How many people here have shoeless horses? It is getting really old waiting for the shoers to show up. Having to find a new shoer when the olds don't show up.

I am really considering making the transition. I have been talking to people and alot of people seem to think that there horses have less soundness issues and one person even said his horses back is even doing alot better.

I am so tried of horses coming up lame after a shoeing. I mean do these shoers need the money that bad that they will stick an under sized shoe on a horse? I guess if He/she can come out right away should have been a big whooaaa..

RRRRRR..

anyway has anybody else have shoer issues? has anyone moved to shoeless horses?

I am lucky, my farrier is pretty reliable.
Currently both of my horses are barefoot and doing well. They still get trimmed every 6-8 weeks though, depending on the time of year.

I know how hard it can be though when you can't get a reputable farrier, been there before.

Maybe you can take a farrier course and learn how to trim your own, then you know it will get done in a timely manner.

There are a lot of horse shoers out there, but not a lot of Farriers. I to am extremely fortunate as to have a farrier that is wonderful. About a year ago my farrier retired due to an injury, I was lucky enough at that time to have is associate take on my horses. I did for two shoeing cycles though had to use some one else. The first time he came out after he left I noticed that he had put a size to small on both of my horses, and at six weeks they both came up sore. When he came back out I told him the size of shoes that I wanted put back on my horses and how their feet should look. Again when I checked on the horses when I got home he had put on a size to small on one and the other had two different sized shoes on. So, I interned fired him. I am paying for a service and if I don't recieve that service then he's gone. My horses had never taken a lame step until this shoer did them. Once I was able to get my usual Farrier back and he had corrected what the other guy did, my horses have been sound since. I think it is important for the horse owner to know what is correct and what is not.. Many shoers will put smaller shoes on a horse so the horse doesn't pull them off. anyways that is their excuse.

I do shoe my horses only in the front, because of the ground they are on. They go bear foot in the back. When our horses were on grass pastures in the summer they would go bear foot and only have shoes put back on when we began riding them again.

Shoes or no shoes I think it is important to know what is best for your horse, and if they do wear shoes, knowing what a properlly shod foot looks like.

It is frustrating and hard to find a qualified farrier. I would recommend that if you have a equine hospital in your area to get in contact with them and see if they have a list of Farriers that they approve of.

I have a really good farrier too. I have 7 horses right now and only one I have decided to start shoeing on the fronts, she is my 19 year old QH who has really flat feet and gets sore easy on hard services. The rest go barefoot.
I found a really good sight called barefoot for soundness, you might really enjoy reading it. It shows picturesa and gives a pretty good idea how a horse should be trimmed to be barefoot, I can now do my own if I need to. Here is the link
http://www.barefoothorse.com/

Cathy C

I Just Got My Horse Shoed A Few Days Ago And She Seems To Be Limping On Her Back Right Leg And I Couldn't Even Ride Her Yesterday Without Her Tripping Up. I Wonder If She Has On Some Smaller Shoes. Any Websites Where I Can See The Proper Way There Suppose To Look Before I Go Calling The Ferrier Up?

I'm not sure of a website for that.
How old is your horse? I know sometimes a horse will come up super lame after being shoed and it sometimes can be cause from placing the nails wronge/ronge fit or something else not done correctly which is the reason you should always use a farrier that has been to school. Another cause for lameness after having your horse shoed can be cause by arthritis or a stiffle in the leg, when the farrier shoes the horse he has to hold the leg up for a long time which can flare up another proublem. Don't auto assume it is from a bad shoe job. Call your farrier and tell him/ her your horse is lame, a good farrier is willing to come back and help you figure out what the cause is and most farriers will work right along side a vet, the two go hand in hand.
Cathy C

Well the guy that done it is a well known guy around my area and he even shoes for the large riding stables around the area. He also has lots of experience. He's been doing it since he was 17 and he's in his 50's so... . I just have not had much experience with a horse being lame after a shoeing. I actually myself think it is a sprain but I don't know for sure. I'm thinkin about waiting a few days and just doctoring her for a sprain.

That is always a good idea. I jumped the gun a time or too and it turned out to be a abcess.
I asked the shoer why he didn't say anything and he said he wasn't a vet. I put my foot in my mouth.

Let me know how it turns out for you.

the last time the farrier came we decided to have shoes removed from both our horses,they just run the pasture and not ridden,my polimano did great, my saddlebred mare(a little over weight) started chipping,guess she will be shoed again this week.I dont know if her weight had anything to do with it.

Because she is chipping is no reason to put shoes back on her- all she needs is a mustang roll on her. It is just a simple roll of the toe. She is chipping, and if you drive a nail through her already weakened hoof wall, it will just make it worse! That shoe is just hiding the fungus underneath, and the previous nail holes that are growing out are the reason behind the chipping. The nails drive fungus deep inside the hoof capsule, and when you pull the shoes, you have to ensure that the nail holes can grow out- the laminae needs a chance to rehabilitate.
Im a natural trimmer, I follow Ramey, all 4 of my horses are barefoot. One is a jumper, one is a reiner, and the other two are younger horses. I have never had any problems when I pulled shoes and started a horse on natural trimming methods. Usually when a farrier will pull shoes, he wont bother to rasp down the nail holes, even the wall, or even make the heels even.