Farrier on holidays.. barrel race sunday, sore horse..what to do?

[runtolive]

My horse just had his shoes done on wednesday. If you have read my other posts he has flat soles on the front. He was a little sore on his right front after I worked him on the barrels sunday. I left him until tonight and took him out bareback. He was great for about 10 steps on the gravel and hit a rock funny and went lame again.

I looked at his hooves and just in front of the tip of the frog, there seems to be a little bulge. (he also has thin soles.)

I called my farrier to see what they could do.. ie: pads or something?? :confused: they are on holidays until after the 2 barrel races that I have on Sunday.

If your client was in this position would you tell them to wait (I have been looking forward to these races for a while) or would you tell them to get another farrier in to see if they could help?

I have not had any problems with his feet like this before and it seems they have gone soft just since it has rained in the last 2-3 days....

What should I do? I dont want to offend my farrier either. But I really want to be able to ride in those races.

[Jan Palmer]

If this were my horse, I'd have that foot with the bulge in front of the frog radiographed, like yesterday. You're riding him like this? :eek:

[runtolive]

It was xrayed last fall and re looked at in the spring and it was fine.. I just want to know if it is ok to call in another farrier while mine is on holidays.??

[Steve Swain]

It's your horse, if you need immediate help by all means call someone else. But in the future you need to find out from your farrier who he works with to cover for each other in emergancies. Most farriers are a tad territorial and don't like strangers messing with their clients.

[runtolive]

Thanks, I dont want to get in trouble, I want to be ethical about this.. I will have to ask next time...This is the first time in 13 years I have actually had a problem.