Loosing toe on front hooves (barefoot)

[Trinket12]

Hello! Looking for some ideas. My mare is barefoot but her fronts are wearing down so becoming short. I think from a combination of the arena footing, and the footing in her paddock. Farrier is now thinking she’ll need shoes and I’d like to avoid that if I can (I haven’t spoken to him directly, couldn’t be there for the last appointment).

My thinking was boots for when not in the arena, but I don’t want to end up having different problems if she has them on all day.

Any ideas?

 

[SEL]

What's the paddock footing? Even horses on all weather tracks don't wear their hooves down so much they need shoes.

Is your diet up to scratch?

 

[Red-1]

Could we see photos? Is it possible that the foot needs to be shorter and is wearing to the preferred wear pattern? I am always amazed at how much smaller barefoot horses seem to remodel to. No long toes in a working barefoot.

 

[ester]

Out of everything it is usually arenas that cause excessive wear so arguably I'd boot for that. Though if she's not sore I'd not particularly worry.

 

[ycbm]

Is she footsore? If she's not footsore then they aren't too short, or at least she doesn't think so.
.

 

[Trinket12]

Thanks everyone. I don’t think foot sore, we rode yesterday and all was normal.

Diet wise, she has hay and then a scoop of pellets that are mineral focused. The vet told me to take her off the grain and her Step 6 as she was getting a little portly, and the feed had a lot of protein and sugar in that she didn’t need.

I will take some photos today when I go to the barn.

 

[ycbm]

Camera on the floor please!
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree with above if not sore don't worry but if your worried try hoof armour it will protect the feet a bit and stop them wearing down, but she may just need a shorter toe one of mine does so I wouldn't shoe unless uncomfortable.

Also just a thought it's not seedy toe is it that can look like the toe has worn down.

 

[Trinket12]

 

[ycbm]

Camera on the floor please!
.

You didn't listen


We need side on and front on shots with the camera on the floor and a sole shot taken from above looking down on the lifted foot.

I don't see any excess wear there and subject to seeing sole shots they look more likely to be too long than too short.
.

 

[Gloi]

Those feet look quite tall. I don't think you currently need to worry about them being too short.
Take some pictures in the way ycbm describes

 

[paddy555]

trinket, have a read of this like below. Your last pic shows a very tall foot most likely due the distortion from the angle you have taken the pic at.
If you put the camera on the ground for a sideways shot it will show the exact height/angle of the foot

Good Hoof Photos - How to take Good Hoof Photos

Step by step instructions on how to take good hoof photos

www.all-natural-horse-care.com

 

[Trinket12]

I’m back at the barn on Tuesday, I will try again!