Bad Hooves???

[aldato_daz]

hey all...just looking for your opinions on this one!

i know my guys feet dont look right at all....they are very flat and the heel is very low..im actually surprised my farrier didnt tell me they were so bad!!

the photos below describe what i mean much better!

if possible could anyone tell me how the farrier can get them back to the correct shape if at all???

apologies if they are too big!!

In this second one, the lump on his knee is just an old scar he got when he cut his leg as a foal.

Thanks guys!!

Carrie xx

 

[TGM]

How long since the horse was last shod?

 

[aldato_daz]

well it was the 22nd of august but when the farrier did them, the angle at which they are at now was the same. my YO said that i good job wasnt done on them at all.

 

[LauraBR]

My horse had feet very much like this when he arrived- he had just been shod but think the previous owner used an unresistered farrier to save money.

Got my farrier out asap and he has done a great job. He got shod for the second time today and his feet now look great.

Farrier took the toe clip off the front shoes to set the shoe back a bit and take the toe back a bit. My farrier noticed today too that his heels have raised, we were both really pleased.

It shouldn't take too long to get your horses feet right so don't worry!

 

[Shrimp]

They're just like my horses feet., very flat and low. To try and improve it, my farrier put hind shoes on the front and cut the toe back. Next time he comes we're going to put on raised heeled shoes to lift his heel which will hopefully improve the angle of his hooves. I have to get him shod every 4, at a max 5 weeks otherwise we start to have problems.

 

[kick_On]

He looks like he's defo needs of a farrier to be re-shod and then whilst your farrier is re-shoing asking about what he doing and why. Get him to explain about your horses feet, ask if you can do anything to make his job easier etc...

 

[Jemayni]

Extreme case but my horse has jus come bk after 3 months off from being shod too long in the toe! he has been jarred up all up his legs and the vet is still worried that he has damaged his high suspensory! Maybe ask your vet for advice on rebalancing his feet before you end up in the same mess i've been in...

 

[goeslikestink]

he needs a proper farrier--

www.farrier-reg.gov.uk click and then go to top to find one in your area ok

his feet need dressing as they are to long at toe and are flat

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Tbh i'd change farrier pronto because thats an awful job!

 

[miamibear]

I would change farriers asap. This sort of shoeing can cause a lot of problems for the horse, abnormal loading on the bones of the leg and undue pressue on the muscles and tendons of the leg.

I wouldnt waste any time getting another qualified farrier - one who is reccomended from friends and on the list of qualified farriers.

And please dont lesve it too long imbetween shoeings i would say 4-5 weeks at first until they come right then every 6!

Good luck finding the right one!

 

[kerrylou123]

thats what my tbs feet were like when i first had her. Her heels had completely collapsed. My farrier has now put front shoes with quater clips, rather than the toe clip, and all seems to be going well. Her heels look better already. Personally, i wouldn't be very happy if my horses feet looked like that! A horses foot is everything- no foot, no horse!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
well it was the 22nd of august

[/ QUOTE ]
So roughly six weeks ago.

I would have thought that your horse may benefit from much more regular trimming - possibly every 4 and a half to 5 weeks. The toe looks terribly long, and the heals collapsed - and although you may not be able to do much about the collapsed heal (typical TB kind of thing), a more regular shoeing regime will help.

 

[samp]

My mare 2 fores are different one gets long and low and very flat. We take the toes right back and but quarter clip shoes on to stop them flattening out, She is shod every 5 weeks longer than that and they look awful.
Looking at your horses feet I have yo say that the farrier looks like he has not assessed your horses conformation and has shod totally inappropriately

 

[jarzabem]

Would also recommend to change farriers asap - heels look underrun and toes too long. My TB now barefoot - know that this is not for everyone and I am not suggesting this is the way you should go.... However definitely worth a look at some of the websites to get a better view on what a healthy hoof should look like. I found these very informative and may help you ask some probing questions of your new farrier. (suggest to start with www.hoofrehab.com ) Good Luck

 

[aldato_daz]

thanks for your help guys!

i know they really are in a bad shape...i hope he isnt in pain. well he hasnt been worked all summer and iv only just brought him in from the field at the weekend so he hasnt had to much strain put on his legs.

i will be changing my farrier for def!!

thanks!

 

[AmyMay]

I'm a little unsure why so many people have told you to change farriers. Unless you make regular appointments for your horse, and watch his feet like a hawk there's not much even the best farrier can do.

Your best bet would be to have your horse shod regularly - and ring your farrier if you feel you need an earlier appointment than one you already have booked.

I had a horse last year that had the most appalling feet - it wasn't the blacksmiths fault it was his owners. They simply never had it shod. As soon as I took it over and actually paid attention to trimming and shoeing needs the feet improved dramatically.

 

[kick_On]

Hear, hear amymay -
defo get farrier out and have a chat and ask him what he can do as a 'craftsman', and ask him politely, and work from getting HIS point of view of shoeing, and how best to go forward with your horse etc...
But be polite and let him explain his workmanship, but if farrier doesn't want to play ball, then defo change and get someone you can work with
It is a parntership between owner and farrier to get best result for your horse

 

[aldato_daz]

Hi all...thanks for your advice. perhaps it is my fault. i have always had him shod every six weeks on the dot and my farrier said his feet were always ok but just the last time he didnt seem to do a good job at all!

again thanks for your help guys...i love this forum...its better than any book!!!

 

[mostfunintown]

get a different farrier!!!!

 

[ihatework]

Yes I agree with amymay to a certain extent and would suggest more frequent shoeings from now on but I have to say I would be changing farriers pretty damn quick ... if he has been shoeing the horse every 6 weeks and said nothing to you about the state of his feet or just automatically adjusted his shoeing I'd be very worried. We pay farriers as professionals and should expect a professional job, which IMHO the piccies don't look to be.

 

[LauraBR]

I'm sorry but if the horse had been shod properly his feet would NOT look like that after 6 weeks.

Sounds as though OP has been following farrier advice, and perhaps 6 weeks is too long- but look at the feet- they look strong and healthy- if they had been shod right 6 weeks ago they would NOT look like that.

 

[Petrie]

Yes, I would expect my farrier to suggest a plan of action to me rather that you telling him what to do. That's not how it should be at all.

I would expect my farrier to tell me the optimum frequency of shoeing for the best possible results - that's why I pay him a LOT of money! My farrier told me I need to get my horse's (wide and flat) feet done every 4 weeks, and he explained what he's doing to improve them. So that's what we do.

You could speak to your farrier about it and he could come every 4/5 weeks and do them slightly differently, but how would you know he was doing them right? I'm not sure I would really trust him.

I would ask around and see who other people recommend.

 

[Doublethyme]

Agree with Izt, this horse is just badly shod full stop! Get a different farrier who knows what they are doing.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sorry but if the horse had been shod properly his feet would NOT look like that after 6 weeks.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm sorry, but I simply don't agree. I am not necessarily trying to defend a farrier that I know nothing about - and certainly don't know anything about the original poster (so apologies if I offend).

But it is very easy to point fingers at farriers saying that they have done a bad job, when they simply haven't. It may be that they have discussed shoeing the horse more regularly in the past - but if the appointment is not made then they can't make the owner do what is best.

Many of us have seen the result of owners who refuse to have their horses feet trimmed more regularly - and with the best will in the world when they end up like this - it's no ones fault but the owners.

Sorry to go on, but I get so fed up of people taking absolutely no responsibility for their horses care - blaming lost shoes, bad shoing, poor condition, bad way of going etc. etc. etc. on every thing else but themselves.

 

[Salcey]

If you have been asking you existing farrier and having the fett done regularly, I would dif get a different farrier out. My mares feet were similar to yours, and as someone else has said, my new farrier put back shoes on the front, but you must get them regularly trimmed about every 4-5 weeks. Then given time they will come round nicely.