Does anyone compete a flat footed horse?

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leoandbuck

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I am potentially going to breed from a show jumping broodmare with flat feet and just wondering if anyone has any problems competing their horse because of flat feet/soft soles? Does the impact of jumping end up too hard on the horse. Thanks
 
maccachic said:
Flat feet are normally a management issue - and can be repaired with a decent hoofcare professional.

What have her other offspring produced?
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I have only had her a few months and is currently barefoot, she lives out as being in a stables stresses her out and I have plans to breed from her next year, she has bred show jumping foals. She has her hoofs cleaned, disinfected and oiled on a daily basis and today when checking on her she has taken a small chunk off her foot so she was very sore, vet had ruled out leg issues.
 
In the nicest possible way if you need to ask this type of question then you perhaps shouldn't be breeding.

In some cases it seems to be the "norm" just because it has a womb and usually because it needs time off for one thing.

The UK is overrun with horses and there are lots of well bred youngsters from proven mares and stallions already on the ground. Have a read of the BHS "think before you breed" campaign for further info.
 
oh dear, as you don't know the full story I'll just laugh at the condescending comment, I have years and vast of experience breeding and she isn't being put into foal just because she has womb, she is part of a breeding programme and she is new to the team, first time we have came across this type of hoof dysfunction. As you haven't actually given any input into the actual question I suggest you get on with your day.
 
Well we don't know this mare wasn''t well proven in an ridden life. Use a stallion with excellent feet OP and feet are so much a product of their environment anyway I can't see it being a problem.
 
(I'd imagine if you kept up treatment for thrush and started walking her on the road a bit every day you would see some improvements quite quickly.
 
ester said:
(I'd imagine if you kept up treatment for thrush and started walking her on the road a bit every day you would see some improvements quite quickly.
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Thanks Ester, we were recommended the same from the vet, as the offspring will be aiming to compete at a high level I would worry the impact would be too much And would be an on going problem. I have the farrier coming out to try her with shoes and I will move her to a higher field as the one she is in is marshy.
 
You're the user who has posted asking basic hoofcare and conformation questions that imply a lack of knowledge.

Good luck with your breeding endeavour
 
Shoes are the last thing I would be trying.

If it's a management issue, you'll sort it as Ester has suggested. If the horse needs shoes to be a broodmare there's a fundamental hoof issue which means no, I wouldn't breed from her.
 
leoandbuck said:
Thanks Ester, we were recommended the same from the vet, as the offspring will be aiming to compete at a high level I would worry the impact would be too much And would be an on going problem. I have the farrier coming out to try her with shoes and I will move her to a higher field as the one she is in is marshy.
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I am confused, the impact would be too much for what? walking her out?

Or are you considering that offspring will also have flat feet (IMO in the correct environment and a good stallions shouldn't be a problem).
 
Goldenstar said:
Has she has several foals ?
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Yes she has, her overall condition has improved since being with us including her hoofs. She is fed a balancer but may need to add extra biotin to help. Deep bruising has shown itself today, which was picked up by vet today not farrier. Many horses need to have special shoes and pads when jumping, that's what I meant about the impact being to much from her potential offspring. But yes a stallion with good feet will be on the list attributes.
 
leoandbuck said:
... as the one she is in is marshy.
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That could be some of your problem. Always being on soft wet ground won't be helping her feet. Time spent walking her out on tarmac will help. If she isn't sound enough to walk out on hard ground, boot her at first until she is.
 
I'll echo what everyone else has said about feet being a "management" issue. Read the ingredients list on your balancer and try harder. Many horses need padded shoes when jumping is absolute hocus.

I'm curious about this "chunk" that fell off the hoof. Tell us more. Frog? Wall? From where? How much?

Devils advocate - If she's footsore and you can't manage it properly, is it fair to have her impregnated and carrying more weight on already sore feet?
 
I have just recently been reading up on food balancers - worth doing. The thing of relevance was - if you feed a food balancer at correct amounts you are just wasting your money by feeding additional biotin.
 
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