Kinni wrote:
Every time I take his shoes off, Gabe goes lame until they're back on.

Kinni - Shoes don't allow the horse's hoof to expand/contract as nature
intended. That's one of the reasons that they can lead to hoof damage/issues.
Horses that have been shod all their life DO go lame when the shoes come off.
Think of it this way: you sit on your foot for very, very long time and aren't
aware that you've cut off the circulation. You stand up and your foot is
"asleep." As the blood begins to flow again freely, you experience tingling AND
pain, especially if you try to walk on it. However, as you walk and move about ,
eventually the pain goes away and you can walk normally because the blood flow
in your foot has returned to normal. That's a simple explanation of course, but
you get the idea.
If you have a good farrier, one who truly understands natural trimming, he/she
will be able to help your horse thru this transition/adjustment period. IT'S
WORTH IT!!!!
Karleen







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