BF people... just a quickie

Queenbee

Queenbee

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Hi all, Im not really worried as I figure ben will just wear his feet out as he needs them to be, if you get what I mean, but just wanted to check. Over the last couple of days he has worn down the fronts of his back feet so there is a pretty much a flat line of wear about 2 inches across the front of both his back feet. A bit strange that he has not done this before and hasn't changed his routine much at all, although we have done a bit more up hill work in walk and trot... suppose this could be it. Pretty sure that over time this is just normal wear on BF horses, but, he throws his head up a bit in trot uphill (he is only just backed-7 weeks) could this be why... because he hollows out. I know its nothing to worry about but I am just intrigued.
 
I would say this has much more to do with muscular development(or lack of) than feet.
Once the back has strengthened,through walking up hills,the wear should stop.
I have seen many shod horses with squared off hind feet and have always associated it with a back problem or lack of muscle tone.
Shod or un shod the feet recover if the problem is addressed.
 
It might be time to give him a wee break, just let him mature and strengthen if he needs to, when things are going along nicely with a young horse, it can be difficult to know when to ease off.
Make sure he is sound behind by trotting out in hand on a level surface.
Check teeth and gums daily, and run hands lightly all over body looking for stiff muscles or pain along the spine, also legs for heat.
 
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Muscle development sounds right. He is sound as a pound, teeth legs, tack are all fine. He is ridden about 4-5 times a week, but he is not over worked whist ridden, it is only the last 2 days that we have trotted up hill, so I suppose that this could be a reflection of muscle/lack of it, combined with his sticking his head up (which is getting less) would again indicate that the muscle needs to develop. I am actually disinclined to give him a proper break, as Im not really sure how this will help with his muscle development. He is to all intents and purposes a very level horse at the moment, not at all bum high, and I would have thought consistent work would only serve to develop and strengthen the muscle. He is a bit lazy in trot and lacking in impulsion sometimes (something we worked on in our lesson the other day) We seem to either have a forward but head up trot, or a less forward, sluggish, head in outline trot... neither are I suppose going to help the hoof wear :rolleyes: I suppose whats needed is to focus on getting what trot we do, right, as I am positive that he is physically ok, and as you say strengthening. Whatever we do in an outline (and that is by his design more than mine at the moment) we do the same level on a free rein in walk allowing him to stretch. I suppose it will all get there with time and we have just started to add quite a steep hill to our repetoir, so this is probably to be expected!
 
Oberon said:
Do you have some pics so we can have a look?
Click to expand...

Not yet, but I can get them tomorrow, its just like this though (although more equal and without the shoes)...

toes.jpg


we have only just started hill work in the last few days... and as I said he has only been in ridden work for the last 6 weeks (I said 7 earlier but was wrong!)
 
Oberon said:
So is he squaring off his toes?
Click to expand...

yeah, I suppose so, they were slightly pointy to begin with if that makes any sense? TBH I have not really paid too much attention to the wear in the past... Ebonys just were, and they looked right, if you get what I mean? Its just that he has white hooves and because of this I noticed the wear on his back hooves because the worn bits were whiter and yes now more square and blunt at the front:o:o
 
Just a thought but when us humans start exercising I have heard it recommended to train one day the day off the next to let muscles recover. Only a thought as tiredness (mental as much as physical) could explain the occasional lack of forwardness. Ps live Ben x
 
Ha ha! Thank u :D to be absolutely honest he only has 2 rides a week when he is really challenged most of them are short little hacks along the flat at walk and a bit of trot for 20 min, the other 2 are a longer so more physically challenging hack and a schooling session. Some times it is a bit one day on one day off, but for other times he is ridden for about 4 or 5 days solid and the rest of the week off. At no point does he look tired, even my trainer pointed out to me that he's a bit lazy
 
Would it be worth getting him boots for his back feet until he has learned to carry himself correctly? It would be a shame if he wore them down too far to be ridden.

Would you re-consider giving him a break over winter to let him mature a bit more? He may be finding it all a bit overwhelming at times (mentally as well as physically), hence his "laziness".

Good luck whatever you decide and please keep us updated with pics.
 
I wouldn't be trotting up hills yet tbh, far to soon for him to e able to carry you and himself properly. Active walk on a long rein encouraging long and low head carriage fine :)
 
Tiger tail, that's a good point, I'll keep the trotting to the flat for now. Tammy, I was considering boots a while back but up till now he has been fine. The more I think about it the more I reckon it's the hill. At the moment I won't reconsider giving him time off, physically he is really quite
mature, if he starts to grow again or indicate he needs a break for
what ever reason the he will
absolutely have one. He is loving
his rides and at the moment is full
of enthusiasm for them... I just need to focus on teaching him how to do things correctly, and build him up over time. He really is just a bit sluggish in trot, def needs a bit more impulsion so will focus on shorter trots but better ones if you get my meaning. I personally don't hold with backing and turning away if they don't need to and I don't think an
immature trot for a horse that has
only recently been backed is
enough of a reason yet. If he just
simply can't get it right yet, then I
have no issues with sticking to
walk on him for the time being.
My old mare was in and out of
work for her first year because even at 7 emotionally it was a lot for her, so if I believe for one
second he needs time out he will
have it. But for now it's a case of training and getting things right. As I said, the more I think about it the more I think its the hill, so for the time being I will just stick to walking that part of the hack as tiger tail suggests, I have the farrier coming soon so will chat with him about the boots although for the moment I'm not over worried about them
 
Just a quick update, went out today for our 40 min hack, we were out in company and he was really enthusiastic, :D we didn't do the hill on this hack and the trot was a lot more forward, as I said though normally when we are going forward he throws his head up a bit but I focused on keeping the reins totally still and not fighting him when he does this and he dropped his head but kept the impulsion... Anyway, I checked his hooves tonight after the hack and no dodgy wear so I'm pretty sure it was a combination of not getting the trot impulsive and correct and the hill work. Definately a lot of its going to be down to me just coaxing the best out of him and learning how to do this and building him up slowly. But I'm feeling better just seeing that he didn't wear down today and I will keep an eye on things. Thanks everyone for all your replies :)
 
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