barefoot query -is this right?

S

samlf

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 August 2011
Messages
749
Location
Kent
Visit site
Hmm, well I had a physio visit my horse today. She didnt find anything wrong, a few niggles but nothing at all serious. The thing she seemed to have most to say was about her feet.

I dont know if she is used to seeing shod hooves or not. She certainly said she thought barefoot was the most natural/best option. But I'm not sure I agree with what she said at all.

Basically she said that my horse needed a trim (which she definitely did, been trying to get hold of farrier for 2 weeks!), that her heels were too low (Im sure this isnt the case, they definitely arent underrun), that it was causing her fetlock to drop, also that she was dragging her toes a bit when being lunged and this was shown by the sand up on her hooves afterwards (is this right, i thoguht its because she had mud on them so it stuck? plus I video'd her loose the other day and slowed it right down she seems to be landing heel first 90% of the time!).

She also said her hind hamstrings were a bit tight - i've read this can be caused by low heels.

Anyway I then explained about my farrier not getting back to me but that I was considering a barefoot trimmer (have emailed lucy priory), she said this'd be ideal as she would know how much heel/frog to take off to correct this, at which point I had to stop my jaw hitting the ground.

Now I feel really disappointed and concerned... please please reassure me!!

Photos can be seen of her feet from dec:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=506065
 
well, if they havent changed since those pics then I cant see how the heels are too low... (though my horses are only newly bare so im still a 'novice')
Regarding the toe dragging, if she actually was dragging her toes, to me this is a muscular/schooling issue, not really a feet issue.
If she says the heels are too low, what is the trimmer supposed to be trimming??!!! And I hope shes not going to be 'trimming' the frog.
If your horse is happy then Id say take the advice as that, advice, not instruction :)
 
Sounds like a barefoot evangelicist. Always go with someone who is professional about their criticism of others work.
 
Have a look on the Rockley Farm Blog - some of the things Nic explains about balance and symmetry are important lessons.

What do the feet do? They support the rest of the horse above them - so any conformational, movement, injury, the feet will adapt to to allow the horse to move as best as he can and support what's above.

So interfere with the balance of the feet as little as you can - and a good long march in the forest tracks and roads are better than any trim.

Tight hams are usually more down to fitness and general condition.

Lucy would be great and understands all of this. Go with her.

P.S. Two of mine get no trimming - they look after themselves and they are just fine. The other two need very slight work. The best balance is the one they set for themselves.
 
By the way - on the low heels - this is what you are really looking to develop in any horse

This is not a low heel really - the height of the heel should be right for the horse - this has a well developed back of foot and very well engaged frog and digital cushion

If you can work your horse to a foot like this - then you are winning hands down.

Oh - and this one has not been trimmed in almost 2 years.

DSCF0573.jpg
 
Great thanks, you all seem to have confirmed what I already thought to be honest!! I did try to explain that roadwork can = self trimming so when I get saddle fitted her feet will be better, she said no no ever 6 weeks she must be trimmed.

I'm now worried that she has got other things wrong though? Like maybe she has missed something or whatever. She also said that they will make her feet a better 'shape' whereas all I've read the horse creates what they need.

I religiously follow nics blog and will be ordering feet first very soon.
 
Trim every 6 weeks my arse !!!
My lad had a good trim in September when I bought him, then the farrier attended in November and now in feb and has done nothing more than roll the toe, his feet are self trimming nicely (well, the road is keeping them trimmed really )

Sounds like she wants to be (or already is) A barefoot trimmer and wants your business
 
ulp.............mine see a pro trimmer every 5 weeks.

i compete and millimetres make a difference, one slightly higher heel can put everything else out.

even if you are doing miles of road work, no horse will wear its feet 100% evenly and i certainly wouldnt be going months without having good eyes cast over them.

even if all my trimmer does is watch them trot up, take a swipe off each heel and declare them good to go, that to me is worth the £. to know all is well (and im no novice BTW, trimmed our pony single handed for years with no probs and touch up the biggies too, but because my trimmer is a pro and i am not, i am happy to pay for her opinion every 5 weeks).
 
Every horse is an individual.

Some self trim nicely.

Some don't.

Variables can be uneven wear, workload, pathology.....even saddle fit.

If you have a horse who doesn't self trim well (like my semi retired, elderly boy who walks on his outside wall) then a 6 week trim is a good schedule to keep.

I can see him needing a trim by week 5, TBH and he starts to flare in the lower third of his wall. His growth exceeds his wear and he moves better post trim.

I certainly don't begrudge the money.

Lucy Priory has an excellent reputation and if your farrier isn't available, your horse would be in safe hands with her.
 
I understand that horses hooves wear at different rates, and I'm more than happy for her to have someone out as often as needed (if theyd answer their phone!!).
What I am concerned about is the comments about heels/dragging toes and that they need to take off tissue, this to me does not sound right at all but at the same time I dont want to leave her with heels which she said 'could cause tendon injuries', although from what I understand this isnt right obviously she is a professional.
 
samlf said:
I understand that horses hooves wear at different rates, and I'm more than happy for her to have someone out as often as needed (if theyd answer their phone!!).
What I am concerned about is the comments about heels/dragging toes and that they need to take off tissue, this to me does not sound right at all but at the same time I dont want to leave her with heels which she said 'could cause tendon injuries', although from what I understand this isnt right obviously she is a professional.
Click to expand...

She isn't a hoof care professional so you can listen to her opinion, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Low heels are a standard part of a bare hoof. Do I remember rightly that your horse is only newly BF?
 
samlf said:
Ok thanks. No, shes been barefoot since before I got her (not sure how long) in August.
Click to expand...

My bad - I'm getting you mixed up with someone else.

If you are concerned then by all means call in Lucy. As I say, she has an excellent reputation.

It's difficult to understand the full meaning of what the physio was saying without speaking to her further. But if your horse is sound and happy - there is nothing to worry about. :)
 
samlf said:
I understand that horses hooves wear at different rates, and I'm more than happy for her to have someone out as often as needed (if theyd answer their phone!!).
What I am concerned about is the comments about heels/dragging toes and that they need to take off tissue, this to me does not sound right at all but at the same time I dont want to leave her with heels which she said 'could cause tendon injuries', although from what I understand this isnt right obviously she is a professional.
Click to expand...


LMAO

This is called "obfuscation" lass - it's an old word, not used that much - it's absolutely describing it to a T!

A horse wears his feet in a particular way because of how he moves.

If he is dragging his toes then it is because he is not picking his feet up and engaging himself right - taking a rasp to them will certainly make them lighter, but not likely to make him stop dragging them. The answer to that problem is further up the leg, shoulder, back - and maybe just in getting him to go more forward.

The heels causing tendon injuries is just the idea that if the heel is low, the DFT is stretched more - which is probably nonsense because they've been that way for a while and the tendon will fit the horse just fine. Wedge the heels and you take the pressure off. Hardly works though and you end up with a screwed up horse.

My advice - use Lucy but think about keeping everyone away from your horse for 3 months - don't touch the feet, don't let anyone do anything to him and see what happens.

You might be surprised. Many horses miraculously come sound if you don't let anyone touch their feet for 3 months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top