thin soles/weak walls

Question
I acquired a young quarter horse a year ago that the Amish had for a short time.  His feet were terrible when I first got him overgrown that you couldn't tell the shape of the frog so I had him put on regular scheduled trimmings and added shoes.   After a year of supplements,vitamins, and a good diet to get his weight back where it should be he was still very sore.   I recently had his hooves xrayed and the Vet said he has thin soles, flat footed, and it appears he had a slight case of laminitis in his past.   She said he will need a glue on shoe with a rim pad because to hammer nails into his feet were painful.  Can you recommend a good type of glue on shoe for this type of problem.   Also are there any supplements that may be more beneficial to him to strengthen his feet?   I currenly feed him Glazen 3 Lite, with a daily vitamin and a low carb grain.   I also used the Austrailian Hoof Oil on him but nothing seems to be helping.  He's only 4 yrs old and someone suggested that maybe he got road founder when the Amish had him.  I'm assuming the damage is done and the only thing are the special shoes.

Answer
HELLO DEBBIE...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Your "assumption" that there was possible road founder in his past is probably 95% correct.

I have worked on MANY Amish horses, both buggy and Draft/working stock. They make the "mistake" of starting their heavy horses in stocks for shoeing and trimming and as the horses grow older,
cannot be worked on in a natural way without stocks. Many are very dangerous to work on for the vets and farriers. They also will "barely" start %26 train the horses...many times not doing much
ground work...just putting them in harness and "learning-by-doing"; pushing them till they're
tired.
My opinion of this situation is from dealing with this for at least the last 20+ yrs. Not to assume that I'm just being critical.

Most or the majority of these thin wall/soled horses is from genetics. Only proper breeding will stop most of these problems. We the equine business, have been breeding the "feet %26 bone" off many of our horses for years. Recently, a comeback to common sence has seen better hooves and bone in many breeds of horses!!

I personally would add to what you are already feeding a top amino-acid supplement such as
Farnum's Horseshoers Secret or Hoof Rite/Cave Creek, Az. Dr. Jan Young,D.V.M.
Also...alfalfa pellets are very safe. Excellent protein 15-18%, one of the best legumes and
the calcium/phosphorous level is ideal for growing and maintaining strongs hooves. Maybe adding
a pound a day like a supplement will help greatly.

As far as "Glu-ons" I have the best results with using Vettec products. I'll prep an aluminum
shoe and use there product. I've tried them all since 1985. The ONLY problem with any thing or
product that is "high maintenance", is if you have the horse in wet conditions and every 5/6 wks
removing and replacing them, can do damage to the walls. Pads or rim pads DON'T work well with
Glu-ons.
You may also consider putting a tame iodine on the soles 3/4 times a week to toughen the soles.

Wishing the Best..
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.