Posted by John Barney on December 16, 2003 at 11:36:20:
In Reply to: shoe size posted by Sharon on December 15, 2003 at 22:44:14:
: I have a question. I have a gelding who has had sore front feet off and on for a while. It is worse after shoeing. We know it is soft tissue inflammation in the heel region, but we aren't sure what the cause is. After a few weeks he gradually goes back to normal, or close to it. He has a high foot and a low foot. The low foot is the sore one. I am not sure if this is a clue or not, so I need an expert to help me out. He abcessed in his left front foot, so we pulled the shoe. He has been barefoot on that foot for five weeks. (He is on stall rest for a bowed tendon in the other leg) When the farrier came she said he took a size 3 1/2 shoe on that side, but she'd have him back to a 0 or 1 in a few shoeings. He has been wearing a 0 or 1. She said his foot spread out wider while barefoot (interesting because he was sure not weight bearing on it for the bulk of the time). Is it normal for a barefoot horse to gain that many shoe sizes in five weeks? If it is not, is this diagnostic of anything? This is a 15.3 hand horse with big bones. Would it be normal to wear a size 0 or 1 shoe? He is an arabian, but a big one. Thank you!! Sharon (new here)
I'm not trying to sound like I'm slamming the farrier, but why did he/she remove one shoe? Also why does this horse have a bowed tendon? I always remove or apply shoes in pairs, it affects the weight and balance of the legs. I have a large boned Arabian myself and he uses size 0 shoes.A 31/2 seems rather large to me to develop in such a short time as you describe. I think your farrier should explain the reason and action taken. He or she can see it first hand.
JB