Flat feet

[Persephone]

I am looking to buy an ID/TB 2 y/o at the moment. Long story but she has been vetted in advance and will be picking her up this week all being well.

Vet liked her and said the only thing is she has flat feet, but that it wouldn't put her (vet) off buying her.

Has anyone had any real problems with flat feet? Apparently it's the draft side coming out!

 

[amandap]

Hopefully the knowledgeable peeps will reply but I think it depends what is meant by flat feet in the individual case. I believe some horses naturally have a flatter shaped hoof externally. Is the hoof growing forward, long toes and under run heels? Is the sole flat etc. etc?

The more I'm learning the more hoof problems seem to come back to diet.I have a TB that has had very flat feet which change shape dramatically when I tighten her diet mainly reduce sugar/carb intake and now I'm looking at mineral balance to improve her problems more. No idea if the horse you are talking about has problems btw. Good luck with her.

 

[Persephone]

I don't think I'll really know until I get there unfortunately.

I guess I should be encouraged by what the vet has said, but well...

You know!

 

[soulfull]

my WB has slightly flat feet. doesn't bother him other than needs shoes to hack

 

[Pilib]

I have a TB with very, very flat feet! The sole is totally flat and the only depth is given by the shoe. They are also not a pair with one being more upright than the other. He also has very poor horn quality. His heels are quite collapsed too. I have a very good farier who does the best he can with them!! I've tried every suppliment, feed, additive out there and nothing has made any difference!
The main issues I find is hard or stoney ground he feels his feet and this can cause bruises to the sole. If this occurs, usually towards the end of the summer the farrier puts gel pads on to protect the sole.
Hope that helps.
P x

 

[pip6]

Given that she is 2, you & the vet would have watched her move unshod? If she is fine unshod, there shouldn't be a problem once she has shoes on.

 

[CBFan]

I think it is hard to say without seeing them but I do know that many problems can be corrected opartially, if not fully while the horse is still growing. My boy had poor feet when I got him at 16 months old but now age 3.5 they are much better and still improving.

I would seriously look at diet and make sure you have a good farrier / trimmer and keep on top of them with regular tidy up trims...

 

[skychick]

My tb has got flat feet, she is 17yrs old now and never had too much of a problem. As long as you have a good farrier who takes time over shaping the feet, and be aware that they will be footy over stony ground (some more wimpy than others). I did have a stone bruise about a month ago....although that was more due to her hooning around the field like a loony and having no self preservation over rocks! So if the vet thinks she is fine unshod i wouldnt worry too much.

 

[Persephone]

Lol, I do like to worry :

I double checked with the vet again earlier and she said not to worry (again!)

 

[Flame_]

I've had two fairly flat footed IDXs, both had caudal heel pain even with regular shoeing. Personally, I wouldn't have another one without very good foot conformation.

 

[Samantha008]

I have two horses, one has fantastic feet, shes barefoot as her feet are just bloody brilliant, and my boy has very flat feel, in fact his heels have collapsed and now hes lame as a dog.

From experience, my horse with flat feet has been a lot of trouble and is never going to be as good as a horse would be if they had good feet.

My mare has brilliant feet, but cant be ridden due to neurological problems.

So what im basically saying, is that flat feet arent the worse thing in the world, better this than my poor mares neuro problems. But be prepared for it to cost you a bit of mooney and he probably will suffer because of it at some point in his future. But- there are much much worse things out there and if you buy a horse that is perfectly healthy, with good conformation, health etc and flat feet...you havent gone far wrong.

But if i was to buy a horse again, id make sure they had very good feet. It just makes it easier.

Is this your first horse?

 

[JessandCharlie]

Len has flat feet, and we are trying a few dietry changes to see if it helps but it's never caused a problem at all! He is shod all round, but we hack on literally all surfaces (Some very rocky, uneven ground amongst others) and he's fine Hope this helps!

J&C

 

[Persephone]

Hi, no not my first horse. Why do you ask?

 

[Persephone]

I think I am going to ask for a few more pictures as it's a hell of a journey to mak otherwise.

 

[CBFan]

I think I am going to ask for a few more pictures as it's a hell of a journey to mak otherwise.

yep, get some piccies on here pronto. but please do bare in mind that as a youngster she will grow and change in all ways. My boys feet are HUGE compared to what they were when he arrived.

Comparing a 17 year old with flat feet to a meere baby isn't a very fair comparison. by getting at those feet early you are hopefully going to be able to correct any issues before they arise. ESPECIALLY with a decent farrier on board. My friend had a TB with VERY odd feet. one front foot was very flat and the other very boxy and upright. with carefull trimming after a year, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. he was 5 when she got him and is now out doing very well.

 

[whiteclover]

I had a horse with very flat feet. He was constantly lame. He had to have egg bar shoes with gel inserts which cost me a lot of money. I wouldnt get another horse with flat feet.

 

[Haniki]

Could you get your farrier to look at pictures of the feet before you get the horse? I have a TB horse with flat feet, it has caused quite a lot of problems and I didn't breed from her because of it. Out of choice I wouldn't get another with flat feet.