chestnut thing near Fetlock/feathers should I worry ?

[staceyn]

Fell pony was having his feet picked out and I had a look in his feathers near the back side of the Fetlock, and he had what looked like a chestnut but a bit lighter in colour read it could be a ergot. It doesn't seem to bother him but I have never seen one before and was worried it was circle like and felt quite hard is it normal to get chestnut things there on a feathery horse ? Many thanks

 

[HBrae2]

Hi there, yes they're supposed to have them. I think all horses have them but some are very flat but I can guarantee both my Conn x TB and Fell have them so panic not : )

 

[Kiristamm]

Yes it is normal, don't worry!

 

[staceyn]

Oh good thought I was going to have another vet bill then Haha. I can't believe out of all the horses I have had I have never seen one I suppose I don't normally root around in the feathers that often. Oh I am relieved

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Its their 3rd toe. My fell pony grows them too and I occasionaly have them trimmed down by the farrier. Proper old fashioned ponies are fells Not many horses or ponies grow them anymore - evolution has decided that they are unnecesary.

 

[hayinamanger]

Ergots are common in feathered horses, they grow quite big like a giant cashew nut, mmm. I just twist them off when they get big, doesn't bother the horse.

 

[Merrymoles]

Ergots are very common in feathery horses, as an earlier poster said. We get the farrier to take them off if they get stupidly big but otherwise ignore them.

 

[el_Snowflakes]

It will be an ergot. My horse has them too although she isnt at all feathery. Normal and nothing to worry about

 

[Beausmate]

All horses have them, some are really, really tiny, some are mahoosive. Heavier horses tend to be in the latter group.

 

[Ella19]

Mine grows massive ones! Vasaline and picking/twiddling gets them off!

 

[chickeninabun]

My mare's are currently about 4 inches long (they are her secret devil horns ) but you can barely see them for her feather. The farrier trims them for me.

 

[katherine1975]

Mine grows really big ergots in her feathers, the farrier trims them every now and then.

 

[staceyn]

Aww my unicorn has a extra toe knew he was a bit special. Al have to see if he has them on all four.

 

[RutlandH2O]

Shire ergots can become massive. I've got my farrier snipping them off every 5 weeks.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I read it that the horse has 4 extra toes. The chestnut, the two splint bones and the ergot are all that remains. I'm not sure if its been proved true though, or just a scientific theory.

I lol'd at the unicorn bit, imagining a really long ergot growing on his head.

 

[staceyn]

Haha going to start calling him frank ergot . Going to see him now to check he hasn't escaped from the field again the monkey. Yearlings get up to so much mischief he rolled and got stuck under the post and rail fence too lol. Silly unicorn

 

[POLLDARK]

All horses have ergots, some tiny some huge. Just remove with your rose pruners.

 

[Hedwards]

I read it that the horse has 4 extra toes. The chestnut, the two splint bones and the ergot are all that remains. I'm not sure if its been proved true though, or just a scientific theory.

I lol'd at the unicorn bit, imagining a really long ergot growing on his head.

Its all related to their evoluntionary history, its is understood the modern 'Equus' is evolved from a dog sized creature that had 4 toes called Hyracotherium - more like a small deer than a modern horse really...the ergot chestnut etc. are just a throw back to their ancestors, bit like our appendix being all but useless now through evolution...

Of course this all relies that you believe in evolution... (which i personally do...)