How are these feet looking 1 month barefoot?

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PonyIAmNotFood

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I'm new to this, I think I know what I'm seeing but would like people who know a bit to have a nosey and advise please! She's 1 month barefoot after 20 years or so in shoes. She's happy on tarmac, some stones but footy on sharp or big stones. Fed Healthy Hooves mollasses free, equi mins balancer, turmeric and a joint supplement (she's 24yo). Previous broken front right leg I think, this has healed over at the knee.

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I know it's a 'how long is piece of string' question, but are they as you would expect for a months progress? Anything I can do to help her out?

What do you think of the balance changes? And what do you think I can expect in the next few months?

Tia :)
 
A month is really too short a time to be noticing much in the way of changes, given it's going to take around six months for the hoof to grow down completly from top to bottom. If things are going well say "thanks" to the BF Gods and carry on.
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
I know it's a 'how long is piece of string' question, but are they as you would expect for a months progress? Anything I can do to help her out?

What do you think of the balance changes? And what do you think I can expect in the next few months?

Tia :)
Click to expand...
Ask the professional you're working with.
 
I am surprised the farrier did not round / roll the edges as this helps to stop chipping, I used to rasp every two weeks, also the frog is still trimmed as it would be for shoeing. The hooves don't seem to be growing very fast / have changed much but that may be a bit judgemental, others may comment on this.
Generally good quality hoof by the looks of things.
I would walk out in hand or hack on a smooth tarmac road for 20 - 30 minutes every day as long as she is OK with this. This will help frog and hoof development.
You should observe the walk carefully every day, looking for footyness, and for heel first landing, which is needed for development of the digital cushion.
The sole will shed some chalkyness, this is normal, it may take up to a year for the full transition, and footyness may vary especially if she is on grass of the rygrass type.
Try a hoof oriented mineral like forageplus / pro hoof or summer balancer from progressive earth. 25gms of salt per day and 25-50 or more grams of micronised linseed [also good for joints and condition. Feed minerals every day.
The soles are very flat, they should become more concave, but that will take a long time.
 
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The soles are a bit flat, is the LF flatter than the others, they should become more concave, but that will take a long time.
Check the central sulcus for infection, use a stiff brush and observe if she is sensitive at all.
 
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Thank you for the feedback, need to get her out and walking more! We school lots, I need to get my hacking head on. Her loaner takes her twice a week but I don't take her out.

At the moment I have lost faith in 'my professional' as he has lamed several barefoot ponies I know then convinced the owners they needed shoes. My youngster is having remedial trimming by a different farrier, so may look to him to have a look at Marble.

She was growing feet very fast in shoes, she hacks for 30 mins or more twice a week, could this be the reason she isn't showing as much growth yet?

The linseed I imagine she will eat, but for some reason she won't touch salt, refuses feed if it has salt in it. Any tips on that would be good?!

I just want to make sure I'm on the right track with her, I do follow the rockley blog and research lots, but it's hard to follow your own!
 
I thought the changes looked quite good, albeit small, 1 month in
Maybe a bit of bull nosing on LF?
I'm a complete novice tho so take what I say with a punch of salt! I just put a thread up tonight of my boy 10 months in, too scared to take fronts off but big ish changes behind
For the salt, simple systems do a peppermint supp which is bf friendly I think and smells lovely so might b worth a try to mask the salt. I wonder should I be feeding salt? How would I know?
 
I had noticed the LF bull nosing! Don't know what causes that, how I stop it?!

Salt wise that could work! She has her shake free supplement hidden in mint cause she won't touch it otherwise! So that could be a two birds situation.

I believe salt should be fed, but I'm not sure why sorry! Something about balancing levels from grass I think?

It's like learning a whole new subject :(
 
I had a look at yours before googol, massive changes to your boy that I can see!

I thought I knew a bit til it was mine with no shoes, and now I'm doubting everything.
 
There was a barefoot lady trimmer around the north west ( tho not sure where in north west you are)!8 years ago, she still is around cant think of her name but she was great with the horses and a good trimmer...prob linked somewhere to pete ramey so reckon if you google him, you'll find her, sorry cannot remember her name..old timers kicking in here!
 
I'd be pleased with those, as others have said treat for thrush just in case. Red horse field paste smeared into all the crevices on the sole and in between the sulcas in the frog is a good idea. I also feed forage plus hoof health balancer which really helped. Walking out in tarmac even in hand 3 or 4 times a week is what really makes the difference I found. I think they are looking a lot better for just one month, well done.
 
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