Horse grows feet too fast to condition?

[Casey76]

I'm in a bit of a dilemma regarding my youngster.

He's never been shod (he's 4), but I can't get him 100% comfortable on the loose stones/gravel at the front of the yard (which I must admit would challenge anything but the most rock crunching - it hurts me to walk across it in boots, and I'm forever tweaking my ankles by standing on loose large stones).

The issue is that he just grows too much hoof, and the sole doesn't get a chance to harden/calus up because there is only a very small window it is anywhere near the ground. He is currently on a 4 week trim schedule, and still grows enough foot for the farrier to trim with a toeing knife. he is currently doing 30 mins work every day on an abrasive sand surface, and apart from one frog currently experiencing an abscess in the heel, his frogs are good, but narrow.

While I could boot him, he would then receive less wear on the hoof walls, and I think would make the situation worse.

Any ideas?

 

[Clava]

Could the frequent trimming be aiding the rapid hoof growth?

 

[Goldenstar]

Is more work possible ?
How are his heels are they naturally strong ?
And could trim yourself in between farrier visits .

 

[Casey76]

Clava, I've just moved to a 4 week schedule with my farrier afer discussion with him. My mare goes 8 weeks, but at that time, Blitz has almost an inch of hoof wall above the sole. Prior to this new arrangement he's always gone 6-8 weeks in alignment with Tartine.

Goldenstar, at this point in time more work would be difficult, he's only been undersaddle for 10 hours, currently doing approx 30 mins a day, but it is a balance between doing enough to fitten him up and doing more than his fitness and musculature can cope with. His heels are fairly weak, depsite a heel first landing, as the frog is rarely in contact with the ground. I'm not physically strong enough to trim them (outer wall over 1/2in thick and iron tough) as rasping makes very little impression. I'm fairly sure that only driving for miles and miles every day on tarmac would get him anywhere near self-trimming. :/

 

[Goldenstar]

Might you consider just trying some keratex on his soles .
I know the BF purists hate it but it's got me through some difficulties with a couple of mine .

 

[paddy555]

Could the frequent trimming be aiding the rapid hoof growth?

I agree. Feet can learn to self regulate growth but only if you give them chance. None of our riding horses have ever needed to be trimmed for growth. They learn to put out what is needed. If they have had a rest they have slowed down growth and when back in work then put out enough growth to cope. As the growth will slow down for the winter why not try leaving them and give them a chance to regulate their own growth.

 

[Casey76]

Just to give you an idea... this is from this evening, three weeks post trim:

Left fore:

Left hind:

He doesn't flare, and rarely chips. If I leave him he ends up with masses and masses of extra length at the toe