare’s Therapy RX boots on my foundered horse for turnout. He is out every day on a very hilly six acres and they stay on well.

they are cloth on top & have air vents. I’ve got Clouds and some old Boa trail boots, the horse moves best in the RX boots.

you have to wash them out every night. I use a stiff brush, hot water and Dawn dish soap to keep the gunk from building up.

they cannot be used for trail riding.

#5

Call your farrier ASAP and describe the situation. Be prepared to send photos if necessary. We don’t carry acrylic with us unless we know we need it (we carry it in a cooler with ice packs in the summer)… he will likely appreciate the heads up either way, and he may give you instructions to do until he gets there (for example, if I knew we needed to use acrylic on Monday morning, I’d ask the owner to leave the horse in a dry stall Sunday night). Good luck!

1 Like
#6

I have had one horse in particular who has removed a shocking amount of foot with a shoe on a couple of occasions. Naturally, both (of the worst) times were right before a show, so the question was not just “can we get it on,” but “can we get it on AND make him comfortable enough to show at 1.40m.”

After those instances, I can say that you can rebuild almost anything they can do to themselves. One of the times, my guy pulled a front shoe and the entire lateral side of the hoof…as in the entire side. It was terrifying looking, and my guy was extremely lame. Within 3 days of getting his epoxy-based “bionic foot” he was back in the show ring and winning.

More recently, we were dealing with a “rotten” section of hind foot (lo-ong story behind it that I won’t bore people with here), and rather than simply using the usual epoxy (Equilox), my farrier opted to use an epoxy + kevlar to construct a patch to give him something to nail the shoe to.

In other words, yes, reach out to your farrier. It’s possible for a good farrier to fix just about anything. And if he didn’t break off enough to make him lame, I doubt it’s going to be the worst your guy has seen!

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#7

Thank you PNW jumper and tarynls, this gives me hope! Have a show coming up in September and hate missing the ride time. Just thankful he’s staying sound on it for now and hoping my farrier is as talented as yours! I did let him know about the situation and am eagerly awaiting his Monday morning visit.

#8

Aren’t you in Germany? https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/dressage/10190959-dressage-horses-for-sale-in-germany

#9

My sister is in Germany! I’m helping her find the good barns from here

#10

My sister is in Germany! Im helping find sales/training barns for her and tracking down good prospects that she’s been trying. Think she has made her pick but has a few more to try tomorrow at dressage-deluxe.de

#11

Oh. Apparently I misread the post on the Dressage forum. I hope you find a good solution to your horse’s hoof problem.

1 Like
#12

Thirding that your farrier should be able to make some sort of patch/acrylic thing that will enable the shoe to get tacked on and the horse to be worked. I’d give him/her a heads up because surprises are not a good thing. Would also be good to solicit advice about what to do in the meantime with respect to booting/wrapping and working/not working/handwalking.

#13

I’ve been wrapping with gauze and vetwrap and changing daily while in stall. I slip a Davis easy boot on for his 4 hrs/day turn out and this seems to be working well. As of now I think he’s only had 2 days off from work because of this and only one more to go hopefully. I let the farrier know he might need acrylic or bondo (as per local Farrier’s advice) but I will definitely mention the possibility of needing a cast to him tomorrow before he comes out. Thank you for reminding me :slight_smile:

#14

So he stayed sound on it until about 12 hours before the farrier came. Girl who works pm shift texted me saying he “stepped on himself and pulled his vet wrap/gauze wrap off and was now very sore” so she proceeded to walk him onto the concrete and turn him out. When I got to the barn he was probably a 3.5/5 lame at walk and I quickly brought him into freshly heavy bedded stall, wrapped him up in gauze and vet wrap and gave 1/4 previcox (bute upsets stomach)

Farrier came out following (this) morning, put hoof testers on and said his sole is sore all over. He got the shoe on with expertly sunk nails and acrylic patches and said to pack with magic cushion, stall rest for a few days and he should be fine…but still so worried seeing him this way.

We recently lost a different horse to a horrendous and totally unexpected bout of laminitis (triggered by SI injection) and I think everyone who works with the horses still has PTSD…
so keeping close eye on my boy and hoping for quick recovery. Anyone else been in similar situation? How did it turn out for you?

#15

Still confused about you being here and in Germany. Your sister is posting on the dressage forum using the same username and account?

I’ve never had one take off a big piece of hoof but I know it does happen. If you trust your farrier, do what he says, try to relax and take it one day at a time. If you really aren’t sure, get a second opinion. :yes:

#16

Skydy, she is back from Germany now. No more posting on that thred lol, she got (pending final PPE) 2 horses and were eagerly waiting for them to make the trip to the states, might post a topic looking for C names (one Holstiner and one Westphalian, both C lines in need of naming)

#17

No problem at all, the Magic Cushion helps with soreness. We just had an event horse tear off a hind shoe plus a large amount of hoof and we did the same thing; acrylic patch plus a few nails. Horse was fine and we just shod him again today, acrylic patch still firmly in place.

I would keep moisture to a minimum. No bathing if possible, sponge the horse off instead. Moisture is the enemy of acrylic.

And please have a discussion with the person that turned your horse out without the foot being wrapped.

1 Like
#18

EZ boot, hoof boot ( the style without the metal on the front. if the hoof is narrower than wide . If you are using a Davis soaking boot be certain to protect the bulb of the heel and coronet and check twice a day. If you are using the other Davis boot check that the horse doesn’t flip it off. Because I cannot see the hoof wall that is off .

#19

He’s doing good! Walking sound (and a little excited trotting) today for hand grazing and on concrete. Shoe is on with nails and acrylic patches. Hoping to be able to get back on tomorrow

2 Likes
#20

Is there a particular reason you have him shod with clips? I actually specifically do not have clips on any of my horses for that reason, if they do pull a shoe, half the wall seems to go with it. Good luck though and hopefully he’s on the road to recovery! Magic Cushion is awesome stuff!

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