Follow on thread: post good un-shod/barefoot pics please

[CobSunshine]

Never wore shoes, farrier says very strong and hard. Due his 8 week trim next week.

He does have some stretch marks on his front hooves from when he was 250 kilo overweight when the previous owner bought him.

Down to a svelte 430 kilo now.

Oberon i'd be interested in your thoughts too on my Ponys never shod feet.

 

[abitodd]

For anyone interested in barefoot horses,there is now a fab facebook page.
My farrier is posting daily pictures and there's lots info on courses(e.g.dissection day for all)
Well worth a visit.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...2250686&type=1#!/pages/UKNHCP/326130354104148

 

[Oberon]

Oberon i'd be interested in your thoughts too on my Ponys never shod feet.

Obviously you are doing well, slimming him down. His hooves look strong, with robust heels.

It's difficult to see the angle of growth due to his hair but his WL is stretched and his soles are pancake flat - which is shouting diet to me.

He's dragging his toes - any problem further up? Saddle fit ok?

Also - is the first pic's stance looks like he's standing strangely? Is it just the pic?

 

[CobSunshine]

Obviously you are doing well, slimming him down. His hooves look strong, with robust heels.

It's difficult to see the angle of growth due to his hair but his WL is stretched and his soles are pancake flat - which is shouting diet to me.

He's dragging his toes - any problem further up? Saddle fit ok?

Also - is the first pic's stance looks like he's standing strangely? Is it just the pic?

Saddle and tack all ok, he's always very surefooted, old owner did mention stretch marks on front hooves from when he was over 700 kilo!! and put a lot of weight on his front feet. Pic taken from rather top down angle, heres some pics of him in motion if this helps show how he lands his feet?


*click to enlarge*

 

[Oberon]

He's lovely

The stance was the pic angle then.

I'm just wondering why he's dragging his toes?

I noticed my Arab's white line tightened up after two week's of feeding balanced minerals.

It may be he needs his diet looking at again if you develop any problems

 

[CobSunshine]

all he has is 247 graze out and happy hoof. don't want to continue with 2 kilo of happy hoof when spring grass comes through so thinking top spec for his vitamins?

 

[CobSunshine]

Front hooves after a trim today

 

[forestfantasy]

Hi,

Thought i would update you all on Fantas feet.
The small boxy foot is becoming less pointy & 'pidgeon toed' in these last few weeks I think at last both sides of the foot are matching in their growth rates.
She is also amazingly sure footed now and hardly ever has an 'ouchy' stone moment now
I rode on saturday and found a new pace! Yes, this sounds silly but everyone told me she would start to move differently as her feet change - i was sceptical myself.
Soooo... Saturday we did our usual 'round the block' ride, which incorperates a nice hill for a good trot, we set off, horsey was a bit lazy due to the warmth so i squeezed on for a little more pace and instead got an amazing extended trot!
I have owned this horse since a foal & backed her myself and can honestly say i have never experienced her move like she did on Saturday.
Sooo pleased with her & can't wait to see the difference when she has a total new foot
Will post pics again this week when i get a chance

 

[Oberon]

all he has is 247 graze out and happy hoof. don't want to continue with 2 kilo of happy hoof when spring grass comes through so thinking top spec for his vitamins?

There is plenty of dietary advice on here
http://phoenixhorse.myfastforum.org/forum8.php&sid=a3ffe2c57f0d90439a17408ffab7e9db

Top Spec sounds very nice (as does Happy Hoof) but the mineral balance is the key. Some owners of BF horses have struggled with Top Spec feeds and balancers. And as he is already shouting at me with his hooves, "Diet, diet, diet", I would look carefully at you choose.

 

[CobSunshine]

There is plenty of dietary advice on here
http://phoenixhorse.myfastforum.org/forum8.php&sid=a3ffe2c57f0d90439a17408ffab7e9db

Top Spec sounds very nice (as does Happy Hoof) but the mineral balance is the key. Some owners of BF horses have struggled with Top Spec feeds and balancers. And as he is already shouting at me with his hooves, "Diet, diet, diet", I would look carefully at you choose.

Thanks Oberon,
When you say "Diet" do you mean in terms of weight loss or in terms of getting the macro nutrient % right?

Is that going as in depth as having grass field analysis done to know 100% what he gets from grazing, then making up the difference with supplements.

Or is it finding a better food than top spec?

Great link too thanks!

 

[PogoPumpkinBecky]

I have a 3 year old who I am going to keep bare foot as he has very good feet. He has always been trimmed by our farrier and will start being ridden next month. Can a farrier trim a hoof for a horse to go fine without shoes, or do you need a barefoot trimmer? Really don't want to change as our farrier is brilliant.

 

[LucyPriory]

I have a 3 year old who I am going to keep bare foot as he has very good feet. He has always been trimmed by our farrier and will start being ridden next month. Can a farrier trim a hoof for a horse to go fine without shoes, or do you need a barefoot trimmer? Really don't want to change as our farrier is brilliant.

Ridden at 3? I know it's very common practice, still doesn't make me think it's the best idea on the planet.

 

[cptrayes]

Ridden at 3? I know it's very common practice, still doesn't make me think it's the best idea on the planet.

I've always ridden my youngsters at three. I don't school circles or lunge or put them on a horsewalker, but I do hack them out. I think most people do break them at three and some turn away and some don't. I never did, but everyone I know backs and rides for at least a while at three.

 

[cptrayes]

Just to add, the two horses that I have had with spavin were both broken at four, one by me and one in Holland. None of the horses I have broken at three have ever had any soundness issues. A small sample, I know, but enough for me

 

[Oberon]

Thanks Oberon,
When you say "Diet" do you mean in terms of weight loss or in terms of getting the macro nutrient % right?

Is that going as in depth as having grass field analysis done to know 100% what he gets from grazing, then making up the difference with supplements.

Or is it finding a better food than top spec?

Great link too thanks!

I'm meaning his hooves are telling me (from the pics) that there is something not 100% WITH his diet. Usual suspect is mineral balance.

 

[CobSunshine]

I'm meaning his hooves are telling me (from the pics) that there is something not 100% WITH his diet. Usual suspect is mineral balance.

I weighed his happy hoof on some pin point accurate kitchen scales last weekend, and he's not been having enough kilo per day to give him all the nutrients. So hopefully with him having the 430 grams of Top Spec Balancer for his 430 kilo weight i'll see some benefits.

 

[cptrayes]

I have a friend whose horses went itchy on TopSpec, CS, and anecdotally there are a lot of barefoot horses that don't do well on it either.

 

[AFlapjack]

Would love some opinions of my boy, he has just had his shoes off

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=522585

 

[abitodd]

I have a 3 year old who I am going to keep bare foot as he has very good feet. He has always been trimmed by our farrier and will start being ridden next month. Can a farrier trim a hoof for a horse to go fine without shoes, or do you need a barefoot trimmer? Really don't want to change as our farrier is brilliant.

Farriers are more than able to trim hooves. Many are now taking natural feet seriously. The advantages of staying with your farrier are that some insurance companies get iffy about claims from the knee/hock down if the horse is not regularly attended by a person with a recognised qualification. (Sadly the powers that be have yet to recognise any bodies other than WCF)
And even if your farrier has yet to have much experience of working barefoot horses,at least the experience he/she has gathered in the 4 year apprenticeship stands you and your developing horse in good stead.

I would advise you to trawl the internet for all the advice and experience the 'barefoot taliban' have gathered. The foot trimming is only a small piece of the jigsaw!

Good luck and have fun with your youngster.

 

[forestfantasy]

I thought i'd update you all on Fantas feet, farrier has been today and she only needed a bit of a file and a little off her heel on the boxy foot.
She's going very well at the moment, not footy at all on all surfaces & moving like i've never felt her before.
The feet are still a little strange looking but she is sound so i'm just trying to come to terms with her weird feet at the moment!
I've started feeding Mag-Ox with the spring grass coming through so hoping that will help.
Any opinions/comments welcomed

Before trim:
NF

Before trim:
OF

After a quick file!
NF

OF

They still look very bizarre to me!

 

[forestfantasy]

Bump!

 

[Oberon]

How is she landing? Toe-first or heel-first?

Is she sound?

Is she working?

 

[forestfantasy]

How is she landing? Toe-first or heel-first?

Is she sound?

Is she working?

Heel first landing on both, paces are a lot more extended and forward compared to before, we now have extended trot!

She is sound as a pound on all surfaces including stoney tracks.

We hack out 4 days a week for approx. 1hr at a time, mainly roadwork

 

[Oberon]

Then fair enough

Her feet may well 'straighten up' in time but if she is sound....then just don't look at them

Have I mentioned investigating the body to check for a cause of the boxy hooves?

 

[forestfantasy]

Then fair enough

Her feet may well 'straighten up' in time but if she is sound....then just don't look at them

Have I mentioned investigating the body to check for a cause of the boxy hooves?

Yes that has been mentioned to me - although the hoof was never boxy till she took a huge chunk of toe off as a 3yr old in the field on hard ground, the farrier explained that the hoof had gone boxy to protect/compensate the hoof.
It has gradually got better.
She also had a saddle that didn't fit well previously (didn't know this at the time) which meant one shoulder was muscled up and the other had wasted away due to the saddle being tight on that side (the same side as the boxy foot)
She now has a new saddle and the weak shoulder is building back up nicely so i hope this will help the foot.
She is due the back lady in the next month so i make sure it is mentioned.

Thanks again

 

[nikkimariet]

Hi everyone!!

How are all horses/ponies feet doing??

Thought I'd post an update on Fig - whose feet have changed quite a bit

Here are our comparisons, top pics taken beginning of January, bottom pics taken this weekend....

Right fore

Right hind

Left fore

Left hind

I'm pretty chuffed - the soles are showing greater symmetry, he's grown out the bullnosing and his heels have expanded accordingly.

My only niggle is the split that extends about 3mm upwards) on his right fore. This grew out a month ago, but has reappeared along with the crazy weather!!

He's rock crunching sound and working on rubber/sand surface, walk and trot hacks for 30 minutes on tarmac and tracks, and will happily work on grass.

So....what do we think?!

 

[CBFan]

Looking really good! Much improved

 

[AFlapjack]

Figgie's feet look fab

I have kept a photo diary on here of Jack's hooves. Had his shoes off approx 6 months now! Time flies!!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=522585

 

[nikkimariet]

Thanks CBFan I just can't believe the difference in his heels and the texture of the soles!!!

AFJ - you must be chuffed to bits with those feet! Interesting you feed mag ox too; I give it to Fig but mainly as a calmer (very reactive to grass!!), but within a week his hooves were 'tidier' if that makes sense?

 

[cptrayes]

Hi everyone!!

How are all horses/ponies feet doing??

Thought I'd post an update on Fig - whose feet have changed quite a bit



I'm pretty chuffed - the soles are showing greater symmetry, he's grown out the bullnosing and his heels have expanded accordingly.

My only niggle is the split that extends about 3mm upwards) on his right fore. This grew out a month ago, but has reappeared along with the crazy weather!!

He's rock crunching sound and working on rubber/sand surface, walk and trot hacks for 30 minutes on tarmac and tracks, and will happily work on grass.

So....what do we think?!

Nice job Nikki, but surely you know that TB's have naturally weak feet and can't do barefoot? Especially ex racers??