It's About The Horse

bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4356 Location: Kansas

Talked my farrier into giving some Epona's a try on Shaun. Carbide tips and no snow balling up on his feet make for a nice winter shoe. Hoping we'll be able to think about bf and pasture sound by spring. Only two nail holes per side instead of four, too. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.
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"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred. Hot they are. And too fast they be. Forever on the fly. But I stayed the course and have no remorse. I love my off the track racehorse!"

Clarissa · Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:36 am Post subject:

That certainly IS good news Bit, especially for Shaunie

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spurrit · Member Joined: 27 Nov 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Kansas

I wish folks would realise that you don't NEED eight nails in a shoe. The extra hole just give us options.
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bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4356 Location: Kansas

Actually, Epona's work with four as long as shoe is glued properly. We used 6 and everything went pretty smooth. I was a bit stressed about it, because when Kelsey and I did it, Gunner was a pain, Kelsey was doing her best to get things done, and none of us were real comfortable with the process. To Kelsey's credit, the shoes stayed on and Gunner healed. With six nails. I don't think we had FUN but we got it done. Gunner would never had made it through the winter without Kelsey's efforts and Epona's.
Eli has been a farrier for a good while, second generation so things went a lot more smoothly. It wasn't like Shaun was any more cooperative. Eli just weighs a lot more, is a lot stronger, and worked very quickly.
In the end, Shuan will have great traction in the pasture on ice and snow. Carbide tips, great traction on the sole makes for an awesome winter shoe and the snow never balls up. I love how the frog still gets what it needs, just the way the shoe is made. Frogs look awsome after a winter in these shoes.
It isn't about the number of nails, it's about what works for the horse. Traditional shoe, yep I guess it's a 8 nail deal. Epona's, not so much. I'm hoping for a two nail shoe by spring, and pastue sound by summer. He may go back into his steel shoes, he may continue with Epona's he may surprise us all and go bf. Whatever he is, he'll be comfortable. That's why I consider my farrier like gold. He's open to whatever will work for the horse.
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"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred. Hot they are. And too fast they be. Forever on the fly. But I stayed the course and have no remorse. I love my off the track racehorse!"

ztmag · Member Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 66 Location: Nevada

I've been shoeing my mare with two nails on each side for the last year. Fewer nail holes and no lost shoes. (Not glueing either) Don't know how this would work with Eponas due to the flex factor.
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Playing with Dolly--8 year old QH
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Gillies_mom · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:44 am Post subject:

Deb
Did you ever try the E3 live on Shaun? if so did you see any benefit, someone has told me it may help for horses with absesses and I'm wondering if it's worth mentioning to a friend with an OTTB with recurrent absesses.
Thanks, Kate

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9038

Kate, I use DuraSole on my soft-hoofed horse that also gets frequent abscesses. It does help a lot. He is a very stoic horse. We often trim out abscesses we never knew were there, he wasn't lame at all. But occasionally he'll get a bad one we have to dig out, drain, clean and pack with Betadine.

It does depend where your abscesses are coming from though. Sometimes they are following laminitis as the hoof grows out.
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bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4356 Location: Kansas

Carol, it makes sense to figure out what is causing the abscess. No, I didn't try the E3 live because we have so much iron in our water here. There is some iron, albiet not much in the product. I was afraid it would contribute to the problem. I ended up starting horses on Formula 4 Feet by Emerald Valley Equine. Yesterday the farrier was very suprised to see so much hoof to work with on Shaun, considering we are getting into winter. He said Bit's feet were about as close to perfect as he's seen. Bit was the horse that I didn't think would ever go barefoot. Horribly tender footed. I rode her barefoot to gather and sort cattle last weekend with nary a missed step. Keley found this product for me, and it's been a God send. I've heard very good things about the E3 live supplement.
Epona's are still one with a nice heel landing!
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"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred. Hot they are. And too fast they be. Forever on the fly. But I stayed the course and have no remorse. I love my off the track racehorse!"

Gillies_mom · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks Carol and Deb, I'll pass on both your experiences and advice