osteoarthritis

Question
Hi my 17 year old British warmblood has osteoarthritis in is front knee, he had shoes on since he was 4 years old and my farrier has recently taken them off as my boy was finding it hard to lift his leg high enough to get a shoe on. Since having his shoes taken off he is very sore I have a feeling that my farrier cant really be bothered putting shoes back on him and i think he needs them, do you have any ideas that can make it easier for my horse and farrier

Answer
HELLO CLARE...THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Not seeing him...I would make an educated guess that he DOES need the extra support.

ALSO... rocking the toe of the shoe will help with "release/break-over" and take some strain off when he walks.

You can rub some liniment on the knee/carpus 30 minutes before the farrier starts. Other than that, I have shod many and still do, almost on my head and maybe 6 inches off the ground !!
I'm 6'5 and if I can do it after almost 40yrs...then it can be done !!

A farrier's cradle won't work cause of the height of the cradle.
You just have to "baby" them and keep them as comfortable as you can. NOT easy, but patience
always wins out.

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