Loose stifles and newly shod behind - hoof people...

[Serigraph]

This horse came to me with horrible feet. My farrier is doing a great job getting his feet better. We left him barefoot behind for the last 9 months. He was shod behind about 2 weeks ago. I rode him the next day and what an improvement! Felt like a different horse - he immediately started swinging in his back and taking longer strides behind.

Before he had the hinds on, he'd fall out a little bit behind at times. This horse is 7 and green and has not worked consistently in several years except for the last 5-6 months. I never felt like he was weak behind, but he felt very tight.

Now that he has hinds on and overall feels tremendously better, he is falling out more behind. I noticed this after he had 8-10 days off.

Is it possible I am feeling this more now since he is looser back there? His muscles were quite tight and just recently he is starting to feel much more relaxed in his body and clearly more comfortable.

He is ridden 4-5x's a week basic dressage work and trails. I have been doing hills with him and can do more. I feel it most at the trot and most in the arena. I am pretty certain it is stifles as I have another horse with UFP. This horse does not catch as extreme as the other horse however.

I've given him IM glucosamine weekly for several months in case he had hock issues or other issues. Didn't feel much of a difference either way.

Thoughts? He has not yet been seen by the vet.

[judybigredpony]

Estrone and hills should help if its not a back or lameness issue

[Serigraph]

Well I'm on the hunt for a good vet to come out and take a look.

I just thought it strange for him to feel so good with the hinds on but be slipping a lot more frequently. I've called my farrier too. I know he had a hard time putting the hinds on b/c his hoof wall was pretty broken up.

I also noticed that he is over reaching a lot at the walk and cut his front heal bulb. He's not forging. Last time I lunged him, I noticed some toe dragging too which I didn't notice before the hinds.

[Serigraph]

Just wanted to add that when I got this horse about 9 months ago, he had very bull nosed hind hoofs. The are still slightly bull nosed (I think). He used to stand very much under himself. Now he stands much more normal, but he is also slight sickle hocked.

[dwblover]

I'm reading this post with great interest. My young TB just got hind shoes on for the first time. He is also slipping out behind since the shoes, which has never happened before. I'm almost ready to call the farrier out and have them removed. I'm just not sure why shoes would cause this much change in him. Vet is coming Monday for other reasons so I'll have her take a look at his stifles, hopefully do some diagnostic blocking. If I get any anwers I'll post them in case it might help you.

[Serigraph]

dwblover - how does your horse feel otherwise with the shoes on? Did you noticed if he feels better?

Today I changed saddles into my jump saddle. I switched the gullet. He was much, much better. Only slipped slightly 2x's vs. constantly yesterday. I knew he was due for a saddle fit as he's building muscle.

I still think he's got a loose stifle and talking to my farrier about it. Let me know if you get any answers!

[Serigraph]

dwblover - since you had similar issues...

I talked to a trainer and to my farrier. Seems like his slipping and falling out is due to the loss of traction with the shoes on. My farrier is going to drill and tap the hinds next time he's out and I'll put small studs in for traction when I ride.

[LMH]

studs all the time to ride?


That would not sit well with me.

[Rick Burten]

My farrier is going to drill and tap the hinds next time he's out and I'll put small studs in for traction when I ride.
Before you do that, I suggest you have your farrier apply rim shoes(such as the St. Croix Eventer) or build the shoes from concave bar stock.

Is he falling out in both directions and only in turns?

The overreach problem may be due to him going heavy on the forehand which might also explain why he is falling out behind. And, since he was out of shape and is only now getting consistent work, it may just be due to his ongoing development.

[Serigraph]

Rick - he's in the eventer shoe right now - other suggestions? Someone suggested borium, but my farrier was totally against that and from what I've read, I am too.

His body is definitely going thru a complete change and keeps changing as we improve his feet.

[Serigraph]

build the shoes from concave bar stock.

What do you mean by this, and how will it help?

[Serigraph]

Is he falling out in both directions and only in turns?

Yes, but mainly in turns and yesterday was about 80% better than the previous day. Is it possible he just needs to adjust to having shoes on?

I've never seen he slip in the pasture.

[Rick Burten]

Yes, but mainly in turns and yesterday was about 80% better than the previous day. Is it possible he just needs to adjust to having shoes on?
Yes.

It sounds as though he looses traction behind as he has to apply more lateral force to hold himself in the turn. He may do better with a shoe that has a bit more 'bite on the ground' than the Eventer does. Concave would give you that enhancement. Alternatively, your farrier could try a short lateral trailer and fuller the heels of those Eventers.

Or, a bit of fine grade borium/Drill Tec, splashed flat across the heels might give him just enough grip without causing damage. And, for that matter, a carbide pin(http://www.bestbuyhorseshoes.com/photos/mvc-039s.jpg lower right) in the heels might also do the trick.

[Serigraph]

It sounds as though he looses traction behind as he has to apply more lateral force to hold himself in the turn.

I think this is exactly what is going on it was apparent today that the only time he would slip is when I asked for more bend in the corners.

It already seems to be improving though, as he did not slip much today. He also does not slip when I do hillwork or out on trails.

I'll talk to my farrier about some of the things you mentioned.

[dwblover]

The slipping does seem to happen right after we come out of a corner. Happens in both directions. It's interesting what your farrier and trainer said, because my horse's issue also seems to be a loss of traction with the shoes. That is what it feels like anyways. His stride in the hind legs has become much longer since the shoes, so I'm guessing the shoes are helping in some way, but causing problems in other ways.