hoof help!

[Sambo]

Sam's been barefoot now for 4 and a half weeks. He is going really well, a little footy on stoney ground - but nothing major.

But over the last week his front feet are chipping, he's getting quite large bits of hoof bending up then snapping off. It's just the outside, his sole and frog all look healthy. But his outer wall is just breaking.

He is not overgrown and his feet looked good before this!

He is fed 1 scoop Hi-Fi, half scoop nuts, 1 scoop speedi beet and brewers yeast, apple cider vinegar and naf d-itch. He lives out 24/7. He gets haylage in his stable when he's brought in for a groom, but one large haynet lasts him a week.

He is ridden 3 times a week in our sand school and hacked 2 times a week (roughly).

Do you think he'll need shoes put back on? Or do you think that his feet are just adjusting and changing shape?

Any advice greatly recieved!

 

[scazza]

when my mare first went barefoot we used keratex hoof hardener....was brilliant

 

[Sambo]

I'm very wary of Keratex... heard some bad things about it!

How often did you use it? What benefits did you see? x

 

[AngieandBen]

Chipping is mostly down to them being too long and not rolled, perhaps seek advise from a barefoot trimmer if you don't already use one.

Mine's been barefoot for over a year after being shod for 18 years! never have any chipping or cracks and I don't put anything on them at all.

 

[tallyho!]

Hahahahahah snorrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttt!!! Oops there goes me tea.. again!

What were you lot on last night??? Tramadol??

I suggest you take him to the foot doctor asap... looks like he's got nail-hole peelyitis and needs some special attention. By now, he should be able to walk on fire if you wanted him to.

 

[LucyPriory]

OP - the hooves probably need a roll - chipping is common when the feet get too long or need rolling.

 

[Clava]

OP - the hooves probably need a roll - chipping is common when the feet get too long or need rolling.

Exactly, and if the previous growth is poor then it maybe more prone to chipping. I have a rescued haflinger who had been pretty much starved and her hind hoof walls chipped very badly when the ground was frozen, but some careful rasping kept them tidy and the new stronger growth is now coming through now.

 

[Sambo]

Hahahahahah snorrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttt!!! Oops there goes me tea.. again!

What were you lot on last night??? Tramadol??

I suggest you take him to the foot doctor asap... looks like he's got nail-hole peelyitis and needs some special attention. By now, he should be able to walk on fire if you wanted him to.

This comment was a bit unfair.

I am not expecting his feet to be perfect. I am aware that to get a horse barefoot takes time and patience. But also barefoot does not work for all horses. I am worried that if I leave his feet to keep chipping that he will get too sore.

I was asking for advice or other peoples opinions/experiances and if anyone else has experianced this will their horses hooves.



His feet are not too long and were rolled 4 weeks ago, and it's not just at the front of his hoof but also at the sides. The farrier is out Saturday anyway - just wanted some advice before that!

 

[TheFarrier]

It sounds as simple as the nail holes are now reaching the ground (am assuming since you said bare for 4.5 weeks you had the shoes taken off then) this is the reason why the feet are chipping. They will probably continue to do so until the nail holes grow out fully. Best to get your farrier back more regularly during this transition period.

When we removed the shoes from ym wifes mare she needed trimming every two weeks to begin with. She did have terrible feet though. There are no chips or cracks now, and there wernt any after the nail holes had grown out.

 

[tallyho!]

This comment was a bit unfair.

I am not expecting his feet to be perfect. I am aware that to get a horse barefoot takes time and patience. But also barefoot does not work for all horses. I am worried that if I leave his feet to keep chipping that he will get too sore.

I was asking for advice or other peoples opinions/experiances and if anyone else has experianced this will their horses hooves.



His feet are not too long and were rolled 4 weeks ago, and it's not just at the front of his hoof but also at the sides. The farrier is out Saturday anyway - just wanted some advice before that!

Ok, well I am sorry I thought you were being silly - your post did sound a bit extreme!

When you go from shod to barefoot, 4 weeks is a really short length of time to expect it to be able to go back to normal riding.

Firstly, the nail holes and the dead horn around them will be peeling away gradually, this takes at least 3 months or so. So your horse will be walking on mainly sole.

If he's footy now, that's to be expected as sugar is rising in the grass and will make hooves more sensitive. Mine is sensitive at the moment so I just use boots when the grass is changing. I don't give hard feed at all.

You just need to give it time. Who is trimming your horses feet?

 

[ThePony]

When the shoes came off our mares they both chipped for a while as the nail holes grew out - one much worse than the other for some reason, but even though some of the chips looked rather an alarming size, then never seemed to bother either of them. Now the nail holes have grown out chips are very rare indeed, I would expect them to become rarer still when the good quality hoof reaches the floor - it is amazing what a clear line there is across each of their hooves!

I always got worried at the smallest thing when their shoes came off, it took a while to realise that they weren't going to wind up with bloody stumps and that they are alot tougher than I thought and way better at managing their own feet than I had ever given them credit for!

I personally wouldn't bother with keratex. Just make sure diet is ok, keep up as much exercise as is comfortable, and watch the great progress you make!!

I have always found this forum really useful for barefoot stuff, really helpful and knowledgeable people who will happily hoof nerd with you or hand hold as needed! http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php

 

[Sambo]

Thanks guys, the chips arent really around the nail holes though - they are at the front and at the side towards the back - the nail holes seem to be the only part that isn't chipping!

Yes, his shoes were removed on 5th March.

My farrier is coming out again on Saturday to do him again.

I don't do heavy work with him, school work is never more than 30mins and its always flat work. And hacking we only walk and a bit of trot at the moment. And it's all roadwork and sandy/grassy tracks.

I will wait for the farrier to come on Saturday.

I am ready for the long haul getting his feet right - it just looks horrid!

If you can imagine the chips are between 1 and 2 inches long and about 1 cm up the front of the hoof and it flaps for a while then breaks off on its own. Then he's left with big divets in his hooves. I'll try and get pictures tonight! He always does this in the field though, never when doing work...

Maybe I'm just worrying too much!

 

[tallyho!]

Thanks guys, the chips arent really around the nail holes though - they are at the front and at the side towards the back - the nail holes seem to be the only part that isn't chipping!

Yes, his shoes were removed on 5th March.

My farrier is coming out again on Saturday to do him again.

I don't do heavy work with him, school work is never more than 30mins and its always flat work. And hacking we only walk and a bit of trot at the moment. And it's all roadwork and sandy/grassy tracks.

I will wait for the farrier to come on Saturday.

I am ready for the long haul getting his feet right - it just looks horrid!

If you can imagine the chips are between 1 and 2 inches long and about 1 cm up the front of the hoof and it flaps for a while then breaks off on its own. Then he's left with big divets in his hooves. I'll try and get pictures tonight! He always does this in the field though, never when doing work...

Maybe I'm just worrying too much!

Ah, I see.

Now that the foot is flexing in a way it never has with shoes, the walls are stretching a little tiny bit with each step. So if you can imagine a rigid shod hoof where not much movement occurs except the frog and sole, now the whole foot is functioning as it should and will flex and stretch and contract.

It is changing shape and the old wall will naturally chip. 1-2inches is quite long, but not unusual, so check that the foot is well balanced when your farrier trims next time. His way of going will change now he is barefoot so the support and balance needs to support him as the foot expands and changes shape.

Would suggest going onto a barefoot forum where you will find lots of people in similar situations sharing best practice. You may even be able to find suggestions for diet to help with footiness.

 

[beeswax]

chipping comes from flares which come from longer than short feet (a horse that has had shoes on will not have thick enough hoof wall to do a proper roll that only comes in time so i am quite surprised you say the feet were rolled) make sure your farrier does a good trim with proper balance and angling which should get rid of any flare, nothing wrong with keratex just dont put it on the frog, heel or coronary band anywhere else on the foot is fine, dont think the hi fi actually has anything vitamin wise to assist in the healthy horn growth like biotin (correct me if i am wrong). Remember to avoid wet to dry areas on a regular basis, soggy field, dry shavings. Do not put too much oil on feet makes them soft, waste of money really, cold hosing the feet twice a week usually maintains the natural moisture content in the foot. Good luck - do search for going barefoot so very helpful and you learn a lot.