Posted by Jim R on September 21, 2003 at 10:07:12:
In Reply to: Sore after trim - it's been a month! posted by DJS on September 20, 2003 at 23:48:47:
: My horse kept losing his shoes this summer (daily rain kept his hooves wet), so a month ago I had my farrier come out (just 2 1/2 weeks after a hot shoeing) to pull the ones still attached and leave him barefoot. The horse was not limping until the farrier drove away and I tried to ride. There was just a hint of lameness (I got right off - no riding). The next day he was worse. Two days later he was so bad that I took him to the vet and he did xrays (looked good) and tested his movement. His conclusion: find a new farrier. He recommended no riding and Bute for a week. Now it has been a month and the horse still hurts when we ride anywhere but grass or sandy arena. I am trying to find a new farrier, but the good ones are not taking new clients!
: Could my horse still be suffering from a bad trim? Or could there be something else going on?
: Thanks for any help, deb
deb,
After reading you're second sentence I would say YOU did more harm by ridding your horse right after the farrier pulled the shoes than the farrier ever coulod have. I would say find a new VET, dosen't sound very knowledgable about horse feet. If you told me this story over the phone I would immediately decline you without hesitation. Now I'll tell you why. The environmental conditions you described will make the horses feet soft because the water is breaking the hoof wall down. Daily rain and water breaks protein down( hoof walls are essentially protein) , this is basic biology which ever you choose(your Vet should have had this in high school). Now that the feet are falling apart and loosing their integrity they are not going to hold the shoe on very well (hoof walls). Since the hoof walls are falling apart would'nt it make sense the soles will be soft as well. Once you remove the only thing that is solid off the foot (shoe), would'nt that be like you taking your shoes off and walking down a dirt road, hurts dosen't it. Now if you did it gradually your feet will adjust and there will be no problem. On the other hand if you go for a mile walk or run I would think your feet would be sore and maybe for some time afterward.
If I were you I would beg your old shoer to come back and I would tip him twenty dollars every time they came out. Don't you or your Vet blame the shoer for a problem YOU caused.
Jim R.