Mutant ergots?!

[hest]

Our new Irish (bit of everything) pony has four very pronounced ergots in the usual place on the back of each fetlock.

But he also appears to have a second ergot on the outside of each of his front fetlocks (i.e. just round the corner from the 'normal' ones). These ones are the same diameter as the ergots at the back of his front fetlocks and are growing fairly pronounced as well, but they are more crumbly, and they get knocked off in bits, probably due to being more exposed to being scraped and bumped.

I actually thought they were scabs from a knock or a scrape when I first bought him (and so did our vet) until I realised he had one on each front leg. There are no rogue ergots on the outside of the hind fetlocks though.

Has anyone ever come across a horse or pony with a second ergot on each front (or hind) leg before? I'm not worried about them (they're not sore or bleeding), but am I right in thinking this is quite unusual?

With many thanks for any info or advice!

 

[TarrSteps]

Well, I knew a foal born with an extra pastern and hoof . ..

Anything is possible. People come with extra fingers, so why not horses with extra fingers? Rogue teeth are not unheard of, often turning up in ears or in other unexpected places.

Are you sure they aren't from lying on concrete in the past? I've seen horses with permanent plaques from that, although would be odd on both fetlocks.

Re not having them behind, does he have chestnuts behind? Many horses now are without or have only tiny ones.

 

[hest]

Thanks for the reply TarrSteps. Lol, we have made the 'six fingers' joke already!

I'm fairly sure they're not from lying on concrete - they're very 'uniform' ergots, are and positioned in exactly the same place on each side iyswim.

He has four pronounced chestnuts too and is probably the most 'ergotty' and 'chestnutty' pony I've every seen (even without the extra ones!).

I would love to know if anyone has ever seen extra ones in any horse or pony before though!

 

[irishdraft]

Well my ID mare has no ergots on any leg, she does have normal chestnuts but also has 2 extra teeth in the lower jaw

 

[hest]

Well my ID mare has no ergots on any leg, she does have normal chestnuts but also has 2 extra teeth in the lower jaw

Thank you for the reply, Irishdraft. I hope the extra teeth don't cause your mare any problems.

I'd probably rather be dealing with extra ergots than extra teeth !

Still hoping to find someone who has seen 'rogue' ergots before....

 

[Bobbly]

Didn't mention them either then did she eh? He may also turn pink in the summer perhaps? Bet A loves him anyway?

Thinking on, given his known action in front are you sure he's not catching himself and causing permanent scab tissue? Or maybe he's a polydactyl pony?

 

[amage]

Yes have seen them a few times...one who grew them so long that the farrier used to trim them to stop them catching on things

 

[Meems]

I have seen horses with big ergots before that have got long and then sort of split and grown into two different directions, but not growing from two separate places.

 

[spider]

My pony has split ergots, two parts that grow in different directions. They also get huge and I trim them with secateurs!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Maybe ask the farrier who will probably have seen lots of odd things!

Is it a cob thing that they grow in different directions like a split mushroom stalk?My boy's do this and the farrier suggests secateurs too, but I'm a bit worried about making him bleed.

 

[Meems]

Maybe ask the farrier who will probably have seen lots of odd things!

Is it a cob thing that they grow in different directions like a split mushroom stalk?My boy's do this and the farrier suggests secateurs too, but I'm a bit worried about making him bleed.

I regularly cut my horse's ergots back with a pair of sharp scissors, they've never bled yet, I don't think they've got a blood supply. Hers are quite soft anyway, if you do it when you've washed their legs they are even easier to cut.

My little dog gets very excited when I'm either ergot cutting or picking off chestnuts, she adores both, they must taste like the finest truffles to her

 

[hest]

Didn't mention them either then did she eh? He may also turn pink in the summer perhaps? Bet A loves him anyway?

Thinking on, given his known action in front are you sure he's not catching himself and causing permanent scab tissue? Or maybe he's a polydactyl pony?

Lol Bobbly, yes A still loves him, mutant or not! It's not down to catching himself as the second ergots are on the outside of both front fetlocks. They are a bit surreal but if I keep them trimmed down then at least I won't have to look at them :-0

 

[hest]

Maybe ask the farrier who will probably have seen lots of odd things!

Is it a cob thing that they grow in different directions like a split mushroom stalk?My boy's do this and the farrier suggests secateurs too, but I'm a bit worried about making him bleed.

Yes, I will ask my farrier. Good thinking. I peeled one of them right back (thinking it was a scab) and it didn't bleed at all, or look sore. It certainly doesn't seem to bother the pony. An irrational part of me can't help thinking that ergots and chestnuts are a bit like moles and should be left well alone!

 

[hest]

I regularly cut my horse's ergots back with a pair of sharp scissors, they've never bled yet, I don't think they've got a blood supply. Hers are quite soft anyway, if you do it when you've washed their legs they are even easier to cut.

My little dog gets very excited when I'm either ergot cutting or picking off chestnuts, she adores both, they must taste like the finest truffles to her

Dogs are so disgusting sometimes! *boak*!