Blew a shoe

[Hev339]

<img border="0" src="smileys/smiley19.gif" border="0"> My only week home and Bo blew a shoe on Thursday. We didn't know until today because someone else has been taking care of him (had a funeral to attend yesterday and such) and they didn't even contact anyone to say he had done it. <br /> <br />It sucks, because if they had told us on Thursday when it had happened the farrier could have come up and fixed it, but now she's gone away for the weekend so can't get it done until after that. <br /> <br />It's cutting down on my riding time!!!! <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0"> lol. <br /> <br />hmmm..I'm starting to find it a little strange. I've known Bo for 2 years now. The first year, never once did he lose a shoe. Then they switched farriers, and now, not exaggerating, it happens ALL the time. I don't want to point the finger...but could this have something to do with the farrier's technique or something along those lines?? <br /> <br />So, I'm home, but can't ride until later in the week. But I'm going to go up tomorrow, groom Bogart, maybe pull his mane and spend a little quality time with him. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0">

[stephanie1]

<IMG src="smileys/smiley6.gif" border="0">That sucks.
I had a horse that used to pull her shoes all the time but it was because of the way her foot was shaped. It could be because of the farrier.&nbsp; He might not be putting the nails tight enough or puttin them in the right spot. There could be a few reasons why.
Can you bring your own farrier in?
Maybe tell the farrier that he keeps loosing shoes and see what he says if he has any suggestions, but my guess is that its not on tight enough.

[Eileen]

What kind of shape is the shoe in or did you find it...what kind of shape is the hoof in?&nbsp; It could be that the horse caught the foot in a fence or root or frozen rut or mud or whatever.&nbsp; The hoof it self could be the culprit&nbsp; is the hoof all chipped and part of it missing?&nbsp; Your horse may have a nutrition problem thus the hoof wall not as strong as it has been in the past.&nbsp; Yes the farrier may not have straitened the shoe as flat as it should have been therefore giving play on the shoe who knows.&nbsp; There is no end to the reason of why this shoe may have left the area.

[Hev339]

Yeah, definitely sucks, but at least I get to see Bo today anyway. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0"> <br /> <br />Every time it has happened, his shoes AND his hoof look fine.. <br /> <br />There are no chips in his hoof, looks like it always has...not soft anywhere, no smell...I checked for absolutely everything. I also don't see any difference in the shape of his hoof from other horses, usually the farrier doesn't do a lot of adjusting, everything usually fits nicely. <br /> <br />Also, the shoe itself looks fine. In fact, in most cases, the farrier comes up and puts the same shoe back on. It doesn't look worn or anything. <br /> <br />So, I really don't know the cause of the problem..it's getting to be annoying, though!

[Eileen]

well another thought, does the horse have traveling probs, maybe new on the scene, just developed that sort of thing, could be that there is interference there....just a thought, the continualy interference throughout the day could certainly make the shoe loose...<IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">

[Elizabeth]

What a pain that you can't ride. I remember that happening to me a few years back. The blacksmith turned up at the barn really early in the morning but couldn't catch my horse in his stall <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0"> I only lived 5 minutes away but he didn't call, just left. I was so upset when I got to the barn because I had to wait a whole week to get his shoe put back on.

[Eileen]

<IMG src="smileys/smiley3.gif" border="0">&nbsp;the farrier could not catch your horse in his stall???<IMG src="smileys/smiley3.gif" border="0">&nbsp; how big was the stall?&nbsp; lol

[Gemina]

That is a weird one, Elizabeth, not that your horse lost a shoe but that the farrier couldn't catch him in his stall????? How come???

[Elizabeth]

My horse has a history of being badly mistreated by men. When I first bought him my "back then" vet tried to needle him in his rump. The vet couldn't get near his hind end and told me to sell the horse before he killed me. I replaced my vet with a female vet who was already familiar with the horse. <br /> <br />He is ok now but back then if I wasn't around he would turn his bum to any man he wasn't sure of and threaten. It was a pretty big stall and he had lots of room to outmanoeuver the blacksmith. He is a big boy and not one to argue with. He can also put his head up really high. It is funny when it is worming time as he puts his nose up to the ceiling and just stands there. I wait him out and laugh at him for looking silly and eventually he just lowers his head and allows me to give him the paste. He is just very smart and it is a question of allowing him his few minutes of protest. It took many years of patience and understanding on both our parts before he would trust completely. He still pretends at times but I know it is all show.

[Hev339]

Wow very strange Elizabeth that the farrier couldn't catch him. lol. It sucks having to wait to ride him, that's for sure. <br /> <br />I was talking to some people today, and I don't know if this is possible, but thinking that it has something to do with his snow pads. Because when winter came, we took off his bell boots and added snow pads and he has been having an awful time ever since. Just my latest idea. I need to blame something. lol. <br /> <br />Tomorrow at 5pm the farrier is coming though, and he is not lame or sore at all, so she is going to put the shoe back on, then it's riding for the rest of the week!

[Elizabeth]

It sounds quite feasible that the snow pads are causing the problem. Mind you, I wouldn't want to be without them, or, at least, wouldn't want my horse to be without them. lol

[Ruth]

Boomer decided to start losing shoes last summer and I can't figure out why either. Same farrier, same barn, nothing different as far as I can tell. I don't stop riding him when he throws one (he has good feet, only wears shoes in the summer as he has been known to abcess), but I do keep it short and only ride in the arena which has excellent footing. Doesn't seem to have caused any problems. Our farrier's great but lives an hour away and I don't figure on Boomer having a whole week off before a show.

[Hev339]

That is the problem, if he starts losing them in the summer it will screw him up for shows. He goes through them really fast anyway in the summer because he wears aluminum shoes and they wear out sooooooo quickly! But he is great for the farrier and as soon as they are on again he is ready to go. <br /> <br />That is exactly it Elizabeth, I'm starting to believe it is the snow pads, but we don't want him to go without them. So I guess we are just going to have to deal with it, seems to be a winter thing for him only.

[jax]

If the hoof is not chipped at all when the shoe comes off, I would almost suspect that your farrier is not bending the nails back onto the hoof adequately.&nbsp; If you are saying it happens all the time, this may be the culprit.&nbsp; Mention&nbsp;the fact that this happens a lot&nbsp;to her, and see what she says.

[Hev339]

Thanks Jax...she should know, lol, considering that fact we call her at least once between each scheduled session to have a shoe replaced. <br /> <br />Checked his hoof for a long time yesterday, felt around the edges, no visible chips or anything out of ordinary to the touch. I will bring it up tonight.

[Hev339]

Well, the farrier fixed him up tonight, and I put a ride on him (WOOHOO!!!!) and he felt great (a little spunky, a few bucks even). However, I'm a little concerned about the job she did anyway. <br /> <br />She explained it to me, but the way the shoe is on, there is a bit hanging out at the back. Now, I understand the point she was getting at. She said that this will help his heels grow out (they are narrow) and he will grow INTO the shoe. But no wonder he keeps pulling his shoes off. All he has to do is reach forward or get that shoe caught on something and pry it off without much trouble! <br /> <br />Any suggestions on what to do, anyone?

[stephanie1]

My friends horse had that done and it took a bit of time.
Is your horse sore at all? sometimes when the shape of their foot is changing they can go sore. And if your horse over reaches he will pull his shoes off
You can always try bell boot, a friend of mine had a mare that always pulled her shoes and she put beel boots on her and it helped.
Good luck with what ever you do and Im sure someone will give you some other advice.

[Jump The Stars]

My question to her would be, how will he ever grow into his shoe if he can't keep it on long enough to grow it? What if this type of shoe does more damage to his foot than good, meaning what if he tears it off and pulls some of himself off with it?
I might see if I couldn't have another farrier come out, just to see what they think about the problem. Afterall, we get second opinions from vets, why not farriers?

[lifeafterracing]

<IMG src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0">&nbsp;Put bell boots on him.&nbsp; He is probably stepping on the heel of the shoe with his hind foot.&nbsp; Bells will prevent this.

[Hev339]

He usually does have bell boots on, but they were taken off for the winter, which is when all of this started. <br /> <br />So far, he is not sore. Hopefully it can stay that way. I'm just afraid he is going to pry the shoe off himself and tear his foot up or bow a tendon or something in the process.<img border="0" src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0"> <br /> <br />Am going to talk to the vet tonight (she keeps her horses there as well) and then we might possibly get another farrier in to just have a little look.