feet some advice needed please

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
the following feet have never worn shoes, they belong to my 6yr old mare. she has had a rough winter with them due to really wet turn out and lack of work-she has only been properly backed this yr. she has had some thrush issues with them and i feel this is under control now. my farrier is very good and happy for her to go barefoot, he listens to my suggestions and we discuss the best way forward, he would like to re-balance her soles, trim the frog and heels-he feels this would help with the flare she gets as he feels that an overgrowth of the bars (due to not landing heel first as she had thrush) has led to the bars becoming too long (especially on one side) and pushing the foot to flare more than is usual for her-thoughts on this please

also some advice on trimming her frogs-do we or dont we, my gut feeling is trim the raggedy frogs to remove pockets and help the frog grow healthy and re-generate without small pockets of thrush, that alongside reducing the bars should (to my mind anyway) promote good healthy frog growth, i realise i may have to go back to hoof boots for a while whilst everything recovers.

she is doing at least 5hrs road work weekly (up to 10hrs some weeks) is sound on all surfaces unless a stone goes into a creavice in the frog (i think there is still some thrush at the mo)

so ideas please lots of pics below

right fore
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833157151749&l=d236be9cc4
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833158231776&l=a364923dfc
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833159431806&l=8433bc9c83

right hind
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833160511833&l=179eb37d65
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833160511833&l=179eb37d65
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833162671887&l=1f6526f515

left fore
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833164431931&l=9fe3127aa4
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833165711963&l=20bcbb658a
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833167792015&l=3c62afdf94

left hind-lovely frog
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833169472057&l=68ac0e817d
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833170632086&l=5cd46c3e28
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4833172632136&l=0d04fe5a52
 

Wagtail

Horse servant
Joined
2 December 2010
Messages
14,816
Location
Lincs
Visit site
5554_4833169472057_438049015_n.jpg
 

Wagtail

Horse servant
Joined
2 December 2010
Messages
14,816
Location
Lincs
Visit site
Okay right click on the image then click properties and copy and paste the url here. Prefix with [im g] and end with [/im g] without the space between m and g.

like this [im g]https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/5554_4833169472057_438049015_n.jpg[/im g]

I have to put the space in so you can see the code.

Lovely hooves by the way!
 
Last edited:

Wagtail

Horse servant
Joined
2 December 2010
Messages
14,816
Location
Lincs
Visit site
ok i right click i find properties but then cant find a url help please

You find your picture by clicking on the urls you have posted then move your curser onto the picture and right click. Then click on properties and a new box should open. It should list a number of things, about halfwat down it says "ADDRESS (url)". Highlight that address ctrl C then ctrl V to paste it here. Then just put in the img and /img either side in square brackets. You will need to have two pages open and it's a bit fiddly!
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
ok if i open the pictures through my above post and then right click properties is not a option

if i get the pictures up via the sd card they are currently on then right click properties then there is no address given

any ideas?

i am computer illiterate-thanx for your help Wagtail
 

intouch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 February 2006
Messages
534
Visit site
Have you thought of having a qualified trimmer? I wouldn't be happy with those feet if it was my horse.
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
Have you thought of having a qualified trimmer? I wouldn't be happy with those feet if it was my horse.

she is over due a trim and i put these up to see what people feel the best things to do with various bits

why would you not be happy with them?
 

intouch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 February 2006
Messages
534
Visit site
Ah, that's ok then. Def tidy up the frogs to help get rid of infection, have you tried Red Horse hoof spray, can't think of name but great for infection. A wee bt off the bars just to Level them, and lose the flare, it looks like it's causing some WLD? What's happened to the one that has the episode line just below the coronet?
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
Ah, that's ok then. Def tidy up the frogs to help get rid of infection, have you tried Red Horse hoof spray, can't think of name but great for infection. A wee bt off the bars just to Level them, and lose the flare, it looks like it's causing some WLD? What's happened to the one that has the episode line just below the coronet?

so you reckon the same as my farrier thats good-i have no idea what has caused the episode line, obviously its not diet or environment, i have no idea what things could cause that on just one hoof
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
thank you Wagtail :)

must spend some time with someone who knows to get my head round posting on here.
i have done it before but can't remember how :eek:
 

ester

Not slacking multitasking
Joined
31 December 2008
Messages
60,198
Location
Cambridge
Visit site
It's not 100% clear with the bedding but the WL looks stretched to me in both front feet so you may want to look diet wise to see if there can be any improvements?

Front feet both look quite tall/boxy to me, are the frogs on the floor when stood? I have had some issues with my boys front frogs but some judicious thrush treatment even thought it isn't obvious does seem to have helped. We don't trip raggedy bits but I do pull them off when they are ready to come. IME the frogs need to do a bit of work to improve but I wonder if the fronts can't (compared to the better looking hinds) because the walls are tall? Be interesting to know what cause that event line a while back too :).

Do both the hind and front Right foot have the same flare?

Am sure someone more knowledgeable will come along but they were just my thoughts, I'd be interested in whether anyone agrees or not! :D
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
It's not 100% clear with the bedding but the WL looks stretched to me in both front feet so you may want to look diet wise to see if there can be any improvements?

Front feet both look quite tall/boxy to me, are the frogs on the floor when stood? I have had some issues with my boys front frogs but some judicious thrush treatment even thought it isn't obvious does seem to have helped. We don't trip raggedy bits but I do pull them off when they are ready to come. IME the frogs need to do a bit of work to improve but I wonder if the fronts can't (compared to the better looking hinds) because the walls are tall? Be interesting to know what cause that event line a while back too :).

Do both the hind and front Right foot have the same flare?

Am sure someone more knowledgeable will come along but they were just my thoughts, I'd be interested in whether anyone agrees or not! :D

yes that fair comment on the front frogs , the heels are longer due to the thrush meaning she was not using her heels and tip toeing along so allowing the heels to grow longer than was ideal-after working her the last few days wear is starting to use them more, they do need shortening up a bit to allow the frogs contact with the ground.
all her feet flare slightly on the inside-always have done.

any ideas on what sort of things can cause just one hoof to have an event line like that?
 

TwoStroke

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2011
Messages
1,577
Visit site
She looks a little high-low to me:- one front hoof is more upright and boxier than the other. The boxy foot (left fore) looks to have the stronger caudal hoof. High-low is often caused by a body issue - does she see a body worker regularly? If not it may be worth getting her checked over.

Other than that, I'd say there's a bit of flare, but if you look at the event line that ester mentioned, the flare is only below it. This suggests that whatever caused the event line may have also resulted in improved hoof wall connection (so it's a good thing).

I would say all they really need, once the thrush is taken care of, is more work. If she's footy, take a look at the diet, as ester said.
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
She looks a little high-low to me:- one front hoof is more upright and boxier than the other. The boxy foot (left fore) looks to have the stronger caudal hoof. High-low is often caused by a body issue - does she see a body worker regularly? If not it may be worth getting her checked over.

Other than that, I'd say there's a bit of flare, but if you look at the event line that ester mentioned, the flare is only below it. This suggests that whatever caused the event line may have also resulted in improved hoof wall connection (so it's a good thing).

I would say all they really need, once the thrush is taken care of, is more work. If she's footy, take a look at the diet, as ester said.

the flare has only ever been present at the lower part of the hoof wall-i think it is how she wears her feet rather than how they grow that causes it-is that possible?

she is due to have a full check over and then have a saddle fitter out with the intention of a replacement saddle.

her poor frogs really had taken a hammering this winter-never had thrush or mud fever in any of mine before and she had both- i think it was possibly partly down to the stress of a change of yard/diet/grazing/being backed as well as shocking weather and fields like mud pits
 

TwoStroke

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2011
Messages
1,577
Visit site
the flare has only ever been present at the lower part of the hoof wall-i think it is how she wears her feet rather than how they grow that causes it-is that possible?

she is due to have a full check over and then have a saddle fitter out with the intention of a replacement saddle.

her poor frogs really had taken a hammering this winter-never had thrush or mud fever in any of mine before and she had both- i think it was possibly partly down to the stress of a change of yard/diet/grazing/being backed as well as shocking weather and fields like mud pits

What's her diet like? I would always first rule out any possible dietary causes for flare (grass, sugar/starch in the hard feed, mineral balance).

If these things are ok, or if the horse is sound and rock crunching, then personally I wouldn't touch the flare. It is possible its a reaction to the way the horse is moving and loading her feet. Removing it in such a case will often cause problems for the horse.
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
What's her diet like? I would always first rule out any possible dietary causes for flare (grass, sugar/starch in the hard feed, mineral balance).

If these things are ok, or if the horse is sound and rock crunching, then personally I wouldn't touch the flare. It is possible its a reaction to the way the horse is moving and loading her feet. Removing it in such a case will often cause problems for the horse.

i have had her 4yrs (since she was 2) but have known her from a foal and the flare has been there since she was very young, say 6 months, she has been fed pro hoof, micronised linseed, a tablespoon of salt and molasses free hi fi (small handful just enough to get supplements in) once a day for the last 5 months ish before that when not in work no bucket feed or supplements poor quality grass and good quality hay.

she only has the flare when her feet need trimming though and after a trim it comes off with the length not by rasping away if that makes sense?

its only the last 3 moths she has been regularly worked more than a couple of times a week so after this trim we will see how self trimming goes- there have been times that she has not needed trimming for 6months before and the flare has been very slight
 

abitodd

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 August 2011
Messages
731
Location
Exmoor
www.musicfordressage.net
I would be interested to know where you are. I have seen feet very much like this(not talking flare or event lines,more the quality of the tubules) and I am sure it is down to mineral balance in the forage. I would be looking at a mineral analysis of the grass/hay for this horse(and others in the area) It is not cheap,but I think a generic mineral supplement may be missing the mark in this case. http://forageplus.co.uk/product-category/mineral-analysis/
 

TwoStroke

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2011
Messages
1,577
Visit site
Interesting that the flare usually seems to go with a trim. The flare I can see looks like it starts too high up for that. In fact the tighter growth looks like it started around 5 months ago-ish, so it could well be the pro hoof.

Self trimming is ideal, if you can manage it :).
 

Jools2345

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2013
Messages
800
Visit site
maybe it is just less obvious so i dont see it, would be nice if we can manage self trimming-i used to rasp the kids first pony and the farrier would check her every time he came to do others, but her grew and wore straight and true so it was just a rasp to take of any sharp bits really-if they got long we used to go for a long road hack, currently this one needs a little more attention
 
Top