Horses shoes look a bit odd!

P

poiuytrewq

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Without wanting to make a fuss and look stupid...
My horse was shod on Monday and tbh it was late, I gave him dinner and turned back out. Yesterday I noticed his hinds looked a bit off. At the back of the hoof the shoe sticks out past the hoof by a good 3ml.
Imagine the hoof is a c shape and the shoe is a U.
Last time I noticed it very slightly but forgot all about it, until yesterday.
Would this bd for any reason? Bearing in mind I've not mentioned any problems that he may be trying to rectify and he's not mentioned anything too me either.
I'm sure they didn't used to look like this!
 
poiuytrewq said:
Without wanting to make a fuss and look stupid...
My horse was shod on Monday and tbh it was late, I gave him dinner and turned back out. Yesterday I noticed his hinds looked a bit off. At the back of the hoof the shoe sticks out past the hoof by a good 3ml.
Imagine the hoof is a c shape and the shoe is a U.
Last time I noticed it very slightly but forgot all about it, until yesterday.
Would this bd for any reason? Bearing in mind I've not mentioned any problems that he may be trying to rectify and he's not mentioned anything too me either.
I'm sure they didn't used to look like this!
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Sounds pretty normal to me. My horse is shod wide behind deliberately - it gives an increased bearing surface and supports the heels.
 
This is often done if the horse has under run heels, but they are much less common on the back feet. If your farrier says he has done it because your horse does have under run back feet, then my suggestion would be to check out his hocks, hind suspensories, sacroiliac and back to make sure they are not causing it.
 
It really does concern me that owners can't recognise a good or bad shoeing job with enough knowledge to be sure of their assessment. I'm not having a go - I'm speaking from experience. If I'd have been more confident in my own thoughts RE the way my mare was shod, I'd have sacked that farrier and got a different one sooner.

Please, everyone who has a shod horse learn about hoof balance, supporting the heels, the breakover point, heel first/flat/toe first landing, what under-run heels look like, what long toes look like, what contracted heels look like, sheared heels etc... Then learn how to take a shoe off in an emergency, which is another thing that everyone with a shod horse should be able to do.

Read the Rockley blog. Even if you want to keep your horse shod, you can learn a lot from it seeing the patient's hooves changing from poorly balanced and unhealthy hooves to far healthier hooves with much better balance.

Learn about how diet influences the quality of horn grown.

P - if the farrier has shod in the way you describe to support the heels, that is a good thing. I would want to look carefully at the hooves to see if he's done this in response to the heels becoming under-run though, as your post indicates that the horse is normally shod without heel support.
 
Faracat said:
It really does concern me that owners can't recognise a good or bad shoeing job with enough knowledge to be sure of their assessment. I'm not having a go - I'm speaking from experience. If I'd have been more confident in my own thoughts RE the way my mare was shod, I'd have sacked that farrier and got a different one sooner.

Please, everyone who has a shod horse learn about hoof balance, supporting the heels, the breakover point, heel first/flat/toe first landing, what under-run heels look like, what long toes look like, what contracted heels look like, sheared heels etc... Then learn how to take a shoe off in an emergency, which is another thing that everyone with a shod horse should be able to do.

Read the Rockley blog. Even if you want to keep your horse shod, you can learn a lot from it seeing the patient's hooves changing from poorly balanced and unhealthy hooves to far healthier hooves with much better balance.

Learn about how diet influences the quality of horn grown.

P - if the farrier has shod in the way you describe to support the heels, that is a good thing. I would want to look carefully at the hooves to see if he's done this in response to the heels becoming under-run though, as your post indicates that the horse is normally shod without heel support.
Click to expand...


I think many people don't have the knowledge, and it is because we trust the professional to know what they are doing. I don't know everything my vet knows and i don't know anything my doctor or chiropodist knows.

However, i really want to learn more and you seem to know a lot so id appreciate a few links or maybe even a book? Ill have a look at the rockley blog :)
 
Faracat said:
It really does concern me that owners can't recognise a good or bad shoeing job with enough knowledge to be sure of their assessment. I'm not having a go - I'm speaking from experience. If I'd have been more confident in my own thoughts RE the way my mare was shod, I'd have sacked that farrier and got a different one sooner.

Please, everyone who has a shod horse learn about hoof balance, supporting the heels, the breakover point, heel first/flat/toe first landing, what under-run heels look like, what long toes look like, what contracted heels look like, sheared heels etc... Then learn how to take a shoe off in an emergency, which is another thing that everyone with a shod horse should be able to do.

Read the Rockley blog. Even if you want to keep your horse shod, you can learn a lot from it seeing the patient's hooves changing from poorly balanced and unhealthy hooves to far healthier hooves with much better balance.

Learn about how diet influences the quality of horn grown.

P - if the farrier has shod in the way you describe to support the heels, that is a good thing. I would want to look carefully at the hooves to see if he's done this in response to the heels becoming under-run though, as your post indicates that the horse is normally shod without heel support.
Click to expand...

Great post! I feel that everyone has a responsibility, if they choose to shoe their horse, to learn as much as they can about the signs of a well shod foot, and the signs that problems are arising. My natural inclination is to have mine unshod, but i have had to accept that one needs to be shod, as he isn't in sufficient work to transition properly. If he didn't have multiple problems which limit the work he is able to do, I'd have no problem with having his shoes off, and indeed, he goes three months of the year at least with no shoes on - but starts to really struggle when the ground gets hard. He's got enough on his plate without having sore feet to contend with - and whilst i've had a few negative responses from barefoot aficionados, I feel its the right decision for this horse. My other one is unshod, and has a lovely set of feet - he's also not in much work, but seems to cope far better.
 
A - the comfort of the horse must come first IMO. It's interesting that you say he needs to be shod because he can't do enough work... so many people believe that a horse must be shod once they start 'proper' work. I have also found that bare hooves need work and that tarmac is a great surface for this (starting with short sessions that slowly increase).

E - here's the Rockley blog link. :) http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.co.uk/ I sadly found that I couldn't just hold the leadrope and trust that using a fully trained farrier was enough. Now my eyes have been opened I see bad hoof balance regularly with horses shod by various farriers. It isn't just one 'bad' one in my area.

http://www.hoofrehab.com/

There was a thread on here with photos of good shoeing jobs. I don't know if anyone can find it?


ETA - Heelfirst a Farrier who posts on here has stated that for a shod hoof, a flat landing gives less concussion. With a bare/unshod hoof, you want a heel first landing. A toe first landing is always undesirable.
 
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Faracat said:
A - the comfort of the horse must come first IMO. It's interesting that you say he needs to be shod because he can't do enough work... so many people believe that a horse must be shod once they start 'proper' work. I have also found that bare hooves need work and that tarmac is a great surface for this (starting with short sessions that slowly increase).
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He's a special boy, who has earned the right to a comfortable lifestyle 1000 times over - if he needed pink sparkly shoes with satin ribbons on to make him happy - he'd get them! I totally get the need to work horses on a variety of surfaces to condition their feet, and the other boy hacks for miles on different surfaces - which is why his feet are so good. Alf is only allowed on flat, stable surfaces - i.e.' roads, and is only ridden a couple of times a week, so most of his time is spent in a nice comfy field. I have tried riding him unshod, but he hobbles around, and his feet wear down very quickly - not fair on him, hence having the steel wheels on.
 
This is a great book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feet-First-Barefoot-Performance-Rehabilitation/dp/0851319602

If you want to splash the cash (or birthday/Xmas) I highly recommend Pete Ramey's 10 DVD pack 'Under the horse' worth every penny imho. http://www.hoofrehabstore.com/under-the-horse/

Another great resource. http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.ie/ and http://www.performancebarefoot.co.uk/

That will keep you busy! lol

ps. The mineral dietary advice in Feet First has changed since it was published for eg. seaweed is not recommended as standard.

The shoeing thread was one of CPT's I think. .At least a couple of years back.
 
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Its all very well trust, but horse owners need to learn more for their knowledge, it would save a lot of problems later when they arise in all aspects of horse ownership, getting on and riding is the last part of horse ownership.
 
I'm lucky to always be there when mine are shod and have a fantastic farrier, who is currently doing his advanced farriery training.
I'm always asking him questions, and he gives me long, informative answers. I find it fascinating watching him working and would never be afraid to ask if something had changed between shoeings.
I think, unfortunately, good farriers are hard to find and approachable ones even harder!
 
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