No hoof growth/white line separation/barefoot

[SadKen]

My chap's hooves don't seem to grow much at all. I bought him last September and since then he has had one trim, about a month ago. His feet are quite hard and a nice tight shape with no flare.

I had the vet out on Friday as he was a little lame. On investigation the vet found that the outer bar on the hoof of his bad leg was growing in on itself, so he trimmed it off. He noted that my lad's heels are quite high and he has some white line separation. He has put this down to the wet weather.

I'm a bit worried as obviously he can't grow a tighter hoof capsule if he's not growing any hoof! Do I need to worry about this and is there anything I can do to help him grow it more quickly? In the meantime I'm trying to keep the white line clear and clean on all feet, but if anyone has any tips on how to help that as well I'd be pleased to hear them.

He has always walked well even on rocky ground and has never been shod.

 

[ImmyS]

My chap's hooves don't seem to grow much at all. I bought him last September and since then he has had one trim, about a month ago. His feet are quite hard and a nice tight shape with no flare.

I had the vet out on Friday as he was a little lame. On investigation the vet found that the outer bar on the hoof of his bad leg was growing in on itself, so he trimmed it off. He noted that my lad's heels are quite high and he has some white line separation. He has put this down to the wet weather.

I'm a bit worried as obviously he can't grow a tighter hoof capsule if he's not growing any hoof! Do I need to worry about this and is there anything I can do to help him grow it more quickly? In the meantime I'm trying to keep the white line clear and clean on all feet, but if anyone has any tips on how to help that as well I'd be pleased to hear them.

He has always walked well even on rocky ground and has never been shod.

What's does his current diet consist of? And how much work is he doing on what type of surfaces?

 

[Diddleydoo]

You could try him on the Forage Plus summer balancer or Pro hoof. My girl's white line really tightened up when I introduced the balancer

 

[SadKen]

I've just put him on spillers lami balancer! Vet's suggestion. He also has a bit of soft and soak but I want to take him off that as I think it's too starchy. He has some mag ox with his feed. Work wise he isn't doing anything right now as he was lame from the bar (least I hope that's what it was). Usually he's on light work, half an hour a day walk and trot in the school. He's not hacking out as our brakes aren't great! Would prefer that but the roads are busy so it's not an option unfortunately. He's turned out 8 til 5 on a well grazed field but is due to go out to the summer paddocks 24/7 in a couple of weeks. He's quite slim if anything. He also has about two/three slices of hay in the evening. Oh and he's an Arab. Wonder if it might be worth getting some biotin.

 

[ImmyS]

I've just put him on spillers lami balancer! Vet's suggestion. He also has a bit of soft and soak but I want to take him off that as I think it's too starchy. He has some mag ox with his feed. Work wise he isn't doing anything right now as he was lame from the bar (least I hope that's what it was). Usually he's on light work, half an hour a day walk and trot in the school. He's not hacking out as our brakes aren't great! Would prefer that but the roads are busy so it's not an option unfortunately. He's turned out 8 til 5 on a well grazed field but is due to go out to the summer paddocks 24/7 in a couple of weeks. He's quite slim if anything. He also has about two/three slices of hay in the evening. Oh and he's an Arab. Wonder if it might be worth getting some biotin.

I would cut out as much sugar/starch as possible and and use a good supplement such as pro hoof by progressive earth and add some micronised linseed. I think that the lack of growth is due to lack of stimulation, the hooves aren't being used on solid slightly abrasive surfaces such as Tarmac which will stimulate growth of the hoof. If it was possible I would try and get out on roads at least a few times a week to stimulate the feet, even if led out in hand if you have lack brakes riding.