Never been shod... how are the feet doing?

[Queenbee]

Just a brief overview, Ben is 4 at the begining of June, he was backed last June, hacked on for about 4 times a week for six months with a bit of schooling added to the regime in December. Since then he has had his holiday and is due to come back into work at the end of this month. There was nothing wrong with him, just a baby holiday.

Over the winter he has gone up an inch to 15.3, he was looking a slightly bit under condition so I popped him on a low cal conditioning cube but it did nothing, however, over the last couple of weeks and funnily enough since stopping the conditioning feed he is finally looking how I would like him to weight wise.

Feed wise, he is on masses of good quality hay and also has hay in his field, he is now on dengie original, but I hate it and plan to go back to hi fi lite and add linseed as and when necesarry for condition.

He has never been footy since coming into work, other than for a couple of days when I dabbled with putting him on alpha oil.

He is pretty self sufficient with his hooves, he had a small trim before being backed in June, and then since then... no trim, just a couple of checks by the farrier. Farrier is going to pop in this month to check him over again before we start work, as is massage lady.

Anyways, here are his tootsies, I didn't get around to picking up the backs as I had had enough of struggling trying to pick up the hoof and photograph it with one pair of hands.
Photos are a tad blurry, apologies. I notice that both the fronts have a flare on the outside what are peoples thoughts on his feet?

Anyway:
Both Fronts

Near Fore

Off Fore

Near Hind

Off Hind

 

[Queenbee]

anyone?

 

[Diddleydoo]

I'm no expert but since no one else has replied you'll have to make do with me .

I think they are a nice looking set of feet and since the farrier isn't needing to do much as far as I'm concerned if he's sound and happy (horse not farrier) they are exactly the feet he needs.

Nic Barker's Rockley Farm blog is about flare and deviation today. I found it very interesting.

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.co.uk/


I had the same experience with Alfalfa, as soon as I removed it from the diet the feet improved. You live and learn apparently

I also had the same experience trying to hold up the foot and take the photo

Sorry I've no helpful advice but at least you get a bump

 

[Queenbee]

I'm no expert but since no one else has replied you'll have to make do with me .

I think they are a nice looking set of feet and since the farrier isn't needing to do much as far as I'm concerned if he's sound and happy (horse not farrier) they are exactly the feet he needs.

Nic Barker's Rockley Farm blog is about flare and deviation today. I found it very interesting.

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.co.uk/


I had the same experience with Alfalfa, as soon as I removed it from the diet the feet improved. You live and learn apparently

I also had the same experience trying to hold up the foot and take the photo

Sorry I've no helpful advice but at least you get a bump

Oh thank you, I love rockley farm and the work they do. Im not overly concerned re the flare, and actually its much harder to see unless you pick the hoof up, i find it interesting that it is bilateral with him, but yes I have long been of the opinion that flare is indicative of self correction, and I am confident in my farrier, he has never done my horses wrong in over 12 years. Im pretty pleased with my little rock cruncher, he goes across all terrain when ridden and feels great. However, I may keep him BF but Im no guru and this is the first time I have posted pics of his feet so anyone who has any comment please share... I appreciate the pictures are not the best.

 

[mightymammoth]

From the photo's they look fine and he's sound and comfortable which is the main thing. I would defiantly keep him unshod if he were mine

 

[Queenbee]

From the photo's they look fine and he's sound and comfortable which is the main thing. I would defiantly keep him unshod if he were mine

Oh he's staying unshod, but my farrier is pretty darn excellent in my opinion, his less is more approach works for my horses, he is always asking his customer if they need shoes or would consider at least transitioning down to fronts only, if I wanted, he would shoe him, but he is au natural and unless I take a serious knock to the head will remain so

 

[tallyho!]

They look just like my friends "never been shod" 5yo. Good, strong and I have noticed that horses that have never been shod have a 'fuller' sole... I think this is because they have never lost that spongey layer in between the sole and palmar P3.

How feet should be IMO. Good frog, good sole and if you drew a circle, those feet would fit with just the flares sticking out a bit.

 

[Queenbee]

They look just like my friends "never been shod" 5yo. Good, strong and I have noticed that horses that have never been shod have a 'fuller' sole... I think this is because they have never lost that spongey layer in between the sole and palmar P3.

How feet should be IMO. Good frog, good sole and if you drew a circle, those feet would fit with just the flares sticking out a bit.

Thank you I was so chuffed, I even sent him off to be backed, and the trainer said, "oh we may put some fronts onto him" because she does with everything, and even she decided not to.... My tough little nut!

 

[LB1983]

Hi, my horse is barefoot and looking at your pictures I think you have nothing to worry about! They look solid, strong and healthy and yes I can see the flares but don't let this bother you- my horse's right fore has a flare and it does not affect her gaits/movement in any way. Molly has never been shod and I have had her for 4 years now I feed her pasture mix, alfa-a oil, biotin and drizzle some cider vinegar on it. I also regularly apply some corneucresine to her hooves and I find that this keeps her feet healthy and strong. We can go up to about 18 miles I'm one go, I just don't trot everywhere lol. My farrier tells me her feet are excellent and shot me down when I suggested putting two front shoes on her because we were doing longer fun rides! Hope this helps

 

[Queenbee]

Hi, my horse is barefoot and looking at your pictures I think you have nothing to worry about! They look solid, strong and healthy and yes I can see the flares but don't let this bother you- my horse's right fore has a flare and it does not affect her gaits/movement in any way. Molly has never been shod and I have had her for 4 years now I feed her pasture mix, alfa-a oil, biotin and drizzle some cider vinegar on it. I also regularly apply some corneucresine to her hooves and I find that this keeps her feet healthy and strong. We can go up to about 18 miles I'm one go, I just don't trot everywhere lol. My farrier tells me her feet are excellent and shot me down when I suggested putting two front shoes on her because we were doing longer fun rides! Hope this helps

Wow! thanks, you are lucky with her feet, I couldn't feed ben any PM or he'd feel his feet, a couple of days on alfa oil and he was behaving like the princess and the pea

Currently he just gorges on hay, and hifi lite, but dabbling with the idea of linseed for his coat or maybe some outshine.

I know the flare is nothing to worry about, but its always nice to hear from someone else! As for his hooves, it is very rare I put anything on them, but when I do its kevin bacon, although I use the tub and its rock hard at the moment