What does Natrual Balance shoeing mean!?

Question

I'm looking at a horse and thats what is it she has..

Answer 1

It is one of those new fads that claim to be a cure all for foot problems.  I would want to know why she was shod with the 'natural balance' method to begin with.  Sorry but I am EXTREMELY skeptical of methods that have not been time tested.

Edit.  I shoe my own horses and can tell you that most of the claims made in the article can be accomplished with the proper shoeing.  You can make a LOT of corrections just like the ones they are talking about without going to the 'natural method' and a well trained farrier can and will do all that.  However such things are not always the best for the horse.  For example the shorter toe and setting the foot farther back can hinder the running walk if over done.  On the other hand it should make the fox trot easier.  (Sorry but I ride gaited horses and do my own shoeing, so comments often revolve around gaited).

Answer 2

I'm not sure what it does exactly but our farrier has used them for my sisters horse who has navicular. I've always thought they were used for corrective purposes so I would just ask why she's wearing them before you buy.

Answer 3

http://www.hopeforsoundness.com/natbalan...

It's a method of trimming and shoeing that is supposed to work better for the horse and help to solve certain problems in work.

My daughter's horse has a tendency to overreach and pull his front shoes off  ( like usually within a couple of days of having them put on - I was forever calling him out to refit them)- my farrier did him this way and it changed the breakover point of his back feet and stopped the overreaching. This was a few years ago and he has been shod that way ever since. He still drops a shoe every now and again but that's just normal.

They trim them differently and fit the shoe slightly further back from the toe.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...

They look a bit different from ordinary shoes.

Often they are used to help to correct a problem but some people just like to use them anyway.

I would ask the seller why she has them.

Answer 4

I didn't know until I read these websites.  I hope it helps!

http://www.ecis.com/~hplove/clo/heum9807...

http://www.ecis.com/~hplove/clo/heum9804...

Answer 5

i think it means that the horse has shoes on that make the hoof like it would be in the wild. but i would read those websites that the first person put.

Answer 6

It's a type of shoe they have on - I think it's the brand name.  It's a more natural shape I think, so it fits the hoof better.  I would definetly reccomend them.  My horse will soon, and my mom's horse already does, and they're great.  If this horse already has them, then that another reason to get her.  If for some reason you don't like them, choose a new fairier.

Answer 7

It's a really interesting kind of shoeing. I have my horse trimmed (she's barefoot) by a Natural Balance farrier, and she's gotten SO much better at turning and backing up, just because she was uncomfortable to do those thing, so we were getting bucking and arguments. I'd definitely check it out, since it really helps a horse's structure and biomechanics.