DESPERATE, advice needed re horse wih twisted hooves

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DollyCoblet

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Hi All,
I have a huge problem with my homebred mare, she has always from day one had dead straight leg's hooves and paces. She is a 5 year old and was broken in at the start of the year I rode her barefoot for a while which made her hooves small so I decided to have her shod since doing this she has a noticable foot twist making her legs bend inwards unnaturaly. The farrier has said the reason they do this is because I wore her feet down and the sides need to grow down first, however the shoes look twisted.
Im really concerned this will begin to damage her legs, paces etc, she is bred for dressage so obviously twisted legs are completely unwanted! she also over reaches badly and rubs her hooves when ridden something she never used to do.
Has anyone else ever had a similar problem? Would be really gratefull for any advice or help.

Thank you
 
Could you either have plastic shoes put on or ride in boots(the ones that you use instead of shoes) for awhile and put tendon boots on all fours and also over reach boots with the shoes??? Or have the shoes taken off, see how the balance is in her feet and then have them put on or ask a Remidial Farrier.
 
do you notice she has twisted hooves or someone else?My horse was barefoot and sometimes you could look esp. if just hacking walking caertain parts of hooves can wear away than shod on one side, i wouldnt worry honestly this will go in regular work/schooling and if horse is shod its pretty common
 
Last summer a horse up my yard feet suddenly disintegrated on the inside. Was really strange, never seen anything like it. He wasn't lame, but his feet were at an angle. Farrier had a real job trying to put a shoe on as there was nothing to nail it to. Don't know what caused it except he's not in great condition generally.

He put eggbar shoes on him and he was also put on Biotin to improve the quality of the foot as what was there would just crumble away. Barefoot was discussed but with the condition of his feet he just wouldn't have coped with it. there wasn't much there to start with!

A year later and his feet are back to normal.
 
Were you using a qualfied trimmer? If so - and even if not - I'd look for advise from them, if I were you! Don't like the sound of that farrier!
 
was broken in at the start of the year I rode her barefoot for a while which made her hooves small so I decided to have her shod since doing this she has a noticable foot twist making her legs bend inwards unnaturaly.
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Sounds like you know the cause!

'Small' feet? WTF? I suspect she just lost the excess flare. There is nothing you can do to barefoot feet, other than trim them too short, that will make them detramentally shrink. Thats the most ridicuous 'reason' for shoeing a horse I've heard in a while. And also the most uniformed! :o

Sounds like your farriers's shod her slightly off her natural foot balance and it's ruined her feet and legs. If she was barefoot she would have been able to grown the foot she needs to balance the leg above it - that foot is rarely totaly symetrical as very few horses (like people) are totally symetrical.

But if the farrier has slapped a pair of completely symetrical shoes onto a slightly asymetrical foot (or worses, tried to correct it by taking them the other way) than you'll end up with a horse with uneven load bearing through the joints, or a twisted leg if the horse is still growning (which a 5yr old would be).

Your choices are either to take the shoes off and get a good trimmer to show you how to let her work barefoot (the balance will quickly sort itself out with enough road work) or get foot and leg xrays and a better farrier!
 
I think you need another farrier. In fact, why don't you PM TheFarrier on here? He has tonnes of good advice. I, personally, would never ever use a trimmer above a good farrier; after all, they train for years and years and study the mechanics of the foot and leg. I used to have all my neds unshod (trimmed by a farrier) and they did really well.
 
I would never go for a trimmer either, they have little training against a farrier. Sounds totally odd to me tbh. Iv seen feet totally off balance and the only tell tell sign was the un even wear on the shoes. Shouldn't twist the hoof
 
I have a young mare thats very heavy on her hind legs and before she was being shod she wore the outside of her feet away so much that her feet were also twisted.

Even with shoes on she wears the same part of the shoe away within about 4 weeks, the farrier is trying to improve the balance of her feet but it'll take a long time of corrective shoeing, so far its been about a year and her balance is much improved but still not 100%. I'd keep the shoes on and next time she's shod he'll be able to trim and fit the shoe better to compensate for her balance
 
When barefoot, the diet is absolutely crucial. If done properly, the hooves should wear down at the same rate as they grow. I would suggest changing farriers, and get the shoes off straight away. And totally rest the horse. Also I would get a vet check asap.

I've never heard of barefoot causing "small hooves" either - very odd.
 
A good farrier will sort them, be it barefoot or with shoes, it's correct trimming and time and a good diet to encourage them to grow.

I had very similar problems with a horse I took in April, if I had photos of how her feet were then and how they are now, you wouldn't believe the difference, her's where the other way round so her feet/legs were bowing out, my farrier is really pleased with how they are coming on.

If I can dig out some photos I'll show you them.
 
Thanks for the advice, I have been in horses for many years and for a good part of that I had a fantastic remeidial farrier however he retired leaving me needing a new farrier.
I would never have a hoof trimmer always a farrier, my argument is im no farrier or vet that is why I pay these people lots of good money to correctly treat/shoe etc my horses.
The hooves wore down on one side with being ridden barefoot the farrier trimmed her short making her sore when ridden, he suggested shoeing her, I have simply gone with his advice. I am in the process of getting a new farrier but down here that is like mining for gold and impossible!
I am contemplating have the vet refer her to a remedial farrier, they must know of one.
 
Hi,
Im in cornwall, really need a new one but everyone is fully booked around here or not worth the time.
Shame farriers have to retire!
 
shysmum said:
When barefoot, the diet is absolutely crucial. If done properly, the hooves should wear down at the same rate as they grow. I would suggest changing farriers, and get the shoes off straight away. And totally rest the horse. Also I would get a vet check asap.

I've never heard of barefoot causing "small hooves" either - very odd.
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This would be my advice as well! Before any further damage is done.
 
DollyCoblet said:
Hi,
Im in cornwall, really need a new one but everyone is fully booked around here or not worth the time.
Shame farriers have to retire!
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Contact TheFarrier on here - he is fab, he has been doing a great job with my girls since he came down here - and he also turns up when he says he is going to - which I found that not many other farriers in Cornwall do!
 
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