Hooves - your opinion please

meleeka

meleeka

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Can anyone explain why these heels would look odd, as in the outside higher than the inside? Pony was trimmed last week. Apologies for the awful photos, but they are the best I could do with a pony that lives out. These are front hooves and both ponies trimmed the same way.
 

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If you are sure there is no thrush going on, then I would probably look at the way the ponies stand when grazing - my cob weights the inside of the hoof and throws the foreleg out to the side. I think the wide chest may have something to do with his posture too. Can you get someone to video the foot landing as you walk them up?
 
Highmileagecob said:
If you are sure there is no thrush going on, then I would probably look at the way the ponies stand when grazing - my cob weights the inside of the hoof and throws the foreleg out to the side. I think the wide chest may have something to do with his posture too. Can you get someone to video the foot landing as you walk them up?
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Sorry I didn't make it clear, this is how the ponies have been trimmed. As far as I'm aware they don't grow oddly naturally. I don't know enough about feet to know if there'd be any reason why they'd be trimmed like this. Looking at the farriers facebook page, it does seem a recurring theme, but I'm just not sure why!
 
Do they look straight and balanced from the front on the ground? Farrier might be leaving more on one side so the leg above is actually straighter but I suppose it would be weird for every horse they trim to need it?
 
one pony there could be reason, both of them no idea.

I would send the pic to the farrier and ask. If he has a reason fair enough ih he is doing it every horse the he may have a problem with balancing. a valid question to ask him
 
Do both ponies have a tendancy to toe-in? As Smolmaus said, can you get a photo from the front showing both hooves on level ground, and legs to knee/chest height?
 
smolmaus said:
Do they look straight and balanced from the front on the ground? Farrier might be leaving more on one side so the leg above is actually straighter but I suppose it would be weird for every horse they trim to need it?
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I think the pony is less straight! Here's a front view from yesterday (muddy) and a last September which was the second trim he'd done. I took photos then because they just looked odd to me.

I will get photos of the other ponies to compare, but I think I'm going to look for someone else. He took 5 minutes from start to finish to trim this pony 🙄
 

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meleeka said:
I think the pony is less straight! Here's a front view from yesterday (muddy) and a last September which was the second trim he'd done. I took photos then because they just looked odd to me.

I will get photos of the other ponies to compare, but I think I'm going to look for someone else. He took 5 minutes from start to finish to trim this pony 🙄
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in that 5 mins did he stand the pony up, study it from the front, have it walked out. If he did could be a reason if not slapdash come to mind
 
paddy555 said:
in that 5 mins did he stand the pony up, study it from the front, have it walked out. If he did could be a reason if not slapdash come to mind
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He was already trimming by the time I'd finished tying the pony up, so he might have watched me lead him across the yard but definitely didn't check from the front. My last farrier used to talk for ages before and during trims, so I don't have a lot to compare it to, but this one was in and out in 20 minutes, for three ponies!
 
They all look off but this photo

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really does me.

If I were being generous, I would guess the pony is hairy, has long hair, and was not so clean when he was done. Maybe it was also dull, and on uneven ground, so the farrier didn't get a good view.

If mine were so off, I would expect the farrier to mention it and explain why.

I would trim yourself TBH. Can't do much worse! It really isn't as difficult as you would think, and you can do a slight trim daily to start with, so get confident and make any changes slowly.
 
I trim my own horses’ feet, and I’d be horrified if I ever left a foot with that amount of mediolateral imbalance 😳.

It’s something I always check before finishing. I might leave a bit of toe length to be taken off another day, but never a wonky foot like that.

I cannot think of any valid reason for the foot to have been left like that.
 
There isn't much evidence of a trim, to be honest. All your farrier has done is run the file round what is there, without actually noticing that the hooves need some time spent correcting an imbalance, assuming the gait and paces are ok. I see this time and time again with the farriers who come on our yard to shoe - standard hoof removal with nippers, four swipes to level, bung a shoe on. Any chance you can get the ponies walking out on tarmac?

Edited to add that I am not anti-farrier. They study yo accumulate a lot of knowledge. I just with they would use it.
 
These kinds of trims are the reason I trim my horses myself nowadays. There are some great farriers out there, I know a few, but certainly not all of them are good.

Good that you're questioning the trim. I'd advise to look for another farrier/trimmer or do it yourself.
 
Looks a complete disaster all round to me

Was he drunk?

Get a rasp, its really like filing your own nails with a bit of practice, just take a bit off at a time then study the hoof to develop an eye for what needs to come off and what looks good

You could start by lowering that one heel that is unbalanced, file it down a bit, then another day a bit more til you can see both heels are the same level
 
tristars said:
You could start by lowering that one heel that is unbalanced, file it down a bit, then another day a bit more til you can see both heels are the same level
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I think I might just do that as I won't get a farrier for a few weeks now. I'm sure I can't do any harm, but now i've seen it, I can't just leave it.
 
I've recently had similar with my farrier, just things I'd noticed and was a bit uncomfortable about, but then wasnt sure if i was being a bit thick and there was a reason for it. I switched and I can't tell you what a reief this new farrier is. I now regret not trusing my instinct sooner.
I think if you're not happy and I'd be concerned about that then find someone new.
 
poiuytrewq said:
I've recently had similar with my farrier, just things I'd noticed and was a bit uncomfortable about, but then wasnt sure if i was being a bit thick and there was a reason for it. I switched and I can't tell you what a reief this new farrier is. I now regret not trusing my instinct sooner.
I think if you're not happy and I'd be concerned about that then find someone new.
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The remember your post. I had my doubts then, but this is another level. Last trim both sides were left high, but at least he was reasonably level!

This farrier has also announced he's putting his prices up to £45 + VAT for a trim soon 😳
 
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The imbalance needs correcting asap, but gradually in stages over a period of a small number of weeks.

It is indeed easier to start trimming your own if you start with feet that have previously been correctly trimmed, but sometimes needs must.

Always best to err on taking not quite enough off at a time rather than too much in one go.

Good luck.
 
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