Shoeing????

Question
I have a off the track thouroughbred who is constantly lame. Well I shouldnt say lame because he's not outright in pain. He trips up a lot and sometimes takes "bad steps." He'll limp a little under saddle for a few steps and then regain natural rythym. This almost always occurs at the trot though he's very touchy at a walk over gravel. We usually ride in fields or in the woods and we jump on fine rock. I'm onsidering putting shoes on him though he's been barefoot for over a year. The vet has checked him over and my farrier did a hoof test on him with no indicators of anything wrong. I just don't understad why he is so touchy on his front feet. I clean them out daily. No thrush or anything. He has good feet other than the tripping thing. Will shoes fix this? What kind do I need?

Answer
HELLO ALLIE...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Since your vet and farrier have checked him out...

For a fact...I'll say thorobreds 98%...have thin walls and soles "genetically". The sensitivity
he is showing is most likely "solar depth" ask your farrier or radiograph/lateral view and he
will most likely have 1cm of depth between the ground and coffin bone.
In laymen terms, he feels everything !

His tripping is compentsating for his discomfort and they hesitate which causes the tripping.
This is the MAIN reason without argument, why "some" horses just can't go barefoot like the "natural barefoot trimmers" want them too. Yes...you can paint their soles and toughen
them but because of anatomy and hoof capsules many just can't be completely comfortable.It's different with each horse and it's genetic.

Shoes fit full and supportive will help him. What kind?? Leave it to your farrier and he/she
will know what gives YOUR horse the best support.

Best to You !!
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.