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  Discussion on Ideas on how to keep shoes ON
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Posted on Monday, Apr 24, 2000 - 9:32 pm:

My long-legged short backed 7 year old gelding has now pulled two front left shoes and two front right shoes in the past four weeks (yes, one per week). He normally pulls a shoe at 5 1/2 weeks, which is why he gets reset every 5 weeks like clockwork.

I have a wonderful, talented farrier who is clearly very patient.

What has changed? My farrier just did a more 'natural' trim, which did wonders for Bailey's movement.

I don't want to give up on the trim!

Does anyone have any alternatives? What about glue-ons? What about just pulling the shoes?

Oh - Bailey's shoes are regular shoes (nothing special), side clips, 7 nails (4 on outside, 3 on inside). Clinches are not long (farrier prefers that if the shoe is going to come off that it not do any further damage - in this case I tend to agree..)

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2000 - 11:22 am:

I have two words for you: bell boots
I am a true believer in them after my horse kept losing them constantly. One time he pulled a shoe no less than 3 hours after the farrier had put them on. It was ridiculous (and expensive!). I keep my guy in bell boots all the time and it has solved my problem (other than independently keeping the bell boot industry afloat!)

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2000 - 11:45 am:

Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your advice. I have him in bell boots. Not only does the shoe come off, but yesterday the bell boot came off too. (luckily it was sitting prettily on the top of a hill, glowing in the sunlight - double velcro attachments still done up!)

Has anyone tried the sports medicine overreach boots? Might they help?

The barn owner has suggested I use duct tape. Any comments on that?

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 26, 2000 - 9:02 am:

I've had the same problem with a 3year old horse.What finally seemed to work (knock on wood), was to square off his back feet slightly. Even though he doesn't overreach, he has very long hip and my farrier feels he is still uncoordinated at times.

Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2000 - 4:32 pm:

For the bell boots, do you have them the "correct" size, or one size larger? My TB would normally wear a medium if his bell boots were to be used to prevent him clipping his heel, but, since I use them to prevent him from ripping shoes off, he has to wear a large. The large comes all the way to the ground.

Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2000 - 6:06 pm:

Thanks Jordana. I will try the next size up in bell boots. Sibylle, his toes have been squared off, but thanks for the advice - it is a good strategy.

Jennifer, I guess I too am joining the ranks of the bell-boot industry supporters ...

Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2000 - 6:27 pm:

You'd better hurry and catch up with me! My guy has squared back toes and rockered front ones, but he still can tear up a bell boot. I always keep at least 2 extra pair on hand. I'd say we go through about 6 pair a year. Hint for you - get bright ones! Much easier to find in the field!

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2000 - 6:51 am:

Bright Ones - you bet! (I was starting to try and figure out how to paint the shoes!!!)

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2000 - 1:05 pm:

Interesting thread as my girl just pulled one of her front shoes. She wears a size three shoe in front. Can anyone recommend a particular brand? I think I'd prefer the ones with velcro closures.

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2000 - 1:40 pm:

Wow, size 3! Actually, I wish JB wore a size 3 - he'd probably have better feet! He wears a 2. So far, I really like the Davis ones, double velcro, not very expensive.

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2000 - 6:14 pm:

I was told by my "first" farrier that Sometimes very wet ground contributes to them coming off.

Repeated stomping at flies on hard ground can loosen them too.

I've a friend that had a TB with hooves that had trouble holding a shoe. He pulled them early in the cycle and often. In frustration, she switched farriers and the horse stopped having anywhere near the trouble.

Perhaps it was the difference in the shoeing job. Or maybe the rain stopped the same time she switched farriers, GRIN.

Cheers.

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2000 - 7:08 pm:

You know, sometimes problems may be less complicated than they appear. Yesterday I was at the barn just prior to feeding, and didn't I catch my dear horse picking up his front foot, putting it into his feed bin (pawing into his food bin) then pulling straight back! Yes, as he pulled back (straight legged) the rim of the bin caught on the ends of his shoe. Small wonder the little monster has been loosening his shoes so frequently!

So his feed bin is now only in his stall when he is being fed ...but I still bought larger WHITE bell boots.

Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2000 - 5:28 am:

My TB Gelding has shocking foot growth and used to do everything possible to pull a shoe as soon as it was put on. My farrier has the patience of Job, even when I phone him 15 mins after he's left to say "Um, Mark, Toc's just pulled the shoe you just put on him".


We now hot-she the little, er, horse, and the shoes definitely stay on. What's more, his growth has improved.

Posted on Monday, Jul 3, 2000 - 9:35 am:

Suggestion for bell boots...I use the "Secure-Fit" no-turn overreach boots and they seem to work very well. Not only are they light weight,but the no turn knob keeps the boot in place preventing chafing. I also use the largest size which allows the boot to completely cover the back part of the hoof. I found this especially useful with egg bar shoes which are hard enough to keep on especially for a horse thats out in pasture quite a bit....so far so good unless there's another idea. My farrier uses a size one shoe in front also squares off the back toes

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2001 - 1:55 pm:

My horse has had all of the above problems with keeping shoes on in front. My advice is also bell boots, but not the convenient velcro ones... they are designed to be more snug and ride a little too high to be of any aid in keeping a horse from pulling off his shoe by overreaching. In my experience, the only bell that is going to help in this department is an oversized, old-fashioned gum rubber pull-on. Wrestle them on once and leave them on. Some folks are afraid of scratches or fungal infections from leaving a horse in bells 24/7; but when you buy them extra-large to protect the shoe, they're so loose around the ankle that there's no rubbing and no trapped moisture.

The only other bit of advice is make the sacrifice and don't turn your horse out on pasture... any horse where keeping a shoe on is a problem, you really should limit his turnout to a good sand paddock... no mud or slippery, uneven grass to lose a shoe on, and no wide-open spaces for horsey funny business... just enough room for him to still be outside and be a horse and not destroy his precious feet.

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2001 - 5:40 pm:

Wow, here it is August 2001 - 18 months later and the problem was solved. Bailey has not pulled a front shoe since we figured out what the brat was doing!

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2001 - 11:44 pm:

Oh, Bailey is such a clown! I LOVE it :O DJ doesn't have a particularly short back for his size, but he does have a long stride and tracks up even when just mooching around the pasture. He would just barely catch the branch of his front shoe with his back toe - bye bye shoe. A combination of hot-shoeing, side clips and rolled front toes solved the problem. Of course, NOW we are using the ultimate solution - I stopped shoeing him :) My farrier is thrilled with the condition of his feet. They never even chip! Even I can tell how much his front feet have widened after being set free from the shoes he wore for 15 years. I know you can't do this with every horse, but it sure is wonderful when you can :O

Suzy

Posted on Monday, Aug 13, 2001 - 9:46 am:

Super Cheryl,
Thanks for the update.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2002 - 10:23 am:

I realize that I am adding on to an already existing discussion, but I have a related question. I have a problem keeping shoes on my horse and for about 2 years, he has gone fine with no shoes. Now, however, his feet are starting to come apart due to hard ground, hard work etc.

So, I have a pair of bell boots which he can wear 24/7 and they go down to the ground to completely cover him. My question to all of you and to DR O is "is it safe for a horse to wear bell boots 24/7". I thought it would be OK, but have had people tell me these two things which I want to check out with you people: 1) the bell boots will get twisted up somehow and cut off circulation to his foot. 2) the bell boots will keep his feet too warm and he'll founder. I think both these statements are GOOFY. BUT, I don't want to hurt my horse, so if any of you have any opinions or experiences with this, please let me know.

Thanks, Liz

Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2002 - 10:44 am:

Hi Elizabeth - my gelding has had his bell boots on for a couple of days at a time with no trouble. He normally just wears them during the day for turnout, but doesn't always get them taken off at night. The worst he's done is pull one off one of his boots. You would at least want to check him daily, or every other day, to make sure his boots are fitting well and aren't rubbing his pasterns.

Posted on Sunday, Jan 6, 2002 - 8:54 am:

Hello Elizabeth,
Though I have never done it, I would think as long as it was a good quality boot that fit correctly, was checked at least once daily you, it would be OK. I do think you run some increase risks from trauma and infection under the boot.
I would watch very carefully for any signs of irritation especially in wet weather.

The founder concern you ask about is a nonstarter and it is hard to imagine a good boot "twisting up". Perhaps if it became caught on something it could become dislodged and forced around a piece of anatomy that it could act like a tourniquet. I have not seen or heard of this happening but I think it is a possiblity. I would be interested if anyone has direct experience with trauma caused by a bell boot. No second hand stories please.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jan 7, 2002 - 11:15 am:

Dr O,
Thanks for your response. Someone will be checking his boots every day, if not me, then someone else. I will definitely check for irritation. Someone else recommended using the fleece lined boots, which I can get as well. I will try to keep you all updated on his progress with this.

I would also appreciate any more stories on bell boots and problems, if any, with wearing them all the time.

Posted on Monday, Jan 7, 2002 - 11:18 am:

My inclination would actually be to stay away from the fleece-lined boots - these can attract and hold shavings, dirt, small twigs, and other crud that would increase irritation in a hurry. I would go just for the heavy gum, double velcro kind, or the pull-on ones even - those are most likely to stay on. JMHO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 3:44 am:

Jordana is right: no felt it they are going to be allowed to get wet.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 2:16 pm:

I've had my horse in bell boots 90% of his life. Without them he pulls his shoes off within a week. When it's real wet and he's going to be in a stall, I flip them up to let his feet dry out. I've graduated from the velcro ones (easy to put on, but deteriorate faster) to the pull on kind, which do stay on longer. I've never had a bell boot twist, though they sometimes flip up like an inverted umbrella. One more note - go for the lighter colored ones. You'll have a heck of a time searching the field for a lost green or black one.

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2002 - 2:19 pm:

Jennifer - oh so true! Many are the times I've scoured 20 acres looking for a black bell boot! :)

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2002 - 3:42 pm:

Thank you all so much for your responses. I appreciate it. I am glad that it works, because I cannot keep shoes ON this horse!! I am going to use my x-mas gift certificates to purchase some very brightly colored pull on bell boots :)

Liz
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