| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
egyptianmare
Bronze Member
 England
59 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 12:24:05 PM
|
Does anyone use natural balance shoes for their horses? I have had Namuun for 3 weeks and she is currently unshod but she keeps tripping in walk. Her previous owner says that she has had natural balance shoes in the past.
Does anyone know of a good farrier that uses these shoes in Wiltshire, Hampshire? I live near Stonehenge.
Would be grateful for anyones views.
|
    |
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
|
|
Nic
Silver Member
United Kingdom
337 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 1:16:23 PM
|
| I had Alite in them fronts only for about 2 years as he kept tripping and not walking properly. They really helped. Back to normal ones now though. My farrier does a lot or endurance horses in NB shoes. |
Nic
Dogs have owners, cats have STAFF! |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
Nedds71
Gold Member
Wales
679 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 1:47:51 PM
|
| NB are fantastic the breakover point comes earlier so the horse tends not to stumble. A cheaper option to gain the same effect is rear shoes on the front which is what my arab has! |
BJ
www.bmjarabians.co.uk
 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Otto
Bronze Member
England
119 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 1:51:45 PM
|
My 31 year old mare has NB shoes to help improve her breakover as she has arthtitis in her knees, which sometimes makes her stumble. They definately seem to help and she looks more comfortable moving too. They get a big thumbs up from me 
|
      |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 2:49:32 PM
|
| Spider was in them for while because he tripped when I got him. New farrier has changed him back to traditional ones and changed his hoof shape and his feet do look a lot neater. New farrier questions the wisdom of putting all horses in NB shoes but concedes that they would suit my horse more than most because of his hoof shape - so I guess that means it depends on the horse and depends on the farrier. |
   
West Sussex |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 4:02:42 PM
|
If she is tripping then definately worth a chat with the farrier regarding your options.... they may just be out of balance and will sort themselves out with remedial trimming or you may have to go the shoe route - as others have said, you can shoe in a NB way without forking out for NB shoes, although they aren't that much more expensive (depending on the Farrier).
Pasha had NB shoes about 18 months ago as his feet were out of balance and he was tripping in walk... he went back to his normal shoes after about 6 months and was absolutely fine but following his Laminitis/Cushings episode, he's gone back into NB with frog supports. They seem to suit the Arab feet in my experience BUT obviously they are all individual so would definately chat with the Farrier first |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
egyptianmare
Bronze Member
England
59 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 4:33:38 PM
|
Thanks to all your replies. I have just spoken to my farrier and he doesn't like natural balance shoes. He says that it makes there feet too square. I am going to get her shod on front with normal shoes on Wednesday as we are going to the New forest ride on Saturday as she has been uncomfortable on rough ground. She is fine on the flat road, apart from the tripping of course. Still would like to find a farrier who covers my area so that I can have a chat about it. Please let me know if you know of any.
The rest of the horses on my yard are all barefoot and are trimmed by a podiatrist. Not sure whether to go down this route or not. It does work out expensive in the first year. |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Evie
Platinum Member
England
3513 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 5:35:06 PM
|
| This sounds very interesting, our farrier is coming to shoe Tara tomorrow, think I'll ask him about it. We're not far away from you in Bath, Avon. I'll let you know if I find out anything. |
Bristol |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Ryans_gem
Silver Member
England
262 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 5:41:14 PM
|
I used to have a part bred she used to trip really bad was 23 when I first started riding her she used to have rolled toe shoes well I think thats what they were called they are just normal shoes with a breakover in the front, she used to go really good in them.  |
  
My horse is my very best friend. Nothing in the world can separate us. When he dies I know he'll be waiting for me at the gate... just like always.
A horse doesn't care how much you know, untill he knows how much you care.
~ Pat Parelli ~ |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
zebo
Bronze Member
England
240 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 7:01:53 PM
|
| Hello my farrier does them. I've PM'd you Egyptianmare. |
Stephanie |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
|
|
egyptianmare
Bronze Member
England
59 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2009 : 8:22:44 PM
|
HI
My ride number is 100. Might see you there |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
kathleen
Platinum Member
England
1835 Posts |
|
|
Evie
Platinum Member
England
3513 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2009 : 7:29:52 PM
|
| I spoke to my farrier about these shoes today and he said they don't really help with tripping unless your horse has quite a square shaped (boxy foot). He doesn't think they're great for horse with rounder shaped feet and said that the metal they're made from can get quite slippery when it starts to wear down from riding on the road. |
Bristol |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
egyptianmare
Bronze Member
England
59 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2009 : 10:19:03 PM
|
| Thanks for speaking to your farrier Evie. The foot that she trips up on is a bit boxy so these shoes may help. She is getting normal shoes put on her fromt feet tomorrow. If this doesn't help then I may consider trying natural balance shoes to see if it makes a difference. |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2009 : 10:37:43 PM
|
Rubbish NB shoes are made from the same metal, My lot wear their shoes down like any other horse.
Also it has nothing to do with the shape of the feet, all mine wear NB and they do not have boxy feet they have very good feet.
The breakover point is brought back to be more normal, not allowing the toes to be left long.
It is more likely that a farrier does not know how to put them on properly.
Last year at the Berkshire Downs EGB Ride the farrier told me that the shoe had moved. (Horse reshod 1 week before and wears silicate pads.)when I told my own farrier he just laughed and said show the event farrier a diagram on how to put NB on correctly.
They should not cost anymore to put on either.
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
Edited by - Pauline on 10 Mar 2009 10:41:09 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2009 : 08:19:51 AM
|
Agree completely with Pauline. Square feet?? different more slippery metal??? Nonsense. Mine are in NB shoes and I couldn't be happier with their feet. My farrier knows what he is doing though---it would be a mistake to get a farrier who doesn't know what he is doing to slap on NB shoes.
My purebred does still trip a bit though, but it is probably partly due to conformation with him---he is a bit pigeon toed, but mainly lack of concentration---he has the attention span of a gnat and spends a lot of time looking around him When he is concentrating and working well from behind he doesn't trip, just when we are hacking along "relaxed". |
    |
Edited by - Zan on 11 Mar 2009 08:30:11 AM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Nic
Silver Member
United Kingdom
337 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2009 : 1:22:15 PM
|
| Totally agree with Pauline too. I saw a massive improvement in my horse and the cost was the same. |
Nic
Dogs have owners, cats have STAFF! |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
karitaz
Gold Member
England
622 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2009 : 09:21:47 AM
|
| Another NB fan here! We have all ours shod NB (apart from one barefoot). We certainly don't have any problem with them being slippery and they actually wear very well. The idea of them making the feet square is more due to the fact that they offer appropriate support to the four areas of peak stress within the hoof, that occur naturally in unshod horses (supported by numerous studies of stress analysis of the hoof and also observational studies of wild mustangs). Therefore they offer a more natural zone of support and bring the breakover between the two front stress points. However, it is very important to have an experienced farrier to fit NB shoes properly. My farrier is excellent and runs NB training but I did have NB shoes put on by a less experienced farrier once while at livery when studying and he put on wrong size and in wrong position - since then I always bought my horse back home for shoeing! |
     |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2009 : 12:37:25 PM
|
| Another one who is happy with her NB shoes. My farrier does an excellent job with them - Marygold is always complimented on her good feet & shoes by vets & farriers @ rides. Moving the breakover point back has definitely helped her action. And the cost is the same for us. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Marie-Molly
Gold Member
United Kingdom
929 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2009 : 7:31:59 PM
|
Another one on NB shoes here - I asked my farrier for wide web and longer heels to support Hebe's endurance work, and he put NB shoes on. Hebe is going very well.
I had a young farrier out last year, who told me outright he "didn't believe in NB shoes"!  More like he didn't have a clue how to put them on! He wasn't asked back...
When my mare was diagnosed with navicular (caused by traditional shoes), she was shoed with NB shoes, along with her medication, and went on to compete successfuly in endurance.
Marie |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Otto
Bronze Member
England
119 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2009 : 7:36:09 PM
|
I agree with Pauline and Nic - my farrier charges the same amount for NB as normal shoes.
|
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Dawn2908
Junior Member
39 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2009 : 1:07:23 PM
|
| I'm a fan of NB shoes too, I had to change my farrier because he was unable to do it. Farriers that do natural balance are trained specifically for these shoes. They are just as hard wearing as any other shoe and they are not lost any more than normal shoes. A good farrier will shoe with both systems depending on the needs of the horse, my farrier shoes both my hanovarian and cob with NB but my arab is in normal shoes. It is definitely worth a try, it was explained to me as being the difference to running in ordinary shoes or good quality trainers. Good luck with finding a farrier that is competent with NB. |
 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Evie
Platinum Member
England
3513 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2009 : 2:44:04 PM
|
| Well I'm sorry but I was just giving my farrier's view, and he's not an inexperienced farrier either, but there we are, everyone has different views I guess! He didn't say it would cost any more money to shoe with NB shoes. |
Bristol |
Edited by - Evie on 13 Mar 2009 2:45:02 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2009 : 8:44:20 PM
|
He doesn't think they're great for horse with rounder shaped feet and said that the metal they're made from can get quite slippery when it starts to wear down from riding on the road.
I have use NB shoes for a great number of years including doing 100 mile endurance race Ride and never had a problem with them slipping when they start to wear down.
NB shoes are the closes you can get to barefoot.
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
Edited by - Pauline on 14 Mar 2009 8:25:34 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 
