Do you have to shoe the clubfoot?

[BERWIN1020]

I am new to this site and still fairly new to "horseshoeing". I have a 4 year old gelding who has had front shoes for approximately 1-1/2 years. He has had x-rays and was deemed to have a very mild clubfoot. The vet recommended keeping a shoe on that hoof with a pad. My problem is he went through 4 shoes in 28 days, then we switched farriers, he kept shoes with clips on for 10 days. His hoof was a chewed up mess; the farrier and I decided to leave shoes off for the next 4-6 weeks to see how he did and give his hoof time to grow out. My question is do I have to keep reshoeing him if this hoof grows out and I can keep it trimmed every 4 weeks. Or does a clubfoot require a shoe?? I mainly trail ride on sandy soil, and as far as showing, maybe a local show for fun once a year, if that. I do not want to do anything that will cause long term damage!!!!undefined

[Jeanie Connors]

There's no reason a club foot would need a shoe if the horse is kept well trimmed, especially for the type of work you'll be asking of him. Leaving him bare with a good trim may actually help that club "disappear", you never know ;) .

[calshoer]

If the ground is hard there is good reason to keep the club foot shod to prevent eventual damage to the edge of the coffin bone. Club feet, due to the fact that the bone sits pointed steeper toward the ground than the other foot, are more susceptable to damaging the end of that bone. I have never seen one that did not have some amount of bone remodelling in the tip of that bone over time. Since the recommendation for shoes was after the horse had Xrays I am going to assume the veterinarian either found that the edge of the cofin bone in the club foot is either already undergoing changes (pedal osteitis) , or figures it will later if not protected.
Club feet will suffer pulled shoes easier than the other foot for two reasons.
The tall hoof conformation creates a shorter stride on that side, so the foot may not be not getting as far forward as the other one. (out of the way of the hinds) Then if the farrier is trying to make it similar to the other foot by fitting the shoe out to the end of the toe,especialy if hte toe has a flare, he is delaying the foot from leaving the ground in time to get out of the way of the other foot.
Please read everything you can here about "breakover point" and club feet. Quite often the club foot needs a smaller shoe than the other foot ,set further back to facilitate breakover,or a rolled toe, or a rocker toe.
As well the heels of the club foot shoe need to be fit close, not sticking out the back.
Patty

[BERWIN1020]

Thank you for your replies!!

The recommendation for shoes was made by the vet prior to xrays, he would not entertain the idea of no shoes.
The ground is fairly soft as there is alot of sand in the soil, he is stabled in South Carolina about 10 miles from the shore.
Is it recommended or ok to leave shoes off periodically for the hoof wall to "heal" due the chips and nail holes from lost shoes?
Also since I am still learning and am grateful for all this web site offers, is there a book or reference with pictures I can get to better understand clubfoot.
The vet called it very mild, and the second farrier stated he would not even call this a clubfoot. But I told him he was diagnosed via x-rays and not just by sight.
Thank you all for your help. :)