Barefoot advice please.

J

jessykai

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 December 2011
Messages
203
Visit site
My loan mare hasn't had shoes on for a while before I got her but wasn't really doing any work. I had the farrier out a week or so ago which happened to be about a week after I got her as her feet were too long and he did a nice trim and her feet were fine, she's done a fair bit of road work and only got one small chip from that.

This morning I noticed that her backs had a few chips (but hoof still attached if you get me?) this is from being turned out on the concrete yard at night. Will I need to get the farrier back out now to sort the chips or should they be left untill the next trim? Shes not lame or foot sore
 
Tbh, if there are no nail holes growing out, chips in the feet would make me suspect that perhaps her diet is not 100%. But I would smooth the chips out yourself in between trims - if you're not happy doing it, ask the farrier to show you how.

ETA: TT, I'm not suggesting a proper trim, just roll the edge a little. Chips and cracks can leave the hoof more vulnerable to abcesses or infection.
 
Last edited:
hmm dont agree with the above tbh, tis v easy to over trim and cause weak hoof walls which crack when they reach ground level.

OP chips out of the hoof arent a big concern providing the rest of the hoof is healthy, as long as the horse is comfy on all surfaces dont worry about it :)
 
I don't worry too much about chips with my barefoot horse, but it's worth always picking out small stones daily that can easily get stuck in the white line, as these can open up the white line, weaken it, and sometimes introduce infection. So I also use an antibacterial, I use Silvetrasol. If the farrier/trimmer suspects a more advanced stage of white line disease you may need to do a Cleantrax or Milton soak. This can really help tighten up the white line and prevent chipping.
 
It's a bit difficult to say without at least a picture of the hooves.

Chipping is usually a horse's way of getting rid of wall that is too long. The horse will get rid of it before it creates a levering force on the laminae from being too long (a hoof wall shouldn't often be longer than approx 2.5 inches, even in a draft horse).

My own horses never chip in the first three weeks after a trim - but then may have the odd chip thereafter (they don't do enough work!).

Regular roadwork or work on an abrasive surface will keep the walls in check before they get long enough to need to chip.

It may be that the trim is leaving the walls too long. But again - this is just a guess without seeing the hoof itself;)
 
The chips are nothing to worry about and I would be surprised if you hadnt had any!

She is being brought back into work and her feet will be adjusting the this. Her body will send down more horn as a result of the new workload and so chipping is almost like the most basic form of self trimming. She is re-balancing her feet following a period of doing nothing and so chipping is to be expected.

You will notice that the chips spread round the hoof wall at a low level (1 to 2 cm) of wall will come off and then the excess foot will wear down appropriate to the work.

By boy has got long in the toe from doing nothing for 4 months and I am now bringing him back into work withsome conditioning lungeing to start with (active walking with a few walk trot transitions) and he is chipping at the toe, despite being trimmed 10 days ago....it is just the work sorting out the excess foot.

If you keep her on low sugar and starch diet, watch her on the spring grass and then increase her workload slowly (as with any horse moving from rest to work) she should stay sound.

Aim to walk walk walk on as many terrains as she is comfy on....including roads and stoney tracks, but only trot or canter on very soft surfaces (sandy menage/lush grass) until her soles have thickened....they will probably be thin as she has not been worked and will be sensitive and trotting on stones too quick will cause big set backs and do significant damage.....and hurt!

google barefoot south blog for all you need to know!

Have fun and good luck!
 
jessykai said:
Thanks for the replies :) I'll get some pics of her hooves on Friday as I won't see her in the daylight until then lol
Click to expand...

Urgh - I hate it when that happens....blooming winter :(

It's also worth noting that a 'mustang roll' will reduce chips and get more mileage out of a trim.

When the wall is trimmed flat - they sink in the ground with each step and there is a separational force. With a 'mustang roll' it becomes a compressional force, so much better for the hoof itself and less likely to chip.
 
OP - we don't know enough about your horse to really give a properly formed opinion, but generally I'd go with those that say your girl is self trimming and that usually chips are nothing to worry about.

Be aware that some horses (esp certain b/w cobs) :-) chuck out shed loads of horn when they are recently deshod or come into work and this can/will chip a lot. As the work load progresses quality replaces quantity and they put down denser foot capable of doing a lot of work over tough surfaces without chipping at all.

Note my girl tends to grow 'plastic' feet which don't chip particularly well and as a cobbler's child she is the last to be trimmed. This is not good for her as an individual, so I try as much as possible to work her over abrasive surfaces (so long as she is comfy on them) to help me and her out.

Not all horses are the same, not all feet are the same
 
Both my horses are barefoot, new one has been for 2 years and my old boy has been for 2 months now. I rasp their feet myself and apply a roll on their feet to prevent chipping, they see a farrier for trims when needed ;)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top