[CVPeg]

My guy just pulled a shoe last night in the paddock. All nails pulled out, no "chunks" of hoof missing, although there are a few thin pieces gone. But the ground is hard and he's a little ouchy.

Moved 2 months ago. Old farrier visited once, but it's too far so has given me recommendation for someone closer. But new fellow is on vacation. Another one found can't be here until Wednesday.

I don't have EZ boots. Nearby Agway only has Davis pad boots. Are they OK for a couple of days?

Thanks!

[Patty Stiller]

Sure they are fine for just protecting the foot,but you cant ride in them. I would wrap the foot in baby diaper or sheet cotton and duct tape first, then boot over it.

[CVPeg]

Sure they are fine for just protecting the foot,but you cant ride in them. I would wrap the foot in baby diaper or sheet cotton and duct tape first, then boot over it.

Great - thanks so much. Just looking to keep him happy as he's on pasture with a run in. Not going to ride until farrier has him ready to go.

[CVPeg]

Turns out Agway did have Easyboots. It's on, with a slight cushion of cotton. Easyboots' website says not to leave on longer than 24 hours. Farrier arrives Wed morning, so that will be about 36 hours. Am on the fence about removing them and putting them back on, unless when I check on him he's obviously uncomfortable. In the few hours I had run to the store, he was more tender and was losing more hoof. Hard ground in the paddock. Definitely walked better with the Easyboot. Agree to leave it alone?

[Frizzle]

Easyboots' website says not to leave on longer than 24 hours. Farrier arrives Wed morning, so that will be about 36 hours. Am on the fence about removing them and putting them back on, unless when I check on him he's obviously uncomfortable. In the few hours I had run to the store, he was more tender and was losing more hoof. Hard ground in the paddock. Definitely walked better with the Easyboot. Agree to leave it alone?

Just take the boots off once a day and clean them, clean the hooves, let the boots air/dry out for a bit, then put them back on with fresh cotton or whatever you want to use. For the mare @ my barn who's in boots just about 24/7, we put men's crew socks on her, with some Gold Bond Medicated Powder in the socks to absorb any excess moisture. Works like a charm.

[CVPeg]

Thanks again. Off to the barn with my can of Gold Bond!

[AKB]

I like the Easyboot RX for lost shoes. I put Epsom salts gel on the sole, cover it with a paper towel, wrap with vetrap, and put the boot on. I take the boot off once or twice a day and check the foot. If I am riding, I use a Boa boot during the ride, and the put the Easyboot RX back on after the ride. The Epsom salts gel does a great job of preventing thrush.

[CVPeg]

So yesterday the temporary farrier (my BO's farrier, who usually just does barefoot trims) came up to replace B's missing shoe. Because of some of his torn hoof, he was concerned about even replacing it, but did give it a try, and it is in place. And B doesn't even have his usual tenderness right after the farrier visit. However, this farrier didn't feel confident to reset his remaining shoes. He's not equipped to patch, or do any extra hoof work. His other front was flangeing out a little on the outside- below a couple nail holes, but not broken.

After the one visit to my new barn last month, my regular farrier determined he can no longer keep me in his schedule - am just too far out of the way. He did give me a new recommendation. I had called the new fellow first, but he was on vacation, and now I have set up a new appt with him - the earliest he can arrive is the 12th.

So, I need to do everything I can to keep these shoes on him for now.

1 - I'm not going to ride him - except perhaps at a walk in the indoor, or maybe the very slow sitting trot we've been working on. But I'm really leaning towards no riding at all for the next 2 weeks. (Maybe now will be a good time to play with clicker training...)

2- The ground is very hard up here, and he HATES flies. I've bought the best fly spray possible, and will keep it on him as much as I can.

3- Keeping bell boots on the front, and checking regularly for rubs. They are Davis velcro, and a little bit large. Never pulls them off, and they don't seem to irritate him.

4- I have hoof dressing that I found in an old tack trunk and have been using the past couple of weeks - it's PlusVital, I guess now only found in Britain. Ingredients are paraffin, neatsfoot oil, pine tar, etc. But it's running low. Alternative replacement suggestions appreciated!

5- I did find an Easyboot, but it was kind of a bare bones model, and I had a heckuva time putting it on, and it staying on him overnight. If I tried to tighten the wires, I couldn't get it on him. If I got it on him, I couldn't tighten it enough to "only be removable with a screwdriver or hoofpick". Will look at the Easyboot RX as a backup, in case another shoe comes off before 2 weeks.

6- My old farrier also strongly suggested running water on his legs daily. Plan to do that first, then put the hoof dressing on ?

7- He has been on a hoof supplement for months that I still buy from my old farrier.

Any other ideas to keep my horses shoes on for the next two weeks would greatly be appreciated!

[sahqueen]

Where in NY are you? Depending on area could provide other names/numbers to try to get someone out sooner if you would like.

[CVPeg]

Where in NY are you? Depending on area could provide other names/numbers to try to get someone out sooner if you would like.

B is stabled just south of Canajoharie.
Thanks for the offer of help!

[sahqueen]

PM with a name/number sent...

[CVPeg]

Well, no call back from alternate farrier. But B's feet don't look too bad really. All four shoes are staying on knock-on-wood. And he's enjoying the leg hosing, the extra attention, and frankly, just lazing around...

Will keep up our routine above.

[CVPeg]

Back on the edge - pacing the floor.

New farrier came on Thursday. B's shoes had remained on the entire time. The farrier was a nightmare. Result? LF ok with a chunky patch (didn't really know how to do it.) RF shoeing went horribly - after the first few taps, each hammer resulted in B yanking his foot away. Obviously was hurting after some misstep. Drew blood when he stomped down on a half through nail.

Farrier took so long with everything, and B is a TB, but was very good for him. Was 95 and he had set the appt for noon.

The back feet right now are barefoot because B wasn't going to let him near him after the R front. He cannot go barefoot. Farrier agreed to give it a couple of days, then when packed up told me, oh, yea, he forgot - he's going back on vacation Monday!!

B is now wearing Davis boots on both rear feet, and I am having an awful time getting a farrier to return my calls!

Ex farrier even returned mine while still on vacation and feels terrible. I may even try to arrange someone to trailer him wherever he might be this week.

Have never had these kinds of issues in the 9 months I've had B. Feel just terrible he has been equally frustrated not doing anything, and now he can barely walk.

I don't care about riding, just keeping him happy. Have now put Davis boots on his shoeless rear feet, he wouldn't take a step forward. Had to go get him and put the halter back on him. He is a baby. But once I pulled the carrots out of my pocket, he was able to motor. During the day is in a small pasture with run-in.

Best plan for the Davis boots? Using epsom salts gel and covering with gauze, then the boot. He has night turn out in a bit bigger pasture and still access to his run-in. He picks his way around carefully when everything else isn't perfect. I'm thinking about leaving them on only during the day, and removing them when he's in the bigger pasture at night. Smaller pasture is rocky, but larger grassy - just bone dry and hard right now.

[Frizzle]

I would pack his hooves with Magic Cushion and cover that with Vetrap and Gorilla Tape. The MC will help take some of the sting out of his hooves and make him more comfortable. I would also stop hosing his hooves (too much moisture will soften the hooves and possibly make him more sore) as well as stop with the hoof oil.

Sorry you're having such a hard time with your guy. Best of luck!

[Trinity3205]

Here is what I would apply till you can get a proper farrier visit.

http://www.naturalfarrier.com/equisock%204%20pack.html

You can do it yourself and there are videos.

[Simbalism]

My TB mare is very gimpy when she loses a shoe. I wrap her foot with cast padding(like sheet cotton, but narrower strips), Then a wrap of vet wrap and cover with a duct tape "boot". I change this once per day. When I ride her I put her easy boot on.

[marta]

stop hosing! all that water is not good for the hooves. you're just making them softer and more prone to crumbling.

[Tom Bloomer]

You really need to find a competent farrier.

[SuckerForHorses]

Just curious...why does the horse NEED boots on the foot with the missing shoe? It seems that if you're not riding him, and he's just hanging out in the pasture, that 1 bare foot would be fine on pasture until a competant farrier can arrive.

[CVPeg]

Don't have boots on the front since he has shoes. But watching the RF where the nail went through.

After 1 day barefoot on the rear, with them just being trimmed because we gave up shoeing on Thurs, his RR lost a chunk on the outside overnight. So I got the Davis boots. He wouldn't walk forward, and had a rear resting on his toe when I came the next day to put them on. Now walking fine in them.

Per my original farrier's assistant - they are the best - and I've been pleading with them to reconsider coming this much further to stay with me...they had seen our new locale - a small private barn (BO has all hers barefoot) and had told me about the moisture/hosing needed until a farrier arrived. Believe me, any signs of moisture have been gone the next day when I returned, and it worked for the 2 weeks to keep his feet in shape before the farrier appt this past Thursday. I'd only run the hose on each foot for a minute or so. The ground the past month has been like packed cement.

We've finally had rain yesterday and last night (had none for 4 weeks), so the Davis boots are coming off this morning. I've been checking them and removing them daily. Used Epsom gel and gauze while on.

Talked to another farrier yesterday which looked good - was to call me last night to schedule and didn't. Well respected lameness vet called yesterday & is hoping to put us together with an overbooked farrier close to the barn, but as of last night also hadn't heard.

I am almost thinking last BO, who rides a broom, may be pulling something with my excellent recent farrier. She has the barn from h***, turnouts were mud holes, I won't begin to go into the rest, but I've written about it in past months. But she has 20-30 horses and gives plenty of work to this top notch farrier, who would quietly shake his head as they worked there. She has a history of restraining trade between her current vendors, and ex boarders, threatening to pull her barn if they attend to someone who leaves. The lameness vet won't stand for it, but not so sure about the farrier, who has very regular work at that barn, and is sorely needed. Several horses there will be in dire straits without him. The only good things about that barn were the professionals she had providing services, whom she has to my face, practically claimed she owns. I hope I'm wrong about my theory, but $$ is $$.

Back on the road to get those boots off, and collect texts from the vet. My cell doesn't work at my house.

I know I'll resolve this, and for now it is so far really only interfering with riding, and keeping in condition, and causing worry of course. The new place is outstanding. We're just all in the boonies.

As they say about romance, you just need one good man/woman/farrier!