Barefoot CC 7 months in

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ok over due update on the tootsies Out hacking hes pretty comfy over all surfaces although the ground around here is SOAKING Also something in the soil round here (old coal country) seems to be dying his frogs black and scrubbing makes no odds :dunno:

Fronts

Hinds

Farrier isnt due for another three weeks and we have been hacking out at least once a week across all surfaces, been icy and snowy up here as well as wet so weather isnt being accomodating

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

*bump*

 

[mightymammoth]

just out of interest how long before you were hacking out comfortably on all surfaces?

I'm seven weeks in so would be interested in your story.

What do you feed him?

 

[Kallibear]

He's got a lot of damage at the bottom and it's not just cosmetic self trimming. It's possibly just his old horn growing out. Does that cracking keep appearing or is it growing out? 7month is quite a long time for a barefoot to grown a whole new capsule though?

Did you change his diet or increase his work a month or so ago? There's a big event line near the top. Toby grew the most incredible ridge down his foot when he went from standing in a soft field to lots or road work. The new horn was so much thicker it actually formed a ledge and peeled off once it got right down to the toe, looking similar to the bottom of your's feet.

They look fine. In need of a trim but otherwise good. Decent frogs (only a little thrush nibbled but everything is in this weather) and would keep and eye on anything lurking in the central sulcus of the backs.

The deviation on the front left looks like it's there to stay. It's not flare (white line has very little separation)so it'll be to compensate for something further up. I've met very few horses who don't have slightly squint feet.

Most importantly he's comfy and sound over everything, which tells you whatever you're doing is the right thing.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

just out of interest how long before you were hacking out comfortably on all surfaces?

I'm seven weeks in so would be interested in your story.

What do you feed him?

Hes been pretty comfy from the word go really, footy on really rough surfaces, was about 3 months before that sorted itself out

Hes fed alfalfa, veteran vitality, equimins hoof mender and equimins gluosamine and tumeric If he drops he gets equimins linseed added to the above. He was getting spillers conditioning fibre but I took him off it as I just felt it wasnt as good as straight alfalfa for him as hes cereal intolerant and I need to watch starch levels.

He's got a lot of damage at the bottom and it's not just cosmetic self trimming. It's possibly just his old horn growing out. Does that cracking keep appearing or is it growing out? 7month is quite a long time for a barefoot to grown a whole new capsule though?

Did you change his diet or increase his work a month or so ago? There's a big event line near the top. Toby grew the most incredible ridge down his foot when he went from standing in a soft field to lots or road work. The new horn was so much thicker it actually formed a ledge and peeled off once it got right down to the toe, looking similar to the bottom of your's feet.

They look fine. In need of a trim but otherwise good. Decent frogs (only a little thrush nibbled but everything is in this weather) and would keep and eye on anything lurking in the central sulcus of the backs.

The deviation on the front left looks like it's there to stay. It's not flare (white line has very little separation)so it'll be to compensate for something further up. I've met very few horses who don't have slightly squint feet.

Most importantly he's comfy and sound over everything, which tells you whatever you're doing is the right thing.

His workload did increase when this country actually had some decent weather (yeah when) but its dropped off with the ice and snow. hoping to up it again. That crack/peeling down the side was originally nail hole cracks but travelled up, farrier thinks it will stop soon, I dont think its grown recently.

Hes always had a deviation which the farrier shod accordingly, hes still moving straight and freely so Im not all that bothered but did wonder as farrier left that alone when he shaped the rest of the hoof.

 

[TwoStroke]

I'd usually allow 9 months to grow a new hoof capsule, so would start to panic about that crappy hoof wall at the bottom until it starts to eat into barefoot growth - so about 2 months from now.

The only thing I'd be a bit concerned about is the caudal hoof on his front feet. Are you certain he is landing heel first in front? For 7 months I'd expect better development there if he's landing heel first, and his toes are a bit worn too which is slightly suspicious. Perhaps film him walking and slow it down, just to make sure?

 

[TwoStroke]

*wouldn't start to panic

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Thanks Twostroke.

Hmmmm Ill get him moving on tarmac next week and get it videod and slow it down on MM and have a look

Glad people think they are looking ok. I was worried about the difference in shape that has started with the fronts but its not stopped him moving forwards and hes still straight moving so have decided that hes just growing what he needs

 

[abailey]

I'd usually allow 9 months to grow a new hoof capsule, so would start to panic about that crappy hoof wall at the bottom until it starts to eat into barefoot growth - so about 2 months from now.

The only thing I'd be a bit concerned about is the caudal hoof on his front feet. Are you certain he is landing heel first in front? For 7 months I'd expect better development there if he's landing heel first, and his toes are a bit worn too which is slightly suspicious. Perhaps film him walking and slow it down, just to make sure?

Hi, I'm barefoot for 5 months (started at Rockley after Navicular diagnosis)...just interested at the 'landing toe first' comment as I'm not sure if we're there yet but what can you do about it anyway? I have an excellent barefoot trimmer (Lindsay Setchell)..just interested in your comments