Fran...how is...

[Naomi]

Fran I hope Bootsy recovers soon

[Donna]

Wishing you luck in getting Bootsy sorted Fran.

[Fran]

Originally Posted by borderdawn

Maybe you could look for another home in an area where he can be shod correctly? I dont think he needs to die because there isnt a decent Farrier in your area. How about finding a good Farrier, and taking him to them? my friend does this with her Horse, she travels 60 miles each way every 6 weeks. He's such a lovely fellow, would be a dreadful shame to lose him.
Dawn.

The current farrier we have travels in excess of 60 miles to us Of course we are willing to take him to the farrier if necessary but seriously, farriers of the calibre we are looking at are extremely rare or they are fully booked up already

[Fran]

Originally Posted by yola

Oh Fran - how sad!!!! I didn't realise Bootsy had such a problem Why is this Farrier being so intransigent when he (presumably) knows the situation and how critical the shoes are?????

I don't really know Yola. This is the thrid time he has shod Bootsy now. The old Farrier we had was just too unrealiable as he was quite a sick man, albeit a very good farrier when he actually came out to us.

The new Farrier does a lot of remedial work for our vets. He came highly recommended and was full of great ideas when he first met Bootsy. But things have gone so terribly down hill since he started shoeing him You really won't believe the pain and heartache and frustration we have had over the last three years of finding someone competant, reliable, capable and willing to shoe him. The Farrier's Council are a waste of space and just don't want to know We will move heaven and earth to get him the best farrier possible. It's killing me to see him suffering like this

[Mags]

Fran, I know how much you have done to help Bootsy over the years and how devoted you are to all your animals, it must make you feel pretty helpless not being able to get a Farrier who can help him.

Dawn, if your friend has an excellent Farrier perhaps you could pass his details to Fran....she really could do with some help....

[Donna]

Being a complete idiot - but what difference does a horse shoe make to a horse? How does it all work?

[Fran]

Originally Posted by Donna

Being a complete idiot - but what difference does a horse shoe make to a horse? How does it all work?

It's rather complicated Donna and different conditions require different types of shoeing. But basically for Bootsy, the arthritis is so bad that the joints nearest his hooves are fusing, hence they cannot move in the sameway healthy joints can. The shoes provide him with an artificial joint as it were and allow him to place his foot in positions which are comfortable for him which he would not otherwise be able to do if he wasn't shod this way. There are many different types of shoes and ways of shoeing this condition, finding the right one is proving more than a little difficult. Also not all farriers are qualified to do this work and inorder to do this sort of work they need to have their own forges as these sort of shoes can not be bought wholesale like the majority of horse shoes today.. It's very specialised shoeing ..

[Donna]

Originally Posted by Fran

It's rather complicated Donna and different conditions require different types of shoeing. But basically for Bootsy, the arthritis is so bad that the joints nearest his hooves are fusing, hence they cannot move in the sameway healthy joints can. The shoes provide him with an artificial joint as it were and allow him to place his foot in positions which are comfortable for him which he would not otherwise be able to do if he wasn't shod this way. There are many different types of shoes and ways of shoeing this condition, finding the right one is proving more than a little difficult. Also not all farriers are qualified to do this work and inorder to do this sort of work they need to have their own forges as these sort of shoes can not be bought wholesale like the majority of horse shoes today.. It's very specialised shoeing ..

Thanks for the explanation Fran! Is there an operation that can be done or other treatment to help Bootsy? Or is this special shoe the only way forward?

[Fran]

Originally Posted by Donna

Thanks for the explanation Fran! Is there an operation that can be done or other treatment to help Bootsy? Or is this special shoe the only way forward?

He has joint supplements, long term pain killers and I give him anti-arthritic injections every 6 months. If he only had high ringbone then yes he could have an operation to fuse the joint, then with remedial shoeing he would be very much better but he not only has high ring bone, he has low ring bone and sidebone as well and sadly there is nothing surgically wise they can do for these conditions

[Moli]

I didn't realise Booty was so poorly PK, sorry to hear it....Hope you find someone who can make his shoes soon....