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T42
Bronze Member
 England
215 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Jul 2014 : 8:58:12 PM
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Does anyone have any experience of natural balance shoes? I'd really like to know what you think. Thanks.
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 10:46:11 AM
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I have NB shoes fitted and have done for the last 8 years. All three of mine have them and I wouldn't use anything else. My farrier says I am the only person on his books that use them as most people say they look strange. I think they offer better balance and my lads are far more sure footed over difficult terrain. I also have one with rotated pedal bones and he is now 100% sound together with gel inserts on his soles. They do need to be shod slightly differently with the shoe set slightly under and the toes rolled slightly. My farrier is brilliant and takes a lot of time balancing the hoof before shoeing. My friend had her farrier use them on her horse and he just trimmed the foot as for normal shoes and positioned them as normal and she couldn't notice any difference!  The shoes are a little lighter in weight too so presume they must feel nicer for the horse. You could try them and always go back to normal shoeing if you can't see any benefit. |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 10:55:51 AM
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| Like Firelight 2 of mine have NB shoes the other is retired and is barefoot. I have had them for at least 20 years and would not have anything else. They give a more natural break over point which is better for the horse. |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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kimgough
Bronze Member
England
109 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 11:18:44 AM
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I had natural balanced shoes fitted for my two Highland ponies. One tripped all the time and now does not trip at all and the other had a slight dish which the farrier and shoes have sorted out. I absolutely love them and recommend them highly. As with all things the tools are only as good as the person who uses them - probably not a good analogy but what I am trying to say is my farrier is brilliant and, therefore, the shoes are fantastic and work really well. If you trust your farrier and he is good then go for it. Good luck xxx
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 1:00:20 PM
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| Shesky wears NB shoes on the front and normal on the hinds. They suit him and I haven't had any problems with them. IMO they suit Arabs as they tend to have more upright pasterns and their breakover seems to be a bit further set back to some other breeds... although that just may be the Arabs i've had x |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 8:57:21 PM
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| When fitted correctly they are the best as the toes can be kept short and the hoof better balanced. |
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T42
Bronze Member
England
215 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 9:28:54 PM
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| Thank you everyone for your encouraging replies. I will give them a go. My farrier said that some horses go a bit short when the shoes are first fitted. Have any of you noticed this? Will nb shoes help improve the frog? |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jul 2014 : 9:47:46 PM
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Am I right in thinking natural balance shoes are similar to four point shoeing? If so, we had an older mare who benefited greatly and we have positive results on our yard with horses that have foot / conformation problems.
I agree that some Arabs do have hoof and leg conformation that suits an easier breakover and if it helps it all good. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2014 : 1:11:05 PM
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| Arabi had them for a while when he had foot balance problems they did the job of keeping him sound which normal shoes couldn't do, I think his problem was mainly due to the fact that the farrier had left his toe too long, I had to change farrier as the current one didn't do NB shoes, the new farrier cut over an inch of toe from his fronts the first time he had them, I now know his feet must be kept short so he just has a shoe without toe clips or side clips so the toe can be kept right back, the farrier did tell me not to ride him for a few days when he first had them fitted so he could adjust to what was quite a drastic change to the foot, so yes I would say We had a positive result from NB shoes and would use them again. |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2014 : 4:03:24 PM
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| I use them for my Arab and my welsh x. As all have said above you have the toe cut back more and the shoe is set further back to give more support and balance. Both mine do well with them and they both have very different action to each other. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2014 : 09:42:44 AM
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| Spider is in NB all round as he goes better in them but I do think they look ugly. Spider doesn't have very nice feet, quite low heels although better than they have been. He has been a bit short in front (he has a HUGE stride for a little horse) a couple of times after shoeing but isn't generally. Will be trying to keep Marvin (who has nice feet) in normal shoes - he is in racehorse training shoes at the minute because they are lighter- but will go for NB if they suit him better. |
   
West Sussex |
Edited by - Arachnid on 13 Jul 2014 09:45:22 AM |
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Topic |
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Natural balance shoes
