Hoof question...hoof shorter than shoe?

[Bobthecob15]

Off to see another potential purchase but the photos I've seen of the horse have made me question what is going on with its front hooves! Apparently the feet were very long when the horse was purchased (it had been a bit neglected by all accounts) and it had a drastic trim...was sore for a few weeks but has apparently been sound ever since.

From the pictures it looks like the front hooves are shorter than the shoe itself, 2 pics attached 1st one last summer not long after it was bought and the other one a week or 2 ago. I can't say I've ever seen feet shorter than the shoe before....any ideas what is going on?? Sorry the pics are not great its all I have at the moment..thanks ?

 

[ycbm]

I don't understand why the farrier has done that, but it wouldn't stop me buying the horse and getting it sorted, if it was sound.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I don't understand why the farrier has done that, but it wouldn't stop me buying the horse and getting it sorted, if it was sound.

I know the first one it looks like a chunk of hoof is gone...really odd. OK thanks x

 

[Shooting Star]

Difficult to tell for sure from the photos but they look like they could be natural balance shoes, these quite often seem to be set further back

 

[ycbm]

I would guess that seedy toe has been removed, but the toe had grown too long anyway so I don't see the point of shoeing to where the toe "should" have been when it shouldn't really have been there ?

 

[Bobthecob15]

I would guess that seedy toe has been removed, but the toe had grown too long anyway so I don't see the point of shoeing to where the toe "should" have been when it shouldn't really have been there ?

I know I don't get it...will have to ask some questions when we see him! Thanks

 

[sbloom]

It looks like the toe has been rasped (bevelled) to help breakover, but the shoe would then normally be set back to enable this to actually work, so this makes no sense.

 

[nutjob]

I would ask the seller why the horse has been shod like this. Maybe if the feet have been too long for ages it's a way to get the breakover back without taking more off the toes which the horse can't take atm. I would also specifically ask if the horse has been seen by the vet for any lameness issues since they have owned it, any history of laminitis and any tendon injury in the front legs or feet. It does look like the new growth is at a better angle than the bottom of the foot and it may be that the farrier is trying to shoe to this. Whatever, it is something a bit unusual and the owner should be aware and have an explanation for it. When you view take pictures to show your farrier to check their story matches up. I have seen one with heart bars on which the owner had no explanation for, as though the farrier had just decided to do it for no good reason .

 

[nutjob]

PS. It looks to me in the second pic that the hoof is shorter than the shoe, maybe I just cannot see it too well.

 

[Bobthecob15]

PS. It looks to me in the second pic that the hoof is shorter than the shoe, maybe I just cannot see it too well.

Yes I thought so too, thank you. I don't have a farrier as we are currently horseless....ive not had one for years. But I'll definitely take pics! Thank you for the advice x

 

[ycbm]

There are quite a few people on the forum with a good eye for feet. If you can post pictures with the camera down on the floor, from directly side on and directly front on, we can tell you of we see any obvious problems. The height of the camera is crucial. Either you or it need to be down in the dirt!

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[AmyMay]

Based on the second picture alone, nothing would induce me to view that horse. And I’d lay money on him not being sound.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Based on the second picture alone, nothing would induce me to view that horse. And I’d lay money on him not being sound.

Thank you, I know I'm not convinced myself which is why I posted ? I'm also suspicious of sweet itch from other pics x

 

[Bobthecob15]

There are quite a few people on the forum with a good eye for feet. If you can post pictures with the camera down on the floor, from directly side on and directly front on, we can tell you of we see any obvious problems. The height of the camera is crucial. Either you or it need to be down in the dirt!

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Good to know, thank you x

 

[ycbm]

Based on the second picture alone, nothing would induce me to view that horse. And I’d lay money on him not being sound.

Given the horse's history of overgrown feet, AM , it's a picture part way through the growing out of a predictable and resolved bout of seedy toe. As long as it's gone and the horse is sound now, it should be fine.
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[milliepops]

Yeah i don't think i would write a horse off based on a few fairly bad photos. feet can be improved a lot, everything i have acquired over the years has arrived with shocking feet and ended up with tidy ones. except the yearling, but then that's cheating

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It looks like seedy toe when my horses has had it in the past the front of his foot can look like that.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Thanks all for your advice ?

 

[holeymoley]

In the first photo there looks to be a bit of flare, but then that’s understandable if they were in a bad way beforehand. They look to be rasped at the toe which could be to re-align or it could be white line separation.

In the second photo it could well be the angle but they don’t look balanced. The line half way down the one closest would ring alarm bells for me. I’d assume that this horse has has some kind of inflammation within the hoof at some point- this could coincide with the toes and white line separation.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

In the second photo it could well be the angle but they don’t look balanced. The line half way down the one closest would ring alarm bells for me. I’d assume that this horse has has some kind of inflammation within the hoof at some point- this could coincide with the toes and white line separation

That is what I was seeing. The feet look 'odd' to me. The near fore is more upright than the off fore which also has an obvious event line half way down. If both looked like that it would be screaming laminitic to me.

 

[Sossigpoker]

These look like feet that might have had some laminitis so if I really liked the horse , I would x ray the feet to see if there's any rotation.
I have a remedial farrier so I'd also take detailed photos and show him.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My new farrier (new area therefore new farrier) does this I’m uncomfortable with it as there is no reason..mares feet have been sound and good for past five years. He s shod her 3 times but I may have to look for someone else.

 

[ycbm]

I don't think those photos are good enough to make any decisions about whether or not to view. With the seller freely declaring that they were very neglected, the worst I could say about them without clearer ground level shots is that the top half is a very a good start for a work in progress.
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