Posted by DJS on September 21, 2003 at 15:41:43:
In Reply to: Re: Sore after trim - it's been a month! posted by Jim R on September 21, 2003 at 10:07:12:
More background on this situation: this horse had GREAT hooves until this summer. I rode him in a barefoot trim and he could handle anything (15+ mile trail rides). But, when it rained every day and his feet got soft (he lost his calloused soles that I worked so hard to develop), I had shoes put back on. But, they kept coming off the front. His poor hooves were a mess from all the times he had to have the shoes nailed back on - so I opted to not do that anymore for awhile. I knew that we were back to square one with trying to build up the toughness again. When I first started riding him barefoot, it was a slow process, but he NEVER acted this ouchy. So that is why I am concerned about how sensitive he still is after a month.
As for riding him - I mounted up when the farrier left and got off within 10 feet when he started limping. He was NOT limping when I brought him up from the pasture, but he sure did afterwards. The limping got MUCH worse as time passed without me riding him at all. Don't think you can blame me for this one (my goodness, you sound like an angry and bitter guy!) I was very sad to lose this farrier as I liked him and trusted him for quite awile.
As for the Vet, he was quite reluctant to criticize my farrier. But, I wanted answers and he told me the horse was trimmed too short, was way out of balance and he said he doesn't like to see the frog cut back that much.
While I thank you for taking the time to respond to my question, you didn't really address the issue. What I wanted to know was whether a bad trim could cause a horse to still be uncomfortable. I don't pretend to know much about what a farrier does - I tend to trust their expertise. I might add here that I immediately placed a call to my now ex-farrier and left a message telling him my horse was very lame and I needed to talk to him. He didn't call me back until 5 days later while I was out. By then I didn't see any point in talking to him.....
deb
: : 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.