Barefoot advise

[Timelyattraction]

Hi all

Looking for some advise. I am really struggling to get any growth on my mares hind feet. Shes 16hh and her hi d hoofs just look like they belong on a pony! Her front feet are a lot better but because they are shod they are not wearing down. Ive recently started her on hoof mender hoping that helps and in assuming some hoof boots on her hind feet is probably the way to go for now? Any advice and comments on her feet are really appreciated! Thank you

 

[paddy555]

Hi all

Looking for some advise. I am really struggling to get any growth on my mares hind feet. Shes 16hh and her hi d hoofs just look like they belong on a pony! View attachment 134084

looking at the sole pic of your right hind I'm not sure what is wrong with the size. Looks pretty normal size.

Feet do grow a lot more slowly in winter. I did use hoofmender on a cushings who couldn't grow feet because of the cushings. He grew feet after supplementation.

Not sure that hoof mender is the best supplement, I used it as it was good at that time, but now some will have a better spec.

 

[Timelyattraction]

looking at the sole pic of your right hind I'm not sure what is wrong with the size. Looks pretty normal size.

Feet do grow a lot more slowly in winter. I did use hoofmender on a cushings who couldn't grow feet because of the cushings. He grew feet after supplementation.

Not sure that hoof mender is the best supplement, I used it as it was good at that time, but now some will have a better spec.

Maybe its just me but i just think they look really worn in size compared to her fronts and the farrier commented that they are quite worn down and to try and stay off the roads as theyve not got many miles left in them and my previous farrier said you wouldnt get shoes on them because theres just not enough hoof their. I just wanted some opinions as i know a lot of people on here have good knowledge when it comes to feet and i dont and i just wanted some reassurance that her feet are ok

 

[paddy555]

sizewise they look very similar to my barefeet. I would ask the question as to whether your farriers are simply shoeing ones (with the usual pasture pets) or if they have a large number of successful BF horses on their books?
If the former then they may well be more used to seeing the results of shod feet.

 

[sbloom]

In the fifth photo I see hoof walls that are contracting, wider at the coronet band than at the hoof, is this just the photo? If they are like this it would be of some concern, and the shod feet are being bullnosed (ie rasped in a curved fashion to bring the toe shorter), both of which are potentially issues, rather than the feet being "small". Wear of feet is so often related to hoof health which is related to diet, exercise and the trim, often as not once all that is sorted out you have to do roadwork to keep them from excessive growth in between trimmer visits.

 

[Timelyattraction]

I’m not sure, i can take another photo later and add it so you can see. Thats the right hind so would it be best to see it from behind again at floor level? If that’s so, what does that issues does mean?

 

[ycbm]

I can't see anything much wrong with those hind feet. Who is telling you there's a problem with them? Is he sound?
.

 

[ycbm]

Hind feet have a steeper angle than front feet and it would be unusual for them not to be smaller.
.

 

[Gloi]

They don't look too bad. You could put boots on for road work if you feel they are wearing too much.

 

[Timelyattraction]

I can't see anything much wrong with those hind feet. Who is telling you there's a problem with them? Is he sound?
.

Yes she is sound. Farrier said to try keep her off the road and stay on the grass/surface as theyre wearing fast but problem is i dont have an arena and no chance of riding in the field at the moment as its just too wet so im limited to hacking and a lot of the bridleways im using atm are made of hardcore tracks as the grass ones are just too boggy to use at the moment so ive got myself into a bit of a worry about trotting her etc while out riding on the road and tracks

 

[tda]

I'd be pretty happy with those hind feet, barefoot, sound, nice shape, concavity.
Of course the farrier can t get a shoe on because they are already working sucessfully.
I'd get yourself acclimatised to some good bare hooves ☺

 

[sbloom]

Hind feet have a steeper angle than front feet and it would be unusual for them not to be smaller.
.

Is the slope inwards from the coronet band not an issue? It's not the first thing I look at for sure when looking at feet in the flesh so not sure how significant it is.

 

[ycbm]

Is the slope inwards from the coronet band not an issue? It's not the first thing I look at for sure when looking at feet in the flesh so not sure how significant it is.

I couldn't honestly judge that from that photo, heel photos are often quite misleading, I've found.

I was really only responding to the farrier saying the feet are too short when they certainly aren't and in fact look perfect from underneath.

 

[ycbm]

Yes she is sound. Farrier said to try keep her off the road and stay on the grass/surface as theyre wearing fast but problem is i dont have an arena and no chance of riding in the field at the moment as its just too wet so im limited to hacking and a lot of the bridleways im using atm are made of hardcore tracks as the grass ones are just too boggy to use at the moment so ive got myself into a bit of a worry about trotting her etc while out riding on the road and tracks

I'm afraid your farrier doesn't know what working barefoot feet look like. They look......... just like that. If you carry on with the roadwork, she should grow more foot to match the wear. We call this self trimming, it's the holy grail of barefoot!
.

 

[Tarragon]

I am another who think they look OK, and if she is sound then keep going as you are. The farrier might be thinking that they look too worn to be shod, but you are not doing that.

 

[Arzada]

Most people would be thrilled with those feet and lovely frogs

 

[Highmileagecob]

Looking good! My only comment would be to ask your farrier not to routinely slice off chunks of frog, and perhaps a little more heel left on wouldn't go amiss. Have a look at the Cavallo Barefoot Trim video online. It is a masterclass of a basic barefoot trim with good explanations of why some bits needs to be left alone.

 

[lynz88]

Most people would be thrilled with those feet and lovely frogs

I was thinking this too....would the OP mind if I borrowed those feet for mine?!