Critique his hooves please

[dixie]

My horse had his shoes taken off a little while ago as he had problems (wobblers) and I was retiring him. After a long rest (winter he was still shod even though no work) he appears much improved so I am bringing him back into work but decided to leave his shoes off as he does seem better balanced without them, and am giving hoofboots a try.
His back feet have had about 12weeks without shoes and he is comfortable on these. His front feet are about 6 weeks in and had a trim yesterday. He is still very footy on these but it could be the trim from yesterday and I see that he's has/had a bruise, so that's not helping. I am hoping this will settle in a few days and I can ride him out a bit more.

Anyhow, I would appreciate advice on whether his feet look ok and any tips etc as I've never had a horse barefoot and in work before.
I must say though that its lovely seeing a hoof without any holes, cracks etc.

This is front right


This is near hind


Front right again


Off hind sole


Apologies if they are huge as I'm having trouble re-sizing in Photobucket

 

[ester]

Well that front is going to get a completely different angle growing down.
They look pretty flat so that will contribute to the footiness for a while.
His heels are under run and the frog/heel bulbs look pretty pinched so I would expect them to start to expand. Even if not smelly I would use a thrush treatment on that central sulcus fairly regularly for the time being.

the hind sole pic isn't coming up but nothing too exciting in the side on is getting a steeper angle too.

 

[dixie]

Thanks very much
It's funny how much easier it's for me to see the angles of the foot in a photo as I can the angle change but didn't spot it in real life.
So nothing drastic going on there though ? They are fairly flat though but am pleased with the improvement in the comfort of his back feet.
Is there anything I can do to help his current footyness or is it just time?
I'm currently putting on Keratex

I can see all 4 photos so not sure what's going on there.

 

[ycbm]

Has something gone on with his left fore? It appears to have a pronounced rough growth ring that isn't present on the other front foot?

I'm not sure I'd be happy with how your trimmer has chopped off his toe on that foot, it looks very drastic and it will have increased pressure on the back of the foot when it may not yet be ready to take it. Did they explain what they were doing and why?

 

[dixie]

This is the left fore closer up and I can see what you mean now


All his feet have some time lines on them in one form or the other. I believe this is due to last year being medicated in his neck and then Cartaphen and then a change in diet where I cut out most of his feed and supplements. It also could be that something else was going on at the time that maybe the vets haven't picked up?

 

[ycbm]

It looks better from this side Trimmer has drastically reduced the toe of the photo is to be believed. If he's less happy after the trim then it's possible that too much was done. But they look like nice seeing feet heading in the right direction. I think you should be pretty happy with them

 

[dixie]

Great thanks. That's good to hear
Trimmer is my traditional farrier so expect that's why he's over enthusiastic over the toes.

 

[ester]

I did wonder if the rasping had been as high as it looked/toe thinned if you can get them to leave them they are going to shorten naturally.

 

[Landcruiser]

I would skip the Keratex. A healthy hoof doesn't need to be impregnated with pretty nasty chemicals, and it doesn't need to be rigid either. I also echo the concern about the over shortened (dubbed) toes. Look how thin the wall is on the right front there. I would recommend you took advice from a good barefoot trimmer, including diet advice.

Well done for having a go at barefoot, I am sure your horse will be feeling the benefit soon

 

[ycbm]

I would skip the Keratex. A healthy hoof doesn't need to be impregnated with pretty nasty chemicals, and it doesn't need to be rigid either. I also echo the concern about the over shortened (dubbed) toes. Look how thin the wall is on the right front there. I would recommend you took advice from a good barefoot trimmer, including diet advice.

Well done for having a go at barefoot, I am sure your horse will be feeling the benefit soon

Ref the Keratex, these feet aren't healthy, the horse is not comfortable and he needs all the help he can get. Thousands of people use Keratex with no problems. The only thing I would say to people who use it is save your money, get a sheep farmer to give you some of their foot dip which is 35% formaldehyde and water it down 1 dip to 3 water and you will have something that does the same job for a few pence instead of twenty quid.