Barefoot horse 'squaring off' hind toes

phantomhorse

phantomhorse

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I'm in the process of bringing a young horse back into work after 8 months 'at grass'. He's shod infront but bare behind. We started walking out on the roads, for 3 weeks now, 3 or 4 times a week building up to about 40mins. The roads are fairly hilly. I've noticed his hind toes are being worn square across toe section. Is this because he's unfit and being a bit lazy dragging his toes or should I be more concerned? I'm worried he might wear them back to the white line.
 
Yes, both toes are being worn pretty evenly.

He is quite a fiesty character who gets excited, so I've been encouraging him to relax and chill whilst we're out. Maybe a bit too much then :(

If I ask him to move on with more impulsion he takes it as the aid to trot. If I apply even the slightest aid through the rein he's inclined to drop behind the bit. So our rides generally comprise of slob along, then jog, then drop nose behind vertical. Relax. Slob, jog, behind the bit. And so on. He's a tricky little devil at the mo. But I'm hoping as he gets more confident, relaxed and fitter the toe dragging might improve. Hopefully.
 
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There could be a couple of factors to look at :)

Firstly, roadwork is great for self trimming horses. You only need to worry if they do eventually wear the hoof wall back behind the waterline at the toe (you will start to see a lot of white, if it's a black hoof). This is a bit more indicative of a problem, rather than normal wear and tear.

The squaring off, of itself, is nothing to worry about. The reason for it is that when we hack out, we tend to go in straight lines. If you were riding circles, and doing lateral work on your tarmac surface, you wouldn't notice squaring because the hoof gives itself a nice rounded shape :D My horse squares, and once in a while, I just round off the "corners" with a rasp.

Young and unfit horses also tend to be a bit weaker behind, and will, especially as they get tired, lift their back feet less carefully. So as the horse gets fitter, it should happen less.

So: if it's still happening when the horse is quite fit, and if it consistently wears back into the waterline, get the horse checked out. Otherwise, carry on and try adding a bit of leg yielding and shoulder in to your hacks ;)
 
I've never known a horse do any real damage by squaring the hinds.

It's a symptom of a problem, rather than the actual problem itself. You often find once they get fitter, it ceases.
 
Thanks for the input. So hopefully once he's a fitter and not slobbing/jogging along things will improve. I was hoping it would be the case :)
 
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