Feet Pics - update to previous thread 'Why would one hoof grow faster?'

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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A few weeks ago I posted about my mare who seemed to be growing one hoof faster than the rest, and I was advised to add some pics. These pics are just three weeks after she was trimmed by the farrier (28th June) and hopefully will add a bit of clarity.

I apologise for the picking out not being as great as normal due to my huge baby bump and she does seem to have a bit of thrush which I need to deal with asap. Plus she is currently sharing a field with a cow and a calf so it's a bit more splatty than normal.

Near fore (the one that appears to grow differently) - farrier said bruising is probably from a previous laminitis episode linked to a bout of colic at Christmas:

http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0697.jpg.html][/URL]

Off Fore, with Near Fore for comparison:

http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0696.jpg.html][/URL]

Off fore with near fore behind for comparison:
http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0698.jpg.html][/URL]

http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0699.jpg.html][/URL]

Near fore, showing bruising growing out from suspected laminitis episode following colic at Christmas 2012:

http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0702.jpg.html][/URL]

Off fore:
http://[URL=http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/snorman1/media/IMG_0704.jpg.html][/URL]


This is the original thread:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=619739


I'd be really interested to hear any advice you can give me.
 
Her feet look far, far too long. Photos can be deceptive, but that's how it looks to me.

Regarding one growing faster than the other, I can think of two possible reasons. -

- she has uneven shoulders or leg length and your farrier keeps trimming her back equal when she needs one longer than the other to be in balance

- she has an injury or infection creating inflammation in the foot and bringing in a bigger blood supply than the other foot.
 
CPTrayes - thank you very much for responding.

That is just three weeks worth of growth. This time it was the farrier's apprentice who trimmed her - he trimmed her even shorter than the usual farrier does which looked better to me, plus added what looked to me like a mustang roll, and the trim was taken level with the sole - the outer layer was completely level with the sole. It shocks me to see how much they grow in such a short space of time, although she is getting minimal roadwork at the minute.

I often feel they are still too long after the normal farrier has been (and have called him back on occasions) but he says he is trimming to match the angle of the pasterns.
 
Her pastern ( and shoulder) angle will change if he trims her feet down close to the sole like you said the other one did. She does not need the farrier to tell her what those angles should be :)

Normally, you would expect no hoof wall height at the toe or heel plane and a very little bit at the quarters. If she grows that quickly it would be better if you could learn how to do ' little and often' yourself than have such drastic changes every six or so weeks.
 
CPTrayes - thanks once again, glad I asked. I have actually bought a rasp in anticipation of trying to do just that - once I can bend down again and have plucked up some courage. She definitely moves better when the toes are shorter, or when she has just been trimmed.

Going back to the comment about the angle affecting her shoulder etc - perhaps that is why the more experienced farrier leaves them a bit longer? I'm only guessing here.

I also wondered about the frogs - they also grow like crazy usually but I thought he'd just trimmed to help reduce thrush - normally they are a bit out of control - but is that what we want here? I'm trying to learn as much as I can.
 
Any tips on learning how to self rasp anyone - is there any thing I can read, or should I just speak to my farrier?

I'm not sure how to approach it with him, I wonder if he would be for or against it - what do others find?
 
Orchardbeck said:
Any tips on learning how to self rasp anyone - is there any thing I can read, or should I just speak to my farrier?

I'm not sure how to approach it with him, I wonder if he would be for or against it - what do others find?
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to see what replies you get on this - I've also noticed that my boy looks like he moves better, and certainly wears his feet better when recently trimmed, especially before he grows out the rolled edge. I got a little hand rasp, but it's only really good for smoothing out the occasional rough edge, not for proper rasping as such, or even keeping edges rolled... Don't know how far I would get asking my farrier for advice, as we have reached an unspoken agreement; silent disapproval of no shoes behind. He doesn't say anything openly against it anymore, but does think that working horses should wear shoes...
 
I do most of my own rasping, farrier is very supportive, in fact he gives me his old rasps to do it with!
Horse mainly self-trims as he does a lot of roadwork, all I do really is roll his toes and tidy any chips. Farrier checks him every so often and usually has nothing to do. Its not difficult, but i do struggle a bit as I have back and shoulder problems, so I have to take lots of rests, luckily I have a very patient horse!
 
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