Re: Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes...

Ruth Baltopoulos <rudybal@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote :
From discussions here, my understanding is that they might
be ouchy for awhile, and you may need to be careful about
the terrain or use boots, but I've not heard it said that
lame should be an expectation at the outset.

The first time I pulled Regis' shoes for winter, both his hind legs from
hock to ground blew up like balloons. He was shockingly sound on them, and
the swelling went down within 24 hr. Considering how unsound he could be
for various other reasons, I was a bit surprised he wasn't doing a
headstand to stay off them.

There's a reason Mr. Tongue was known at "Mary's Big Book of Lameness",
y'know, but pulling or putting on shoes was never a cause for any of his
vast array of unsoundnesses.

If the horse is just a little sensitive on some surfaces, but basically
sound and not in pain, I'd give it a chance to toughen up. OTOH, if the
horse is really ouchy or reluctant to move a normal amount, I'd get some
protection back on those feet ASAP.

--
Mary & the depleted Ames National Zoo
(Ranger, Duke, Rhia-cat)
.

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