Well, it looks like my shoeing problems with Harley are slowly returning. I know you all are tired of hearing about it, shoot, I am. I’m just so frustrated.
Both his front shoes are loose, we are at the 4 1/2 week point with this shoeing. I didn’t say anything, because I was hoping it was my imagination, but he wasn’t right from the beginning of this shoeing cycle. But I don’t know what to say other then he didn’t feel right, and he was clicking more then he was the other times this guy shod him. I’d almost say it felt as if he was landing toe first instead of heel first. But when I’m on the ground watching, I can’t tell.
And then there is also the fact that other then the first cycle, he has lost at least one shoe before the cycle was over. He has shod him 4 times and 1 time he lost 1 shoe at the 5 weeks point, the next time 3 shoes at the 5 week point (there was a lot of mud at that time) and this time we are less then 5 weeks.
What do you all think?
Becky
What I think is that it’s a big bummer. Bay has lost one shoe ever between shoeings. Even when Mark was doing him, he didn’t pull shoes. We all have our crosses to bear, this one has (so far, knock on wood) not been mine.
If you think the quality of the set is good (do you?)... then I wonder if he’s not a horse who just needs to wear bell boots all the time?
Can you take video of him walking and trotting? I can freeze frame it and tell you if he’s landing toe or heel first. It’s really hard to tell in motion.
I think this summer has been extremely hard on our horses hooves. We’ve both been having similar problems, but for different reasons. Mine is because it’s been dry, then wet. Yours is because it’s just been wet. With all the grass that you’ve had growing, Harley may have been growing hoof at a faster rate than he normally does so that may explain why his shoes are loosening up sooner than normal. If they’re loose, you may want to go ahead and see if the guy can come and give him a reset a week early because if he manages to step on one and jerk it off, it may take a big hunk of hoof wall with it and then you’ll be in a mess.