Frog Help-Looking "tatty"!

[chickeninabun]

My new ponies frog, mainly on one front hoof, looks quite "tatty". Not sure that's the right word to use but it seems to have bits hanging off it and looks slightly shredded/sliced in places! It is on the widest part of the frog, nearest the bulb and she is unshod at the moment, but don't think she has been without shoes for long. Any ideas? Is it fairly normal and will the farrier, booked for next week, just trim it all off and tidy it up? BTW It's not sore, smelly, etc, just dangly!

 

[Blizzard]

sounds like it just needs trimming.

 

[muddy_grey]

The farrier should be able to just tidy them up. As long as they aren't smelly, black or sore it should be fine.

 

[Shilasdair]

The frog is just made of modified skin...so as new layers grow...the old one sheds.
Normally your farrier will trim it so that it doesn't get a chance to get 'tatty'.
S

 

[happihorse]

Our little companion pony's feet get like this sometimes as he doesn't need them trimming very often! I'm sure the farrier will tidy them up in no time!

 

[YorkshireLass]

It is normal for the entire frog to replace itself about 2 x a year. It can look quite alarming when it sheds! I had one come off my horse in one piece. I put it to one side to show my mates, but something came along and ate it!

Some farriers trim frogs, some don't. If the horse is un shod, or it has sensetive feet, the more frog it has the better, even if it looks shredded. It means there is more between the sensetive parts and the ground. It is like thick skin on human feet. People with thick skin can walk over rough ground barefoot without feeling it. So in a way, the extra bits are a good thing.

As has been said, so long as it is not smelly, all is well. Smellyness indicates thrush which is common in the winter due to wet ground.

To make sure your horse doesn't suffer from thrush, pick out its feet as often as possible. Use a wire brush to clean the sole and frog, you can realy scrub with it and it won't hurt them.

 

[chickeninabun]

Thanks everyone. I'm just being a worrying mummy, as usual. Although when asked this morning by my MIL if my daughter should go to the doctors because she has a cough/cold, I said "Noooo, she'll be fine! It's just a cold." Maybe I'll get less of a worry-giblet with ponio as time goes on!!