Hoof Trimming

Hi Dr. Teskey,

I have a twelve year old quarter horse 16.2hh.  I bought this horse when he was seven months old.  A month after I bought him he fractured his coffin bone in his right front foot.  After about a year of stall rest I began hand walking him.  He recovered fully.

My Vet at the time suggested because he had suffered from a fractured coffin bone to keep shoes on his front feet.

Well I’ve done that his whole life. I really, really want to go barefoot BUT I’m afraid he will fracture his coffin bone again.  We all know at 12yrs of age he wouldn’t recover like he did when he was only eight months old.  I’m “afraid” to take the shoes off.

I don’t know where to find a good bare foot farrier that can help me?  What do you think?

I ride only for pleasure- mostly weekend about two hours per day.  His paddock is flat and free from rocks.  He is kept outside 24/7 with excellent shelter free choice hay and water.  He’s on a mineral supplement with beat pulp.  He is in excellent health.

It is getting harder to keep the shoes on.  I want to do what’s best for my horse.

Mary

Hi Mary,

 

Whether your horse is fully recovered from the fracture or not, there wouldn't be any reason to think he won't eventually do perfectly fine without shoes.  In fact, horses with coffin bone fractures heal faster without shoeing them.  There is no good reason to shoe a horse that has suffered a coffin bone fracture for lots of reasons.

 

Take care,

 

Dr. TT