Barefoot 3/4 weeks down the line...Opinions please

BigGinger

BigGinger

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This could be long!

Over the last few months i've followed the barefoot threads and deep down i knew i wanted to try the transition, something kept niggling away at me that in the long run it would be better for him.
Kero is a 5 yo Ex racer, i've had him for 2.5years and he's currently coming back into work after having some issues late last years, treating ulcers and then a fractured skull. So his diet has dramatically changed he is on a high fibre, low sugar no cereal diet with added brewers yeast, magnesium and salt and is looking the best he ever has IMO :) He was re scoped in april and was clear and healthy and the fracture has eventually healed.

About 3/4 weeks ago i had Kero's shoes takin off (He's only ever had fronts on) as he had pulled one after 3 weeks of being shod and that made my decision. I'm just looking for some opinions/constructive critism about the way his feet are looking, what i can expect them to be looking like after 3 weeks and how they could be improved?

He currently wears old mac g2 hoof boots on the front only, for working and has been 110% better than he's ever been in shoes, doesn't over reach anymore and doesn't trip like he constantly did in shoes. With out boots he is very footy on stoney ground (as expected) and in the field he is fine with out boots although he does like a bomb round so i think this could be contributing to the chips he has recently got.

His feet had starting to round off and look a little neater but the last few days they have started to chip away at the front this is why i have taken pictures.

So... his feet aren't the best he's a typical tb but what are you thoughts/advice? He's does have a quite a few rings round his front hooves which tie in with the time his diet changed dramaticly and also when he was in horsepital worse for wear

This is front left hoof
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This is the right front
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These are his back hooves, didn't get many pictures he got fed up of standing still :o

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Thank you if you got this far..
 
Firstly, well done you for taking the plunge, and welcome to the barefoot Taliban ;).

There's lots to like about those feet from those pics - better than many ex racer's you see (including mine!), and you can see the angle change coming through on the poorer feet. I reckon you'll see some fab improvements over the next few months. It's tough to tell what they're really like without a sole shot, though.
 
I'm no expert and I'm sure those that know more will comment soon.

His feet look like my ex-racers were; under run heels and small frogs.

It sounds like you and on the right track with diet and movement. You can see the change in his horn growing down from the cornet bank.

Good luck with it :)
 
ETA- just seen the sole shots, bloody phone didn't load them first time :p.

Fairly standard stuff for an ex racer - flat footed, weak caudal hoof, under run heel on RF. nothing that a good diet and some work (within the horse's comfort ;)) wont sort. :)
 
Nocturnal said:
Firstly, well done you for taking the plunge, and welcome to the barefoot Taliban ;).

There's lots to like about those feet from those pics - better than many ex racer's you see (including mine!), and you can see the angle change coming through on the poorer feet. I reckon you'll see some fab improvements over the next few months. It's tough to tell what they're really like without a sole shot, though.
Click to expand...

Thank you, what is a sole shot? is it looking down the hoof from the bulbs like the underside shot?
I will get some clear ones later! :D
 
What you should see is the widest part of the hoof moving back to the heels.. where it should be ;) The heel bulbs will become wider apart as part of this process and hence the rear of the frog will be wider too.. The apex (front pointy bit) should become closer to the toe .. or what is actually happening is the toe moving backwards (like the widest part of the hoof).. The chipping at the toe is part of this process..

those are the basics.. sure others will be along to add.. don't worrry about the chipping it is just the hoof changing shape / getting rid of excess.. watch and learn how much hooves can manage themselves given decent nutrition and use (movement as in either turn out and or work booted or bare).
 
Looks like you starting from a reasonable place.
In my opinion in order for you to get strength in the heels and good function in the frog and digital cushion you must first get the DIET right, and you seem to be starting down that road.
2nd The conditions, feet will react to the surface they are being asked to work on. The more they are on one type of surface the more they are fitted to working on that type of going, so I would try and vary without forcing the issue (this is where the track system and different surfaces help)

Any cracks splits, chips ect. that you get, as far up as the old nail holes, I would be expecting, anything above them is not good and should be looked at.
You will start to see another change in the dorsal wall angle quite soon, this is the one that must be respected as much as possible.
And this brings me to my final point and for me the main one
GET A GOOD TEAM, I always find that ‘barefoot’ it is too much for a client to take on by themselves
Whether it be: nutrition, farriery/Trimming or veterinary advice ask around for people who have a good team and try and put one together for yourself, it will save you time, pain, and money if you have the right people with you.
Good luck, somehow I don’t think you will need much.
 
All things considered this r not really bad feet. The heel needs to come back and foot again concavity but this will come with time and correct trimming and diet, as u have Said u r doing.

It will prob take about another 3-4 months for the hoof below the event line to grow out and ur takes around 3 months for a sole to grow out, so keep up the good work!!!
X
 
Ps I often find that the hooves chip after tge first barefoot trim, u can always ask ur trimmer to pop out and roll the edges again if u r worried, but it rarely causes an issue in my experience. X
 
Difficult for me to see the pics properly on Stupid Phone.
Cracks look superficial - ignore them.
Hooves look like typical transitioning hooves.
Good diet
Movement
Time
Sympathetic trimming

Basically carry on what you are doing.

If you are hitting a brick wall and the soles stay flat like that then review diet first. Mineral supplementals can make a big difference.

Carry on with the boots on hard/rocky ground when ridden until the soles thicken up after time. Protect the coffin bone.

All in all, carry on what you're doing and well done so far.
 
thank you, thank you, thank you everyone.. great advice and support. my farrier who has always shod him is very supportive which i think your half way there if theu say lets take shoes off and give it a go.
I am goin to get him up every 3/4 weeks to just tidy them up just for the time being.
he feels like he's on the right track we have to cross a stoney path to the feild and he is alot better over this in time i will increase the different surfaces. i recently noticed he no longer pulls his front feet away when beig hoof picked
 
oops posted mid post.. last thing ive noticed he is more careful when he walks because he can now feel the floor has to think about it rather than plod along and trip up.. thanks guys
 
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