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thanks blondie---that is what my farrier said and i was leaning with his advice. both suggestions! my horses front feet grow so fast wearing them down sounds like a good idea though! lol(just kidding) it sometimes gets sooo confusing with everyone having an opinion!

wanna laugh...as far as i know this is my guys first real winter....his coat is like a teddy bear right now....and i noticed yesterday he was growing really long hair on his legs!!! lol he looks so cute!


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515654 11/15/05 07:46 AM
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:-)

The hoof-growth usually slows down during the winter time.............
If his front hoofs grow fast, you have to make sure that they are shortened correctly to prevent an incorrect growth.

So trust your farrier ...............

bb


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Hi BB, Hi nikko,

Have to disagree with this one, BB. Nikko, you should leave shoes off for a time when you are riding the least. And I have heard that barefoot is better tread, don't know if that is true, tho. My shoer recommends no shoes whenever possible. Is it rocky where you ride? Can you use boots for awhile, for only when you are riding? Expensive, but worth it.

And BTW, the horses feet grow MORE, when you ride more. That is because circulation is increased. They may wear more also, depending on the footing of where you ride. Some horses are tender when barefoot, some are only tender on gravel, or not at all. The more your horse's feet hurt, when you take off the shoes, the more he needs them off. No matter what ANYONE says, shoes do decrease circulation and cause contracted heels over a period of time! That is why you should always let your horse go bare, whenever possible.

I have a TB, who came off the track years ago. Was always shod (prob all the way round), and came to me with shoes just pulled and VERY sore. After a few weeks, he was fine. I left him barefoot for almost the full three years that he was first here. (I didn't ride him much, had another TB and then when that one died I stopped riding for a year.) This TB has the BEST feet right now, shoers cannot believe it, he has testbook perfect feet. A little tender on gravel, I only put shoes on when we are showing alot or eventing.

Not every horse is good barefoot, I have another TB that is prone to abscesses when bare. He has shoes on right now, only way he will stay sound ....He's for sale..Anyone??

nikko, I suggest that you take the time to research this on the web and draw your own conclusions. I can send you some links later, I researched ALOT when our pony foundered. I learned an awful lot about horse's feet. But nobody, NOBODY, should be telling you to keep your horse shod year round!!!! We have alot of horses at our barn that have foot probs from bad shoeing and/or never having shoes off. Our shoer is working with these right now, and w/o saying they had a previous bad shoer, he will say that they were OVERshod.

Look up things and ask questions, esp of shoer. I'm telling you nikk, you will get a lot of conflicting info, but take the time to sort it out. And look at the barefoot web pages. This is a big trendy thing right now. Can't say that I agree 100% with it, but they are right on about hoof mechanisms and comparison with wild horse feet. I don't think that they consider genetics, tho. We have been breeding domestic horses for so long, in regards to everything OTHER than their feet.

And read some shoeing forums and scientific type articles about hoof mechanism. Then meld all the info together and it will make sense that "barefoot is better", just not always do-able and not for EVERY horse.

jls

Last edited by jlseagull; 11/15/05 12:22 PM.
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Oh, and I never have had shoes on back. Even when TB was leased and doing a lot of eventing, up past training level schooling.

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My guy is barefoot and I love it that way...being 1/2 Arab he has a very strong feet and fairly large. During the summer when I ride more he does wear his toe area down - I just ask my farrier to keep an eye on his wear. So far in 5 years we haven't had to get shod..

For all you horsey MB - if you want to read more on training, vet, etc. check out Ultimatedressage.com
it's a great site that has tons of info and places you can post questions..

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Hi StillHurts,

Can you comment on my post above about my cushings-type pony and his chronic laminitis (he is a lot better right now)!

And hey nikko,

I try to subscribe to one horsey magazine a year. I like "Practical Horseman" a lot (esp. for the riding articles), but "The Horse" has a lot of good health and info on caretaking/maintenaince articles. I am pretty sure that I have a couple of old issues with articles about hooves and shoeing! Also ask a vet, or look at vet forums.

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i am more into the natural aspects of horses. farrier hasnt been pushing to shoe him...we were watching the "wear" on his feet since june. i trust this farrier so i am leaning towards listening to him. he will decide what he thinks on this next visit.....explained all the why's and such....and i do agree....we'll see. thanks for all the links and info....lots to still learn!


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515660 11/16/05 09:20 AM
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Me too nikk, about natural aspects, when possible that has got to be the way to go. So I am not sure that I understand, Argento hasn't had shoes on, but you are thinking about it for winter? I thought he already had shoes...

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jlseagull


Quote
Have to disagree with this one, BB.

What are you disagreeing with????

Just curious what was wrong with what I said. We have been professionally involved with this stuff successfully for over 29 years.................and I'm always open to learn something new.

bb


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Sorry BB,

Just disagreeing with "the more you ride,the more you have to think about getting horse shod". But I see now that you added that it also depends on footing (ie.rocky..don't recall exactly how you put it). I really thought that you were advocating shoeing no matter what, but think that I misread. I also thought that nikk had shoes on horse already... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> perhaps I need to "listen" better.

What kind of racing are you involved with? I worked with a TB trainer at the track for a few years. Really cheap track tho. ( I also know that around here racing TBs are kept in shoes pretty much all the time, I hate that).

I do though disagree that nikk should listen to her shoer w/o checking it out for herself. I have had some really bad farriers, and didn't know any better until I really had to know (horse foundered). And I am not a totally "green" owner. It's that the farrier sounds like he/she is making sense..if one really doesn't understand the mechanism. Of course, it is very complicated and farriers should understand it better than I do. I trust my farrier now, just not implicitly (sp?). I almost always ask questions, do my own research on things and then ask questions again. Same with anything that I do.

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the shoes are more for the terrain. they have 150 acres at this barn and one he// of a hill to get up to the barn. we have had a few horses go flying down this hill when it gets icy and snowy. the shoes with the cleats for traction is the ones he is thinking about.

when he first came in he had shoes on his front feet only---they came off immediately...he has been barefoot since june. his feet get pretty chipped up from the hill and rocks.


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515664 11/17/05 06:50 AM
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talked to the farrier yesterday...he is comming out tomorrow. after he trimms him up his feet are good for about 7 weeks. then they start getting chipped up and needing some attention. the riding we do is in the ring and that is all grass. 2-3 times a week and only for about 45 min to an hour each session. the only real bad terrain is that dang hill. he goes up and down it at least 2 times a day and if we are riding at least 4 times. i just want to do what is right for him....and i do trust this farrier....he has been gentle and soft with argento....the first time he came out he explained everything he was doing and why..step by step to son and i. took his time and hasnt pushed shoeing him at all. mentioned it if needed.

i guess like any parent i am worried about doing the right thing....lol


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515665 11/18/05 04:09 PM
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well....he is still barefoot.....farrier never showed!!! froze my a$$ off for nothing!!


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515666 11/19/05 12:59 PM
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<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
didn't he even call?????This seems to be a big problem with many farriers................

If his feet are badely chipped maybe you can try to file them yourself, just to avoid further damage. Make sure if you do this to have a "good" file and just file the uneven parts of the hoof to make it appear clean and even.

Just a tip: if you want the hoofs to have more moisture so that they don't chip that easily, water the hoofs and then oil them or use a hoof moisturing product. This will keep the moisture inside of the hoof. (not the other way around or else you will block out the moisture)
To avoid irritation on the bottom of the hoof (frog) we use hoof teer. It hardens the bottom part of the hoof, mostly if the horse is touchy without shoes.

I could go on and on..................nuff now! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

bb


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hey bb,

What is hoof teer? I have used a brand name hoof hardener (soles..), Durasole, I think, from jeffers or stateline?! I have also heard of venice (of) turpentine for hardening soles/hooves.. My farrier recommends a mixture of pure gum spirit turpentine (real stuff), boiled linseed oil and pine tar.... sshh, don't tell everyone tho, the whole barn uses this and one lil college girl bottled and sold it at a few fairs. I have also used hoof moisterizers or soaked feet first. A nice long bath and standing in mud while taking bath works. Then I apply the hoof "stuff". I pretty much always have a rasp around, but I do the goat's hooves too.

nikko, I HATE when peple do that. I hope that he called by now with a very good reason. Good farriers are very hard to find around here, and I have been stood up too! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I have done emergency repair on hooves but don't trust myself to get right balance and take right amount of sole, frog or bars off...

I LOVE horseytalk...Nobody ever commented on my older cushingoid pony tho, and the diet I have him on?...

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sorryy---clueless about cushings.lol
no i havent heard from him....i am not pleased. i think i am just gonna have him trimmed again and find a new farrier. i have someone who could do just a shaping. i do use the hoof ointment...its the rocks on the hill that get him! he climbs up them like he is a gazelle...or he thinks he is! his feet only chip after about 8 weeks from being trimmed. up until then he is fine. they get long and he chips 'em up!

thanks all for the info....so blondie...i never asked.....but what is it exactly you all do in the horsey world. if your not comfy saying...thats fine. i'm just nosey! LOL i for some odd reason always thought farrier...not sure why?lol


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hoof teer is the black, gunky, stinkin stuff. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Sorry but I don't know the english word. It's also important that when you put any ointment on the horses hooves to leave out the upper part where the hair starts to grow. So you don't oil that part, only the hoof downwards...........

take care
bb


Me-46yo + Husband-49yo
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H had 3 month affair/D-d January 2001
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ok----i am trying to get some info. on our property i will have two horses....and we are trying to decide between either beef cattle or pigs. they will be raised to go to market...not pets! lol however i am kinda new to some of this...have been around cows so i have a base of info for that....but im leaning towards the pigs....dont have to give them my pasture area!!!(i dont share well..LOLOL)

anyone with experience or suggestions


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
nikko #1515671 11/24/05 05:35 AM
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They all smell really bad. I'll stick to motorcycles. They don't eat, bite, or crap. Most of all they don't have a mind of there own to turn on you. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Grand Poobaw RHM (Idiot Extraordinaire) "Poop in the potty, Poop goes in the potty, Poop in the potty, Poop goes in the potty. Not on your brother, Not on your sister. Poop in the potty, Poop goes in the potty, Poop in the potty, Poop goes in the potty."
RHM #1515672 11/24/05 05:57 AM
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ya know...funniest thing i ever saw was apro-motocross guy....the ones who do the stunts and stuff....get on our pony party horse...gentle as a lamb...scream like a girl to get him off after only 15 min. guy told me i was nuts and was sticking to his cycle!!! (really, the horse didnt do anything...he was just scared!)

and by the way---if taken care of properly---there really isnt much of a smell. the few barns who do not do general daily care give us all a bad name!! lol


what we do in life......echoes in eternity!
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