Front feet - is there anything to worry about?

[MizElz]

After all those wonderfully constructive comments yesterday, I have taken some front-on photos of Ellie's feet to see what you guys think; a couple of people thought she may be a bit pigeon toed, and so I'm not sure whether I need to talk to my farrier or not! She looks ok to me I think, but I am no expert so would appreciate any more comments!

 

[JenHunt]

could just be the way she's been shod tbh.

i would say that it looks like she has decent feet. A little boxy pehaps, but better that way than flat with no heels. have a word with your farrier about the pigeon toes, but legs with pigeon toes tend to be stronger than legs with toes that turn out cos of the stresses and strains on the tendons.

certainly nothing to worry about unless you plan to be world show pony champnio!

 

[Ani]

I wouldn't say she's pigeon toed, her balance is slightly out if you look down the centre of her legs to the toe her weight is going more to the inside of the hoof, more so on her right fore, but it looks like the farrier may be trying to counteract this as it seems the toe clips are not set centrally at the toe. the hoof condition looks good, her feet are not quite a pair but i have seen decidedly worse in my time.

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

Shes def not pigeon toed. Ill try and get you some photos of Archie's front feet, they are pigeon toed!!

 

[Andalucian]

It would help if she was stood on a true flat surface with the camera held right down on the ground. But, they look pretty good to me although all 4 feet look rather long which will encourage contraction in the heels over time. I'd want the farrier to take off more height before applying the shoes next time.

 

[mickey]

I don't think she looks pidgeon toed at all. Her feet are a little boxy (being really picky) but that's probably in her breeding

 

[Tiffany]

Doesn't look pigeon toed to me. I agree with others that they look slightly boxy but I would say she looks like she's got quite good feet. Unless she keeps going lame I wouldn't worry and I'm sure if there was a problem your farrier would have said something?

 

[MizElz]

Thanks guys!

No - touch wood - in the 8 years she has been with us, Elz has never once been lame, so there cant be too much wrong with her feet!

I'm in a weird position; my dad was a farrier, and although he's been off the scene for 8 years now, I still hate to think that I sound like a know-it-all in front of my current farrier, so I tend to stay quiet! He's never mentioned anything about having to shoe her in a particular way, and he seems to do a good job! So I think I will leave as is