Posted by sharon on December 16, 2003 at 12:16:01:
In Reply to: Re: shoe size posted by John Barney on December 16, 2003 at 11:36:20:
: : 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
The bow happened when we put equi-paks on him. He felt so good he played extra hard. He was not in good shape because he had already been resting from bruising. One vet who saw him for the bruising said he needs more hoof mass, but I have heard so many different things I don't know what is right anymore. Could the fact that he took a size 3 1/2 shoe after being barefoot for five weeks be supporting that theory? The vet did not suggest removing the other shoe, probably because she thought I'd have this one put back on sooner. I procrastinated because I did not want to hit him with a hammer knowing how sore it makes him. THANK YOU for your advice! I have been going around and around in circles here. Can you think of anything else that could be going on here? We have done blocks to rule out anything to do with the coffin joint or navicluar. I am confident it is soft tissue, but what and why?