Loosing toe on front hooves (barefoot)

Trinket12

Trinket12

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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?
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
ycbm said:
Camera on the floor please!
.
Click to expand...


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.
.
 
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 🙂
 
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

www.all-natural-horse-care.com

Good Hoof Photos - How to take photos hooves

Good Hoof Photos - You can learn so much about your horse's hooves by taking and studying photos of their hooves.
www.all-natural-horse-care.com
 
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