Horse shedding sole?

[Christmas Crumpet]

I noticed earlier this week that the horse's soles on his front feet appear to be chipping away - a bit like paint does on a wall - with new sole underneath. I texted the farrier and asked if it was normal and he said he'd have a look. Someone else said it was because he'd had a poisoned foot in the past and it had finally grown out.

It doesn't seem to affect him at all. I did wonder whether its because he's had hoof hardener on there and its completely dried out the sole and its now dead.

Has anyone else experienced this? In my 32 years of having horses I've never seen it before.

 

[lynspop]

My horse did this a few years ago, it was not long after id got him and his feet had been in a terrible state. He had been getting biotin etc in his feeds and keratex put on. The sole and even the frog shedded, but it didnt cause him any problems and stopped after a couple of weeks.
I put it down to the keratex etc and the fact his feet had had a kick start of growth.

 

[spookypony]

My trimmer has mentioned this sort of thing to me before. I'm not sure under what circumstances a horse sheds/replaces its sole, but apparently, it's quite normal and harmless. I'd ask your farrier, though, to confirm that's what's happening.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

It happened to my cob last year as she was recovering from her laminitis. The sole and frogs dropped of - much to the excitement of my farrier and my dog who lives to eat mingy toenail clippings! My cob doesn't do anything by halves so it wasn't like paint chipping it was huge chunks that came off at a time! Farrier said it was good as you could see all the new healthy tissue underneath.

 

[Archangel]

One of mine does this once a year, frogs and all. Farrier loves it, dogs love it, I have heart failure.