pghorseforum.myfastforum.org

had the horses feet trimmed up today. found out Victor has quite a bit of bruising on his soles in the front. He was tender this spring but fine once I put shoes on him. He hasn't had shoes since late August and has just been out in the pasture. he is tender on the gravel but walks out fine on the grass. I'm thinking about boots and have heard of all kinds of remedies that people paint on the soles. I don't think shoes for the winter are a good idea - any ideas?

Our gelding had tender soles as well, and our farrier suggested painting the soles only (not the hoof wall etc) with farriers turpentine. We bought some at Greenhawk, painted it on and presto/chango they're tough. Once every 10 days for two treatments is what we did. Rode him most of the summer without a problem.
We sure didn't use very much and have lots left it you want to use some just let me know. You'll just need to buy a paintbrush for it. Natural fibre, no synthetics.
I also transitioned my (whom you met) from shoes to barefoot using Cavallo easy boots. They worked just fine.

thanks for the info Pat! I have a bottle of Jim Rickens foot formula that was recommended to me so I'm trying that right now. I'll let you know how it works and will take you up on the offer if it doesn't. I think I'm going to get a pair of the cavallo boots too. They seem the easiest to use. Saw a pair of a different brand at green hawk that looked sooo complicated to put on I wouldn't even want to go there.

Sounds good. Yep, the Cavallo boots are really easy. Takes horsey a bit to get used to them though. We gave the mare a couple of times wearing them while grazing for an hour or two.

Hey Pat how do your boots fit. I traced Vic's foot and bought a size 3 boot. The hoof bottom seems to fit in proper but they seem quite loose around the top area. They click a lot as he walks although he seems to not mind them too much - after the moon walk for a few minutes Laughing

It was pretty halarious watching him pick his feet waaay up - even the back feet that were bare. Laughing

that would have been hillarious, i should have been there with the video camera, when i dropped you off , i wish id know you were going to try them i would have watched victor moon walking, Laughing

Yes. OMG! The first time was too funny! She walked around like she was gonna hit her chin with her knees. Kinda funny getting them on her the first time too. She wouldn't put her foot down on the ground and weight it at all.

Yes, they are loose at the pastern and I did wonder if they were fitting propertly, but she didn't seem to mind at all. We never really got to the canter, but at a walk and trot she was terrific! Kinda sounds like a kid wearing rubber boots that are too big. I found the measuring instructions pretty clear on the website, so assume that I have the right size.