Barefoot - please explain flares to me

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CobsGalore

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Horse is shod in front but barefoot behind. His hind feet flare on the outside only (on both feet), and have a very slight crack before the flare starts. Can anyone explain this to me? Is it to do with foot balance?

Foot1.jpg


Foot2.jpg
 
The pic's a bit fuzzy, so it's hard to tell for sure if the white line is the same thickness all the way around the hoof?

It could well be a deviation to support and balance issues futher up in the limbs. Or it could be bog standard flare, caused by mechanical forces acting on a hoof wall with a compromised connection.

If the horse is sound and moving well then I wouldn't worry about it.

ETA: looks like you may have some flare running all the way around the hoof, but not sure if that's a stretched WL or just long hoof wall...
 
TwoStroke said:
The pic's a bit fuzzy, so it's hard to tell for sure if the white line is the same thickness all the way around the hoof?

It could well be a deviation to support and balance issues futher up in the limbs. Or it could be bog standard flare, caused by mechanical forces acting on a hoof wall with a compromised connection.

If the horse is sound and moving well then I wouldn't worry about it.

ETA: looks like you may have some flare running all the way around the hoof, but not sure if that's a stretched WL or just long hoof wall...
Click to expand...

Sorry, the pictures were taken on my phone which is why they are a little fuzzy.

The white line does seem to be a little thicker where the flare is.

Would you want the farrier to be correcting the flare, or to leave well alone if the horse is sound?
 
If it were my horse I'd first look to the diet to see if there's anything that needs to go (sugar and starch) or anything that needs adding (minerals).

As for trimming... personally I'd probably just put a bevel on it. You could try trimming it more aggressively, but with the strict proviso that if the horse is less comfortable, or if the flare springs back, then the trim should not be repeated.

If the horse is sound and happy, however, do you really stand to gain anything by experimenting? ;)
 
Thanks. He is a new horse and the farrier is coming out next week. I will of course be discussing it with my farrier, but just wanted to hear others views on it first.

The only thing that concerns me about the flare is the slight crack - I'd be worried in case this got any worse.
 
sorry not knowledgable on flares, but im just wondering if you use boots? as my horse has similar shaped feet and i want to go barefoot but cant find boots to fit him!
 
Sorry no, he is currently shod on front and doesn't need boots on the back. I am considering taking his fronts off and using boots instead though, so will let you know how I get on finding boots for him!!
 
If your horse is sound don't worry too much. But I suspect from what I think I can see in your photos that the hoof wall has been left too long and that the horse is one of those whose soles scoop upwards at the quarters and that given the choice he would not have hoof wall in contact with the floor on the quarters. Since he has, the only place for it to go is to be pushed outwards. It's pretty common and his feet look good and solid with beautiful frogs!
 
cptrayes said:
If your horse is sound don't worry too much. But I suspect from what I think I can see in your photos that the hoof wall has been left too long and that the horse is one of those whose soles scoop upwards at the quarters and that given the choice he would not have hoof wall in contact with the floor on the quarters. Since he has, the only place for it to go is to be pushed outwards. It's pretty common and his feet look good and solid with beautiful frogs!
Click to expand...

Thank you! His previous owner said he was seen by her farrier 4 weeks ago, so I can only assume that her farrier has left the hoof wall too long?
 
He may grow his feet fast and not do much abrasive work, but if so, if the photos are not deceptive, then he needs trimming more often, I think.
 
If your not doing much work on hard surface there will be far less stimulus for growth. In general flare is due to conformation and the way the leg moves. A good barefoot trimmer can sort you out. Intervals of 6 weeks trim should really do the trick and the flare doesn't seem that bad from the pics.
Mine is barefoot and always had flare on her fronts, since I changed to a specialist barefoot trimmer it was sorted in two trims and she is very happy.
Good luck xx
 
Oh and forgotten say.i use renegade hoofboots. Brand from the states but also available from the hoof bootique. You can even hire them for two weeks to try them out. I mainly put them on when we go on gravel ground but have used them up and down hull, sand, road, grass, deep mud, in all paces and they are amazing. No rubbing. Best fit ever. I did have them fitted by the barefoot trimmer to make sure they were ok because fit is everything. X
 
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