[lesgarcons]

So first let me provide the disclaimer: THE SHOER IS COMING TOMORROW.
My TB mare seems to be walking a little tenderfooted in front and putting more weight on her toes. No one besides me at the barn has noticed this, she is not visibly uncomfortable or lame, and she stands perfectly normally and moves around as much as usual. But if you're watching her closely, it looks like she is putting her feet down a bit carefully in front and trying to avoid putting as much weight on the heels.

She has terrible soles, which we struggled with all last summer. Even in an arena, she was tenderfooted and would alternately favor a front foot. Vet looked at her, we did x-rays, shoer looked at her, the consensus was thin soles. She seemed to improve when fall/winter came around.

Lately the weather here has been a severe thunderstorm with completely saturated ground, followed by blinding heat and a dust bowl. Repeating day after day. The flies are also TERRIBLE. I can use half a bottle of fly spray with little noticeable result. Thus, I am wondering if the weather is doing a number on her already thin soles, which is being exacerbated by stomping flies. The ground was also very hard today, which may have made things worse. Does this sound like a reasonable possibility? I'm open to hearing she's foundered, switch shoers immediately, etc, but I do want to state that this is very minor, at least at this stage. I'm trying to take it seriously, though, so I'm wondering what COTHers think. Thanks in advance!

[Fharoah]

Toe first landing could be associated with navicular syndrome. Did your vet do flexion tests? If your horse is sound with thin soles and alittle tender maybe try some shock absorbing pads. I use leather pads. See what your farrier thinks.

[jaimebaker]

I'd use Durasole on her. It generally doesn't take but a few days to notice a difference if it's going to help.

[Daydream Believer]

Is she currently shod? I don't see where you state it one way or the other.

[lesgarcons]

Sorry, she is shod on all 4. Nothing special about her shoes other than toe clips. 6 yo TB mare with no hx of soundness issues besides the thin soles. Has about a 5 acre grass pasture attached to a dry lot attached to a matted stall. Pasture does have a spring that keeps it moist, dry lot can get very dry. Eats Strategy, average weight, no changes in anything in 8 months. Probably more info than needed, but I figured I'd cover all my bases.

[Patty Stiller]

Rarely does a toe first landing alone mean the horse has navicular disease. Many OTHER things cause toe first landings too, and are far more common. Hoof imbalance and poorly trimmed heels being first and foremost.

[chick1065]

You should go to www.hoofrehab.com immediately. Read the articles on toe first landings and all the others Pete has written. Great stuff. I have his series on rehabbing the TB with thin soles and abcess problems.

And then don't put shoes on your horse ever again.... None of my horses wear shoes and compete very well in hunters.

[alspharmd]

You should go to www.hoofrehab.com immediately. Read the articles on toe first landings and all the others Pete has written. Great stuff. I have his series on rehabbing the TB with thin soles and abcess problems.

And then don't put shoes on your horse ever again.... None of my horses wear shoes and compete very well in hunters.

Oh my goodness, I can hear Tom B and Rick now. In fact, I'm surprised they haven't commented yet!

[JB]

Toe-first landings usually mean sore heels, but that does NOT necessarily equate to navicular issues, other than maybe the generic "navicular syndrome".

chick - "don't put shoes on your horse ever again"? Seriously? Blanketly state that without even seeing this horse? You're one who truly believes all horses can go barefoot AND do what we ask of them? Yikes. Do not take your situation to mean it can and does apply to the rest of the world, please.

[Patty Stiller]

You should go to www.hoofrehab.com immediately. Read the articles on toe first landings and all the others Pete has written. Great stuff.

Yes he has some good information, but not all horses can be rehabbed as fast or pain free barefoot as they can with the right KIND of shoes,

And then don't put shoes on your horse ever again.... None of my horses wear shoes and compete very well in hunters.

Then your horses are among the SOME that can do what they need to do barefoot . However not all horses can , and not all horses needing rehabilitative foot therapies can.

[Patty Stiller]

PS toe clips and a plain shoe often prevent the breakover point of the foot from being set where it needs to be back under the toe end, and that is a common cause of delayed break over and subsequent toe first landing. IF the foot is trimmed correctly, the solution could be something as simple as switching to side clips with a rolled or rockered toe.

[chick1065]

Oh my goodness, I can hear Tom B and Rick now. In fact, I'm surprised they haven't commented yet!

I am trying to help OP with all the info she needs to be successful in helping her horse. [edit]

[chick1065]

Yes he has some good information, but not all horses can be rehabbed as fast or pain free barefoot as they can with the right KIND of shoes,

Then your horses are among the SOME that can do what they need to do barefoot . However not all horses can , and not all horses needing rehabilitative foot therapies can.

You are a farrier, i dont expect you to agree with barefoot methods.

[JB]

I am trying to help OP with all the info she needs to be successful in helping her horse.

You are not helping, at all, by blatantly stating she should never put shoes on her horse again, when you know NOTHING about the horse.

[edit]

[JB]

You are a farrier, i dont expect you to agree with barefoot methods.

LMAO!!!

You have NO idea the number of barefoot horses Patty has in her clientele, now do you.

Besides that, she's actually one of the mystical competent farriers, whom you think wholeheartedly don't exist, who can trim a foot to be left bare, just as well as she can trim and shoe a foot.

[chick1065]

LMAO!!!

You have NO idea the number of barefoot horses Patty has in her clientele, now do you.

Besides that, she's actually one of the mystical competent farriers, whom you think wholeheartedly don't exist, who can trim a foot to be left bare, just as well as she can trim and shoe a foot.

Wow, she's mystical? Never heard of that technique. Oh I dont have any friends, not looking for any on COTH especially not you.

OMG just realized you have how many posts, 27,832, +1 in a minute.

[JB]

Good grief, who ARE you? Did you join just to trash farriers? No wonder you don't have any friends.

[JB]

Oh, no, wait, it seems you joined to start in on bashing a certain stallion and/or his owner. That explains a lot.

[chick1065]

Good grief, who ARE you? Did you join just to trash farriers? No wonder you don't have any friends.

Yup, 27,834+++. You prob dont have any either because you are on COTH all day.

SHEESH, cant keep up.

[JB]

I smell a big fat troll