Barefoot hoof flare: to trim or not to trim it?

Spyda

Spyda

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Here is my mare's near side hind hoof; photo taken back in early 2012, just after hind shoes were removed (removed about 1 month earlier.) Notice flare to outer quarter.

Hindhoofearly2012_zps4e3484ac.jpg


Here's the same hoof about 11 months later; barefoot for 12 months. Notice flare to inner quarter now and crack in same area. Both hinds now have the same inner flare and crack.

22-01-2013NSHindflare2_zpsc1d399ac-1_zps89e2d5e3.jpg
22-01-2013NShindflare1_zpsb5f5078e-1_zps3ee6ea15.jpg


(Do excuse the poor red chapped skin. Lots of Sudocreme applied daily, but wet weather is still taking it's toll.)

Question is, is this significant inner flare useful left the way it is? I ask because it's causing a problem fitting the Cavallo Simple boots we sometimes wear to hack out in. Early last year size 2's fitted perfectly. Now the new inner flare means they don't and size 3's are way too big everywhere else and rub. The persistent cracks due to the pressure of the flare is also a worry. Farrier says to leave new inner flare alone because this is the natural shape her hoof should have been (had shoeing not affected it). Opinions?
 
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To me that looks like a classic adaptation that the horse needs, so I'd agree with your farrier. There's one way to be sure, which is to trim it off; if it keeps popping back up then it needs to be there. But that obviously means that whilst it is trimmed off, the horse won't have that support. If that makes sense.

Regarding the crack - you could ask the farrier to trim a scoop, if the sole is allowing, to alleviate the pressure at that point. Would help to see sole shots, though.
 
Ahhh, well in that case I can confirm YES it does come back when trimmed away. If sole shots are helpful, I can take some tomorrow and load them up for inspection. :)

Will the whole hoof eventually follow the shape of the flare, from the coronet down? At the moment the hoof looks as if a band has been tightly wrapped around the coronet section, preventing the hoof from naturally flaring out in the correct shape. Will this go away, or will she always have a distinct flare towards the lower section of her hoof?
 
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We had this a little while back. My podiatrist pin pointed it to an uncomfortable saddle. There was certain wearing on the fronts and he picked out the exact spot where saddle was rubbing. We changed saddle and it came back although not as significant so I questioned him an he said it would it go in time but horsey has to realise that she can walk normally without it hurting so that will be a gradually thing. She might take a step and go oh actually that doesnt hurt but muscle and pain memory turns her back to walking anticipating the pain but then eventually she might take two steps where it doesnt hurt and so on. He was right because now we no longer have the flare!
 
Interesting post from claribella, and it is the general consensus that such deviations are supporting an issue higher up, so it's not a bad idea to get a bodyworker out to check over.

Ime, the deviation won't go all the way up to the coronet, as the hoof in general is well connected - unlike in a hoof with dietary flare - so the top of the hoof will continue to be well connected, but the flare will occur further down the hoof capsule. Feet are mysterious things, though, and will often surprise :D.
 
I think sole shots might be useful for those more knowledgeable about support flare.

Is the flare corresponding with the crack? Ie. from the crack to the heel? If so I think I would trim it a bit. Sacriledge to some I know. lol
 
I agree that the problem probably starts higher up the leg. However, I never feel happy about it being said that a horse grows flare because it needs it. I think the flare is growing because that side of the hoof is not being worn as much as the other. On the pictures you can see that the horse is putting his weight through the side of the hoof away from the crack as she moves resulting in the steeper wall and the event lines reaching the floor sooner on that side. I would suspect that the heel on the side of the hoof with the crack has not been wearing as much as the other heel and the longer heel on that side has been the cause of the crack. I'd have the trim flared at least enough so you can use the boots, but I think the heel on that side may need very regular attention. All this only IMHO.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. It's a young horse, lightly backed last year. The flare is equal on both hinds, so would this suggest equal discomfort on both sides higher up? She moves well and athletically but does b***** about in the field and always has so may well have put something out at some point. I'm bringing her back into work in March. Maybe I'll have the McTimoney practitioner out before then. For an assessment.
 
Is there any difference in her movement if the flare is removed? Removing supportive flare often seems to make a horse lame - or less capable - than leaving it.
 
My mare has large feet with a tendency to spread, & although less pronounced if not kept on top off a slight tendency to flare, but more as an even all round result of spreading than an individual flare if that makes sense? What works for her is keeping her feet done every 6 weeks so they don't have chance to spread. Farrier just follows the natural shape, but keeps them at the short natural shape. It's what we've done for years now & she's sound on any surface, & not had any cracks either.
 
I have this to a much lesser extent on my cob. I trim it off regularly as otherwise it cracks. He's no less comfortable without it and it grows back within a couple of months.

It's caused by him walking uneven as he lands slightly inside edge first. He is naturally cow hocked (like many cos) and has been like that since a baby.

Question is; how many horses walk completely evenly? Is it a sign of a problem, or it it just the way they're put together?

My 2yr ISH he's the exact opposite; he walks a little on the outside edge. It's improved as he's grown. Again the excess is trimmed off so it doesn't crack. He is 2yr old and never done any work or been lame, so I doubt it's a problem higher up. It's most likely just how he is.
 
I only have one horse with a hind flare like that on only one hoof. It's on the inside. She was hurt as a yearling before I got her. She had one hind leg hung up suspended in barn wire. She pulled obviously as well. Was told she was hung up for at least 24 hours. So obviously she has damage and a hunters bump. She has been my broodmare in the past. But that flare has been constant. Only now that I've decided to educate myself on feet does it actually make sense to me. So even though she is trimmed regular the flair likes to stay. We've never tried to lob it off, just keep it neat. She obviously needs it. None of her kids show this deviation but makes sense since they have not had injuries as did she.

Terri
 
My boy had persistant flare on the outside of his hinds from when I got him at 16 months old (I put this down to lack of trimming) until the last 6 Months - year when my trimmer started trimming him and paying close attention to the flare... He is now 5 BTW... it has now dissappeared.

I believe the combination of DIET, trimming, him getting fitter and thus using himself better and regular (every 6 months) Chiro sessions (he did have an issue just over a year ago which required 3 or 4 treatments 3 weeks apart)...have contributed to this... Worth considering other factors...
 
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