Brave people post "good shoeing" pix please

[lauraanddolly]

Thank you for replying cptrayes.

I asked my farrier last shoeing why fairly suddenly her back toes look scuffed, and was told it was her being lazy behind, although recently she has been working more through in general I feel, so this explanation did not make sense to me. Having looked through other posts on this thread I can see what you mean about the bullnosed look, they are growing that way I believe - will research deeper into it. If there are sources you would be able to recommend to me I would be grateful.

Are the feet you see as imbalanced the fronts? If so I did struggle to get a level photo in the light i had, will crawl about on the floor some more tomorrow to check again myself if this is the case as even I can see it in my photos, as you say one side taller than the other.

Finally no I have no idea why the nails are so low on that last photo! However she has only ever lost 3 shoes in the 11 years I have owned her, so I'm not too worried but will bring it up with farrier on his next visit - also the longer inside edges on both offside feet he has done this a few times before and it does strike me as odd and the reason for my post to begin with!

Thank you again for starting such a interesting and informative post, it has made me far more aware of my horses feet and given me a kick up the backside about raising these issues with my farrier, which is long overdue, I just didn't like the idea of questioning his work, but to understand and get the best for my girl I have to.

 

[Bikerchickone]

4) My final observation is that you have, as far as I can see a horse that has the ability to produce wonderful feet.
And for what it is worth when this type of horse gets referred to me I don’t hesitate in taking the shoes off and see what the feet are capable off doing on there own.

Moorman I wish you were in my area. I want to take my cob who has rather strong but obviously not happy feet barefoot and my 'experts' keep telling me his shoes are holding his feet together! So impressed to see a Farrier positive about taking shoes off.

 

[lauraanddolly]

Thank you moorman, general observations are all I am after, I don't for one second think my farrier is bad - or for that matter that he does a bad job.
There have been many posts recently on shoeing and barefoot it left me evaluating some things about my horses feet. For me this type of post means I can ask questions without feeling I am questioning the pro's that do the work for me. Then armed with some info have an informed discussion as to the pro and cons with my professional.
As time goes on more people including myself are questioning whether our horses actually need shoes. For me my horse being shod all round is all I have known for 11 years, it would be weird without them, but if is better....maybe I will talk to the farrier next time, the backs may just have to go!
Off to research - many thanks again.

 

[Clava]

Previously barefoot 18months, fronts back on for 6 to 12 weeks to get over worming, help with a couple of cracks (they were improving bare but I feel this will help them grow out quicker, any infection has been treated as best as I can)) and spring grass. She is a Tb and sensitive to sugars, fed high fibre diet (hay, speedibeet, brewers yeast, mag ox and linseed and very little grass at the moment) Recently treated for thrush which seemed to have taken out the back part of the frog, but is now improving (or was).

Not posted because I think this is good shoeing, but because I don't know. Obviously the frog is not in contact with the ground but sticking a shoe on a previously bare hoof where the frog was in contact I'm not sure how that would be achieved?

right

left

 

[cptrayes]

When was that set put on Clava, those heels look very long to me (and in one photo the right looks longer than the left, but that may be a trick of the camera) ?

 

[Clava]

When was that set put on Clava, those heels look very long to me (and in one photo the right looks longer than the left, but that may be a trick of the camera) ?

Yesterday.

She has previously had very underrun heels, but they have come back under her a lot in the last year. I think the heel might have grown long to protect a weak frog area (but I'm guessing).

 

[cptrayes]

Yesterday.

She has previously had very underrun heels, but they have come back under her a lot in the last year. I think the heel might have grown long to protect a weak frog area (but I'm guessing).

Mmmm. If my horse had a history of underrun heels, I would not be happy with that amount of heel left on the foot before the shoe even goes on and with the outside of both feet appearing to have a higher heel than the inside. Of course it's possible that he felt he could not go lower without invading live tissue, but if your horse was mine I'd be wanting the farrier to explain why the shoe is not a lot closer to the level of the frog.

People who are reading this thread do please be aware that although we have a number of farriers contributing it is completely unethical for them to out and out criticise another farrier's work, so don't take lack of comment as indicating approval, it may not.

 

[be positive]

This has been an interesting thread and one thing that stands out to me is how many horses are wearing shoes that seem to me to be short at the heels and often uneven with one side shorter than the other. I have no photos to add as the only shod horses on my yard are liveries, they use 2 different farriers but both fit long at the heel to just against the frog and both sides fit evenly.
I feel that some farriers are trying to prevent shoes being pulled off, especially in the winter in muddy fields, ours do lose the odd shoe but I prefer that to having unbalanced feet or contracted heels.

 

[cptrayes]

This has been an interesting thread and one thing that stands out to me is how many horses are wearing shoes that seem to me to be short at the heels and often uneven with one side shorter than the other. I have no photos to add as the only shod horses on my yard are liveries, they use 2 different farriers but both fit long at the heel to just against the frog and both sides fit evenly.
I feel that some farriers are trying to prevent shoes being pulled off, especially in the winter in muddy fields, ours do lose the odd shoe but I prefer that to having unbalanced feet or contracted heels.

I completely agree, it's been quite surprising the number like it. The last photo posted is a good example, one branch much shorter than the other.

 

[Clava]

Mmmm. If my horse had a history of underrun heels, I would not be happy with that amount of heel left on the foot before the shoe even goes on and with the outside of both feet appearing to have a higher heel than the inside. Of course it's possible that he felt he could not go lower without invading live tissue, but if your horse was mine I'd be wanting the farrier to explain why the shoe is not a lot closer to the level of the frog.

People who are reading this thread do please be aware that although we have a number of farriers contributing it is completely unethical for them to out and out criticise another farrier's work, so don't take lack of comment as indicating approval, it may not.

He was concerned that the toe was very short, I did ask about the frog being in contact with the ground and he said that wouldn't be possibly...I think I'll take the shoes off again after 6 weeks as generally she copes fine but Spring is tricky.

 

[Oberon]

Naughty pics but couldn't resist....

From a US trimmer's album....

 

[cptrayes]

He was concerned that the toe was very short, I did ask about the frog being in contact with the ground and he said that wouldn't be possibly...I think I'll take the shoes off again after 6 weeks as generally she copes fine but Spring is tricky.

I'm puzzled how he thought leaving the heels too long would balance a short toe , and you probably are too I guess .

 

[Clava]

I'm puzzled how he thought leaving the heels too long would balance a short toe , and you probably are too I guess .

No idea, we didn't talk specifically about the heel height, I will ask next time, it seems more logical to reduce the heels if he feels the toe is short Well, I will maintain her hi fibre diet and carry on treating for thrush and see how they go when they come off again as well as discussing the heel height.

 

[A Guilding]

I completely agree, it's been quite surprising the number like it. The last photo posted is a good example, one branch much shorter than the other.

I think pic 5 and 10 are the same photo, it took me a while to work out why it didnt look right. Heel height is ok, falls into the not causing a problem we call it the80/20, some times when I see the shoe uneven at the back it could of maybe done with a bigger shoe.

 

[A Guilding]

Naughty pics but couldn't resist....

From a US trimmer's album....

How are these relevent to the thread?

 

[Clava]

I think pic 5 and 10 are the same photo, it took me a while to work out why it didnt look right. Heel height is ok, falls into the not causing a problem we call it the80/20, some times when I see the shoe uneven at the back it could of maybe done with a bigger shoe.

Yes, sorry, I just noticed too, but couldn't edit it. Will find the correct photo.

here...right

left

 

[Oberon]

How are these relevent to the thread?

OOps - sorry. I forgot that I have to ask your permission before posting on a thread

 

[A Guilding]

OOps - sorry. I forgot that I have to ask your permission before posting on a thread

Post away just interested if this was what you considered good work, was it well shod well trimmed poorly looked after, is this what happens when you shoe horses? Im sure I could trawl the net and find equally poor management of feet that have never been shod, so what was your point?

 

[Oberon]

Post away just interested if this was what you considered good work, was it well shod well trimmed poorly looked after, is this what happens when you shoe horses? Im sure I could trawl the net and find equally poor management of feet that have never been shod, so what was your point?

My point was that it was an amazing pic that made me gasp. Not any other comment than that.
I'm not comfortable to pass comment on people's work. So I won't.

In the previous 2 years I used to be able to post whatever I wanted, on whatever thread I wanted.

Wonder when that changed?

Did I miss a memo?

 

[A Guilding]

My point was that it was an amazing pic that made me gasp. Not any other comment than that.
I'm not comfortable to pass comment on people's work. So I won't.

In the previous 2 years I used to be able to post whatever I wanted, on whatever thread I wanted.

Wonder when that changed?

Did I miss a memo?

Well the outcome was good the poor horse was made more comfortable.

 

[cptrayes]

My point was that it was an amazing pic that made me gasp. Not any other comment than that.
I'm not comfortable to pass comment on people's work. So I won't.

In the previous 2 years I used to be able to post whatever I wanted, on whatever thread I wanted.

Wonder when that changed?

Did I miss a memo?

Play nice now Oberon You called them "naughty pics" when you posted them, you knew they didn't belong on a "good shoeing" thread.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

I have read these posts from page one right through and there was a picture of a hoof that the coronary band curved downwards at the heels and the event lines curved down too. I can't find the replies t this picture or the comments on the curved coronary band and event lines at the heels or rear quarters of the hoof.

My horse has these curves as well as heels that are getting more and more contracted as the months go by with no solutions. I have to keep asking for his heels to be trimmed level as in balanced medially and laterally as sometime ne heel is left higher than the other. I have to request this at every shoeing. Is there a reason for leaving one heels higher than the other? Is there something else that a farrier looks at to balance up or should the heels be equal whatever else is going on it the hoof?

What are the solutions for a contracted heel? Can it be resolved when wearing shoes? My farrier gives plenty of support in the heel with the length of the shoe and has corrected a too long toe that was causing stubbing anf tripping but now have contracted heels and this curve sorting.

He did start leaving a wider shoe at the quarters and filed it in so angled towards the hof wall to help prevent the other foot catching but as his feet grew they grew down and over the filed shoe and the hoof wall was breaking up so now back to the shoe aligned with the hoof.

Sorry for all the questions! Just very interested in a cure.

 

[A Guilding]

Can you take pics of it.

 

[ester]

Frank got again shod the end of last week, so I thought I would add some update pics to this thread. Third time in bar shoes (12 weeks from first applications), diagnosis essentially djd/arthritis in coffin joint. I seemed to be a bit rubbish at getting the angles right for photos atm, all are of the LF, lame foot which def started off with worse angles/heels than the RF. Working on getting the heels better and easing the breakover.

so this was a before pic (no shoe)

after.

He isn't quite right still though (have vids if anyone particularly wants to see how he moves!) so going to have another chat with vet.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Will take pictures of the curve. It seems to be worse on one foot that has a crack down. The crack has always been there as it seems the coronary band has an old injury. The crack is a hairline crack that does not go internally.

I will put pictures up then you'll be able to see better.

Don't want a pulic slating of my farrier though as its not his work its a build up of years of previous farriers that have ended up with his feet like this. Current farrier has sorted the long toes that were causing tripping and now need to sort the other problems or they may not even be problems when you have cast your eyes over them!

 

[Casey76]

I'll be brave This is week 5 of a six week cycle, so Pinto is due to be reshod next week. Also to note, the shoes (I only had time to take photos of one foot) were removes at the last shoeing

Pinto was reshod last August after being barefoot (farrier trim) for over 5 years at the vets recommendation after diagnosis of a spavin. I hope to be able to take shoes off again this August after re-xraying to verify the joint has fused.

This is the left fore:

I'm not saying this is an example of good farrier-ship, but my farrier is the best in the area.

 

[A Guilding]

Casey I used to spend my summers in Saverne when I was a boy is that near you?

 

[Casey76]

Afraid not A Guilding. Saverne is right at the top of Alsace (or just about), I'm right at the bottom, on top of the Swiss border

 

[A Guilding]

Afraid not A Guilding. Saverne is right at the top of Alsace (or just about), I'm right at the bottom, on top of the Swiss border

Twas a beutiful area Your horses shoeing looks okay to return to topic.

 

[cptrayes]

I'll be brave This is week 5 of a six week cycle, so Pinto is due to be reshod next week. Also to note, the shoes (I only had time to take photos of one foot) were removes at the last shoeing

Pinto was reshod last August after being barefoot (farrier trim) for over 5 years at the vets recommendation after diagnosis of a spavin. I hope to be able to take shoes off again this August after re-xraying to verify the joint has fused.

This is the left fore:

I'm not saying this is an example of good farrier-ship, but my farrier is the best in the area.

I think this is good shoeing but I am puzzled why your vet thought you should shoe for spavin. I have a barefoot horse currently with massive bone formation (think half an egg stuck to the inside of his hock). He has been lame one day in the four years that he's had them. Another horse I had with spavin worked through on a minimal amount of bute (1 a day for a 700 kilo horse). Both are able to build their feet to compensate for the hock issues depending on how much they affect them at the time. The imbalance that they create fro themselves is much more obvious in cold wet weather

I predict that you'll be able to take him out of shoes without a problem when your vet "allows"