Nail left in hoof after shoe removed

[Pennyhp]

I have a couple of horses boarding (at livery) with me.
The owner of one used to work with standardbred race horses a long time ago. He used to trim and shoe these horses.
when he brought his daughters horse to my yard he said that he would remove the shoes that were on the horse and trim the feet and then leave it unshod.

It took him a while to get round to doing this and when he did I noticed the next day that he had left a nail in the hoof. It is on the outside so it won't do any damage to the opposite leg, but what problems could it cause as it grows out.

I don't know whether I should tell him to get a propper farrier in to sort the horses feet or switch yards or leave it a little while for him to sort it out.
Otherwise the horses feet are in good shape apart from being a little long.

 

[dianchi]

Well in the UK its illegal for non qual farriers to attened to horses feet. Personaly i would tell them to use a proper farrier or leave the yard

 

[Tia]

I'd tell him about the nail and ask if he can take it out as you wouldn't want the horse to injure any others on your farm. Either that or take it out yourself?

 

[Tia]

It's not illegal for anyone in the UK to take off a shoe or trim - they are only not allowed to prepare the hoof for a shoe or put a shoe on.

 

[Pennyhp]

Thanks guys

Over here (Canada) as far as I can tell, there dosn't seem to be same kind of regulation as there is in the UK for farriers.

I told him about the nail a couple of weeks ago.
Since then he has apparantly trimmed the feet, though I can see little diference myself.
I was around the barn when he was doing it and I think he just used the file and did not cut back any of the hoof.

Would you just pull the nail out through the top with pliers?
The head of the nail must have broken off as there is nothing sticking out below.

 

[Tia]

Yes if you just tap up the blunt end that you can see on the hoof wall and then grasp it with your pinchers or a pair of pliers. It should come out quite easily.

 

[Nailed]

it should be fine.. i wouldnt worry too much its only a nail, as long as its on the upper surface not touching the sole and not causeing discomfort it will just fall out in the near future, if not, get a pair of pliers, grasp the nail head and pul back agaisnt the foot and the nail will come out..

Lou x