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Post by winterlakesfarm on Mar 28, 2008 18:46:27 GMT -5
I am happy that they have found a person that is having success with his feet. I would like to note however that he was completely sound at my place with my farrier. I had logged many a trail ride with him on uneven ground and he handled varied terrain with ease as long as his feet were properly cared for. It sounds like they had some challenges with that but he is happy and coming sound for them now. Navicular Syndrome is a very challenging issue to deal with, especially frustrating in a horse so young and athletic. I am very happy he is in a home where the people care so much for him, and they are willing to do what is best for him and his continued soundness. Thanks to Pat and Larry for their continued commitment to his comfort and soundness!
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Post by Gingersmom-Tate on Mar 30, 2008 18:37:32 GMT -5
I'm undecided on how I personally feel about shod or not for any horses. My current farrier believes shoes are the root of all evil. The jury is still out with me.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Mar 30, 2008 18:51:19 GMT -5
I truly prefer them to be barefoot and use boots as needed but I also believe that the proof is in the pudding so I have 2 of my 5 shod.
Dally is 30 and has big knees and has only felt good enough to get up and down after NB shoes and supplements. Cat witnessed the difference it made for him.
Parelli was dead lame barefoot but I did not have the boots that their new farrier has been using for him. Had we known about them and gotten good results we would never have shod him as it was traumatic to him to do so.
I think I am always going to be on a case by case basis with shoes. Fortunately my farrier is trained in quality barefoot trims with the mustang roll etc so I have both options in one farrier.
I confess the thing that puts me off of "barefooters" is the militant attacks on farriers and shoeing. I do think that there is more than one way to handle illnesses and lamenesses. I feel the same way about incorporating holistic and eastern medicine with conventional western medicine. I am more concerned about what works for the horse and not about an agenda or theory.
I just recently met another navicular horse who had an excellent barefoot trimmer work on him for months and did not get him comfortable and my farrier, with the same shoes Parelli wore, got him far happier in just 2 shoeings.
It is all about the heel first landing and even the trimmer had to admit to the owner that she was happy to see the horse finally comfortable even if it meant shoes.
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Post by cat67 on Mar 30, 2008 23:08:17 GMT -5
I agree there is no one approach that is always right for every horse.
Way back in 1991, when no one did this, I fixed a navicular gelding by pulling off the egg bar shoes and pads, shooting him full of Adequan and turning him out. The vet who had advised his owner to put him to sleep thought I was crazy. He was sound in three weeks, playing polo again in six.
However, conversely, I've seen other horses who are so obviously sounder with proper shoeing. They just don't grow the hoof they need in the shape they need to balance the leg and take pressure off where it's important. For example, they may not have any heel and may only grow toe. A trimmer can only do so much - they cannot put hoof where it does not exist. This is where shoes and pads come in.
And yes, I saw 30 year old Dally get very obviously sounder and more comfortable with natural balance shoes...he was much sounder this winter than last, even on frozen ground.
Edited to add: Environment is another factor. Sunline goes barefoot happily here, in Washington, on soft ground and grass. In Los Angeles, if I'd left her barefoot, she would have been miserable - ouching along with every step on the hard, sandy ground. A good example of having to adjust what you are doing not just horse to horse but also situation to situation.
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Post by schwung on Jun 25, 2009 10:58:53 GMT -5
Some photos of Amado from the site check Figi did:
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Post by cat67 on Jun 25, 2009 15:25:16 GMT -5
Any update on how he is holding up soundness-wise?
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~figi~
Junior BB Member
Posts: 99
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Post by ~figi~ on Jun 26, 2009 18:12:22 GMT -5
Any update on how he is holding up soundness-wise? Sounds like he is doing good. He is barefoot (I think that is what he said) and had or has been using Pat Wagner.
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