Barefoot and frog

[Ceriann]

Mare barefoot for circa 3 months. She’s incredibly flat and thin soled so booted to ride, booted some days for t/o but is managing well. Farrier has been trimming but leaving the frog. I’ve started to notice excess frog and groves and crevices in that excess which I’m worried will result in thrush. She’s started to get a little niggly to lift one foot (she’s perfectly behaved) so I got some cutters and cut some of it away and underneath look a tiny bit thrushy. I will treat the thrush but would you cut away the rest of this excess (she almost looks like she’s shedding her frog)? Central sulcus and collateral grove both nice and clean.

 

[tda]

I would only trim flapping pieces.

 

[paddy555]

from your description I would most likely trim more away however it is not very easy just based on a description.
Are you able to post a pic of the frog? that would make it easier to give a better answer.
If she had started to get niggly to lift one foot I would be wondering if she was unhappy standing on the other foot? if it was sore/painful to put her whole weight on.

Are the frogs weight bearing ie if you put a ruler across the heels would it sit on the solid heels or rocker on the frog?
after 3 months I would have expected reasonable progress. I am wondering if she is thin soled and failing to build up concavity as she cannot land on her heels and if so the reason is the frog. Just a thought.

 

[Ceriann]

Good point re the niggle - I’ve been a bit dim there! I’ll take photos when I bring her in. I’ve always considered her to have a good frog and it is weight bearing. The excess frog is more toward the bottom half. I’ve had her barefoot before and she struggled at 9 months, not with t/o but on hacks, stony ground etc - she’s x-rayed regularly and her angles are v flat and sole v thin. Concavity is a long way off.

 

[I'm Dun]

I trim any loose flappy bits for exactly the reasons you say. If they are left they can allow pockets of thrush to form. Once shes spends more time out of boots the frogs should keep themselves trimmed pretty well.