Barefoot- Chipped Hoof

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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I've taken Andy's back shoes off in the hope of going barefoot all over as he has fab feet.

He has quite bad chip on his back feet where the toe clips used to be but on the rest of his foot its still quite chipped. I've rung the farrier and he really wants to put shoes back on him.

I'm wondering whether it is worth just waiting for these chips to grow out as I'm sure its just from the toe clip or do what my farrier says and put shoes back on him.
 
I wouldn't shoe again! I have recently taken both of ours barefoot as they had good feet and I just didn't see why they needed shoes at all, from what I had read I was also concerened that long term they would be harming the structures in their feet. (so you know the angle I'm coming from!!).

When your farrier took the backs off did he bevel the edge of Andys hooves at all? Might only be tiny if he doesn't have alot of hoof wall before his white line? If so then this will help against cracks and chips, but it is still very likely that his feet will chip while the strength of his hooves develops. Ours got some rather large ones, but although they freaked me out, they didn't seem to bother them at all! If he has any white line disease then that will weaken the hoof wall and make chips more likely. Since he has been shod it isn't unlikely that he has a bit of wld, so you might expect some chipping to continue at least until his nail holes grow out.
Try not to worry (easier said than done, I was an avid hoof watcher and worried myself silly!), as his feet develop without shoes you will be just astonished at how fantastic they are at dealing with pretty much anything and also growing just what they need to do the job. I am in awe of the great job our mares do at sorting themselves out!

This forum is also really useful for advice from lots of people who have been there and dealt with different problems, they also understand the 'new to shoes off' worries! http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php
 
I would wait. Get someone to rasp the chips to tidy them (you can do it yourself if you have a rasp) and see how he goes.

My two chip their (bare) hooves from time to time, due to the terrain we work on. We find if we just keep the chip tidy (or re-roll the hoof if it is a fore) things are OK :D Back hooves don't need so much of a bevel as the action of the rear leg is different (placed and lifted, rather than 'rolling' over a breakover point like the fronts do)
 
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I think you need either a trimmer or a farrier who actually believes that horses can work without shoes to advise you - barefoot feet look VERY short if you are not used to them. Chipping up to the old nail holes is so common it's pretty much "normal" for a horse coming out of shoes. Is he sound? If he is sound, listen to the horse, he is an expert in growing a horse foot, not the "experts" who only have two legs instead of four.
 
I think it's irresponsible to give advice on the well being of a horse you haven't seen. The OP should at least have the damage looked at first before making a decision. He may need to be shod for a while until his hoof is stable? I don't know and neither does anyone else. Generally speaking though chips are okay. Just make sure white line stays free of gravel and grit and dirt doesn't get compacted in the cracks.
 
lazybee said:
I think it's irresponsible to give advice on the well being of a horse you haven't seen. The OP should at least have the damage looked at first before making a decision. He may need to be shod for a while until his hoof is stable? I don't know and neither does anyone else. Generally speaking though chips are okay. Just make sure white line stays free of gravel and grit and dirt doesn't get compacted in the cracks.
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Koko isn't a muppet so I'm sure wouldn't ignore something important or take obviously dodgy advice. The chipping sounds like a v common prob with horses newly out of shoes so we can happily suggest that she leaves things. If his leg was hanging off then I am confident that she would correctly asses that Andy would need to see a vet. I don't think advice is being offered on a potentially alarming situation so don't worry!
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. He's completly sound, isn't bothered at all by it. My farrier is coming out anyway to tidy it up, I have a rasp but haven't used it in a while so would rather my farrier came to look at it. Is there any hoof oil or something that I can use to help. My farrier is very anti us going barefoot (it took months trying to get hind shoes off) so we might consider getting a more pro-barefoot farrier but I don't want one of these under-qualified barefoot trimmers coming out. Will try and get some pictures of it in a bit. :)
 
Chipping is normal near nail holes and also if you search for Sambo's thread I think she has been having similar concerns.

Not all trimmers are under qualified - some were indeed farriers and still are (one near me has diversified and done a UKNHCP course too), some train for two years and more (UKNHCP or EPAUK) and specialise e.g. lami, navicular, metabolic, tb's etc. I'd do the usual and do some data-mining on good old google :D it's getting better regulated these days - you won't find many now that have distance learning certs!!!

Oils don't really make a difference but diet does. Hoof will only grow what it's been fed just like our own nails.
 
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Def no to any oils. If you feel his feet are a bit on the dry side then a bit of hosing will do the trick!
Hard if your farrier isn't at least vaugley supportive of the idea. I'm not far from you and use Martin Price. While he isn't a full on banner waving 'lets all take shoes off' farrier, he is supportive and happily turns up to trim/rasp/do nothing as needed!
 
It will chip as even if he has strong feet they have to get used to it :) Might be worth asking your farrier to put some filler in the hole for you to stop it splitting further
 
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