barefoot or shod ?

[sweetpea]

Hi, I was just wondering, of those of you who drive, who drives barefoot, who prefers shoes and does anyone have any experience of Cytek shoes?
Any info. comments would really help right now , so thanks .

[harleydales]

The only info I have on Cytek is DON'T GO THERE!!!! I saw a beautiful, sound horse go to a crippled wreck after Cutek shoeing. Even now after several years he still isn't right.
However, that's only my experience.

As far as driving goes, I drive barefoot in the winter and shod in the summer, just because that's how I keep my horse! I don't compete or anything with the driving, just pleasure drives out at home or in the field.

[kirkellarupert]

Hi Sweetpea,

before i did private driving competitions i drove my little mare barefoot. Was told if i was going to show drive in private driving probably best to be shod, so i did for seven years. Since then Sal wont drive without shoes, or ride really, she gets really footsore so now has shoes on the front only.
Rupert, when he gets put to will stay barefoot, he has no problems whatsever so will stay barefoot for as long as possible which the vet and farrier say he should be fine.
So personal opinion, if youve never had shoes and can do without then do so, once youve had them on, difficult to adjust back to having none. Like i say my own personal experience, maybe different for each pony, do you drive without shoes now?

[sweetpea]

Hi and thanks for the replies. Sweet Pea has always been barefoot although she has only ever been lightly worked. Her feet have been fine and we were in the process of doing more road work in order to condition her feet further before being broken to harness.

However, the opportunity for her to go to the people we had in mind for the job came up a bit sooner than we planned and they didn't feel her feet would stand the increased road work that she'd have to do and suggested shoeing as a temporary measure with normal ring shoes.
Sadly, I couldn't get time off to go when their farrier called and when I went to see her he's put her in Cyteks.

They look awful and her feet look a really weird shape. We took her out in the carriage for a short drive and she seems to go well in them but I'm worried about longterm foot damage and whether or not I'll be able to ever get her back into normal shoes never mind barefoot.

The people training her have years of experience and are doing a really good job as she seems happy and confident and is going well but I hate the shoes and don't really know what to say.

[harleydales]

That's not very good! I would say as she's your horse, you should have the final say as to what shoes go on.

Did they give a reason for going for Cytek?

[sweetpea]

Hi Jane
The thing is I don't have any experience re: shoeing as 'P's always been barefoot. They said it was to protect the hoof wall as the shoes sit on the sole and they and the frog touch the ground whilst the hoof walls are trimmed back above the shoe ( if that makes any sense!!)
They're also supposed to prevent bruised soles .

Her feet look really small and the toes are trimmed well back.
If I ask them to remove them I don't know what we'll be left with or if the farrier could fit a conventional shoe.
Do you think she'd be ok in something like an Old Mac type boot?

[harleydales]

I honestly don't know, sorry. Can you get in touch with a 'normal' farrier and see what they think? They would be the best person to advise.

If you took the shoes off Old Mac boots would do the job I think but I don't know about the early stages when the hoof is growing back.

[harveydales]

I don't know anything about cytec shoeing but I'd be tempted to leave them on for the moment until she has grown some foot back. If she is going well in the shoes there seems little point in pulling them off right now. Some horses are fine in them and maybe Sweetpea will be too?

[kirkellarupert]

Hi Sweetpea,

ive never heard of cytek before and have just looked them up on google!

my farrier is coming on Tuesday morning and i need to ask him, i actually think that Sally has them on her front feet! If they are then i am impressed! Sally has never been so sound since been shod all round with driving shoes.

My farrier worked with the vet when working with Sals feet from her having laminitus last year. We never thought we would get shoes back on her, but we do! and she is doing exceptionally well with them. I have ridden her at dressage, schooling and one of the girls has jumped her albeit only over low cross poles. I have also driven her with the shoes on. The farrier told me because of the pedal bones moving slightly these particular shoes will give her support across the front ot the foot. The fronts go straight across and not round the shape of the foot. Without the shoes she is so foot sore and crippled when walking on anything but grass or sand!

Will have a word with my farrier on Tuesday and let you know his thoughts and mine!

[kirkellarupert]

Asked my farrier and he said "def NOT cytek shoes" he wouldnt use them not even as a ladst resort!

Sal has remedial shoes on to take the pressure off the toes and support the sole of her foot.

[Deleted]

Hi sweetpea,
who's breaking your horse to drive??

[sweetpea]

Hi Kirkellarupert. Your pony's shoes do sound very similar to the ones 'P' has on. Did your farrier say anything about why he didn't rate Cytecs very much. 'P' seems to be going ok in them at the moment but she did have such good feet barefoot it seems such a shame to put shoes of any kind on.

[kirkellarupert]

Hi,

didnt want to put what he said but here goes!

my farriers apinion!!!
He said Cytek shoes were for farriers that had problems or lacked the experience of "offering a shoe" to a horse, they take less shaping and the foot is shaped to the shoe not the other way round!"

I believe they are generally put on cold and not hot, since Sals shoes are put on hot he got her these support shoes which seem to be doing the job. She hasnt been happier for a long time.

I must stress this is only my farriers opinion and i have no experience or knowledge of Cytek shoes. All i can go on is when i mentioned the name he frowned at me and said "def NOT Cytek shoes on Sal".

Hope this helps, i must admit tho if i hadnt done 7 years private driving when ponies are to be shod for show drives then i would have stayed barefoot, and my intention is to leave Rupert barefoot unless forced.

Jx