How to shoe this mare?

[PasoFinoLvr]

I have a nine year old paso fino mare that is 7 months pregnant. I purchased her 3 years ago in foal at that time as well. I noticed after she was shipped up to me that she had foundered at some point in the past. To this day she has never shown any signs of lameness, with or without shoes on. I do keep her shod on the front if we plan on doing any riding, which isn't much and over the winter when the mud freezes to protect her feet. When we pulled her shoes just prior to her foaling last time that it looked like her soles had pushed down past the hoof wall. Does that make sense? The farrier lightly trimmed the sole so it was even with the hoof wall and she was kept barefoot as she was about to give birth. She never went lame. She has shoes on now that are ready to be reset but I would like to know what to do if she is showing that dropped sole again? I assumed it was from the added weight of the baby. Should she be left barefoot with a flat sole or do you recommend some kind of pad for protection?

Thanks,
Pam

[Phil Armitage]

Your farrier should be able to make this determination. It depends on how solid and thick the sole is.