Ok BF Gurus what do we think?

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts

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Ok nearly four weekly update :)

Pics of the feet

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Hinds

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Im a bit concerned about his frogs as they are rather rough and raggedy looking on the fronts but no smell and no gunk and hes happily striding out :confused: , I treat them with bactakill 3 times a week. Also the shape of his feet is changing to my eyes, what do others think?

General opinions? I know they are a work in progress, Farrier will be out in 2 weeks when due :)
 
Acc to my UKNCHP trimmer this time of year is the peak for frog sloughing off old stuff and generally looking a bit mad. And some hooves are better at detaching these bits than others, even on the same horse.

Other than that, I wont comment as Im not an expert, other than to say if pony is happy and striding out, there probably isnt too much wrong :-)
 
I'm no expert, but from my experience these would be my observations:

I think they will benefit from a really good bevel / mustang roll to help with the chipping... probably you are already working on this.

They are relatively long in the heel, to my eye, but again, this will take time to rectify if the horse is new to barefoot.

In the bottom picture if you draw a line down the centre of the frog towards the toe you can see there would be a lack of symmetry either side of that line. Over time, this can be corrected by skillful trimming to re-balance the foot.

From the pics they look like they have reasonable concavity, which is good news.

The frog will naturally become broader as it begins to be used for its intended function and is in contact with the ground.

Have you considered seeking the advice of an equine podiatrist as well as your farrier? They can advice on foot balance.
 
I havent thought about an equine podiatrist in all honesty, Might consult with one but I do trust my farrier who is into BF horses and is always willing to listen :)

So should the feet be brought back into symmetry? Like what they would be with a shoe? Or should the feet be allowed to grow to suit the horse? Hes due trimmed in a few weeks, already booked :)
 
They look awful. Chipped wall spread areas between wall and sole. The hoof could become infected. Please call your farrier and get a decent tidy done.
 
The bump looks like a wee bit of extra sole callus that he has hung on to to give extra cushioning to the tip of his pedal bone. It will just drop off when he doesn't need it there any more.

Looks like he's doing a good job of getting them how he wants them. Prob still getting a bit of chipping from the "shod" part of the hoof wall - once that's all grown down they will be smoother.

If he's hacking out happily with you, they are working feet :D
 
Brightbay said:
The bump looks like a wee bit of extra sole callus that he has hung on to to give extra cushioning to the tip of his pedal bone. It will just drop off when he doesn't need it there any more.

Looks like he's doing a good job of getting them how he wants them. Prob still getting a bit of chipping from the "shod" part of the hoof wall - once that's all grown down they will be smoother.

If he's hacking out happily with you, they are working feet :D
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Thanks BrB :D

I was just a bit :confused: about the change in the shape of his feet and the raggedy frogs on the front, the back dont seem to be as bad but they were bare fot years and he was only shod for about 7 months before they came off again :)
 
How much work is he doing? Mine is about the same length of time and hers were pretty raggedy looking for a week or so but getting much smoother now.

Will take some pics tomorrow if you want to compare? She is doing about 8hrs of hacking on forestry tracks and Tarmac and an hour in the school per week.

I am getting boots for her fronts which I didn't need to do with my native.
 
HEs getting about an hours hack twice a week mostly roadwork but with foresty and stubbles for some canters :)

At the minute Im not supposed to be riding, ruptured a tendon in my shoulder, had a sneaky 20mins round the block on the road though as he was a bit sore at the weekend and I wanted to see how he was, not foot related though :)
 
In all honesty I would suggest you increase the roadwork as it's likely to be quite comfortable for him and let him grow his feet the shape he wants them to be, rather than a trimmers idea of symmetrical.

My horse went to Rockley and has been home since June, sound and in work, he hasn't seen a trimmer or Farrier once in that time, he trims his feet himself doing roadwork and that's the way Nic suggested I keep it, as most horses have a need for what may look like odd shaped feet to the rest of us.

Providing he's being fed a suitable barefoot diet he'll be able to grow enough hoof to cope with a gradually increasing and consistent workload on the roads. Encouraging the growth with more roadwork may well help him grow out and re shape the ragged bits he has now too.

Good luck :)
 
metalmare said:
It's worth looking at this website... it's American based but the photo galleries are very helpful for starters... there are photos of good feet and bad feet. They should be reasonably symmetrical, yes. And shorter in the heel.

http://www.barefoothorse.com/
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biggingerpony said:
Are you treating for thrush?? I would be popping some red horse field paste on those frogs to be on the safe side :)
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bikerchickone said:
In all honesty I would suggest you increase the roadwork as it's likely to be quite comfortable for him and let him grow his feet the shape he wants them to be, rather than a trimmers idea of symmetrical.

My horse went to Rockley and has been home since June, sound and in work, he hasn't seen a trimmer or Farrier once in that time, he trims his feet himself doing roadwork and that's the way Nic suggested I keep it, as most horses have a need for what may look like odd shaped feet to the rest of us.

Providing he's being fed a suitable barefoot diet he'll be able to grow enough hoof to cope with a gradually increasing and consistent workload on the roads. Encouraging the growth with more roadwork may well help him grow out and re shape the ragged bits he has now too.

Good luck :)
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Thank you all :)

I asked the person that said it but what infections could his hooves get from the chips??

I do treat them for thrush (will look at field paste thanks :) ) and he gets fed fibre and a hoof and joint sup.

Ill try and increase the roadwork once im fine to ride properly again :)
 
I wouldn't worry about the chips. Agree with others... work, diet and time. :D Might take a bit longer if his work levels are curtailed by your shoulder. Get better soon.
I would treat for thrush too but then I would wouldn't I. lol

ps. You don't happen to have a pea gravel area he can spend some time on do you? That will help exfoliate his soles comfortably and stimulate his frog too.
 
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bikerchickone said:
In all honesty I would suggest you increase the roadwork as it's likely to be quite comfortable for him and let him grow his feet the shape he wants them to be, rather than a trimmers idea of symmetrical.

My horse went to Rockley and has been home since June, sound and in work, he hasn't seen a trimmer or Farrier once in that time, he trims his feet himself doing roadwork and that's the way Nic suggested I keep it, as most horses have a need for what may look like odd shaped feet to the rest of us.

Providing he's being fed a suitable barefoot diet he'll be able to grow enough hoof to cope with a gradually increasing and consistent workload on the roads. Encouraging the growth with more roadwork may well help him grow out and re shape the ragged bits he has now too.

Good luck :)
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This wouldn't work for my horse the more road work I do the more he grows his feet and the more he needs trimmed.
 
Maccachic I can't quote as I'm on my phone but are you doing a consistent level of work? My lad's been doing about 20 to 30 miles of roadwork a week and provided I keep the levels constant he's quite happy self trimming. I can take the workload up and down without affecting him provided I do it gradually and consistently. I've only been doing it just under 6 months but not needed to trim yet.

Obviously I don't know your horse but Nic does exactly the same with all the Rockley horses and it works, which is why I do it with my boy.
 
Yup 5-6 days a week; road work (hills) about 3-4 days, winters good his growth slows. Endurance, eventing, SJ over summer, hunting winter.

He has been Bf since March 2011. He gets trimmed 4 weekly any longer and his toes get long and unbalances his hoof.

Different trimming technique I guess.
 
I think the trimming can actually increase the speed of growth though, I wonder if more so than the work actually. Work alone and the hoof growth should settle at the pace required, providing the level of work is fairly consistent.

Having said that I totally understand there are differing approaches and what works for individuals varies too.
 
Hmmm well once my shoulder is better I think ill up his work load a little :) he is nearly 22 so have to watch but he's rather plump and hairy (which I'm not bothered with it being winter ;) ) was thinking of bringing him back into proper work in the spring anyways :)

Lots of lovely hilly country roads around living in the back of nowhere lol :D
 
Would also have a go with something more for his frogs - we found hypocare amazing stuff on a stubborn bit of thrush on one of our girls.

I wouldn't worry about the chips and the changing feet - they are going though lots of change and starting to develop into the feet he needs. You could whip round and take the scraggy bits off it it pleases you, but no harm will come. I actually use one of these (on the basis I can't get much of with it and so do no harm, only for catchy edges) http://www.powertoolsdirect.com/stanley-surform-shaver-tool?utm_source=google&utm_medium=merchant

Both of ours self trim, found their hoof growth rate alot more consistent than when they were trimmed. They know what they need, we work them over a range of surfaces, so far so good!

So easy to say but try not to worry, they will go through a fugly phase as the unwanted areas are chipped off, but beauty is as beauty does, so if he is comfy and striding out then take that as your guide.

If you find you hit a bit of a plateau or the thrush isn't shifting then maybe take a look at his diet. Ours are on fast fibre and minerals balanced to their grazing - big improvement!

Good luck!
 
Black Beastie said:
Farrier was at them only weeks ago, they are treated with backtakill 3 times a week on soft ground. What infections will they be susceptible to please?

:)
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abscess; seedy-toe type infection to name just two. Those hooves need a good tidy. If I owned that horse I would be ringing a good farrier asap to call asap to being suitable trimming/filing.
 
Hmm.... Chips and cracks can do either of two things... Get manky or stay the same. It depends on the quality of the hoof horn!

Your boys feet look good quality wise. The chips are damn ugly and if you don't like that then nothing wrong with a quick tidy with a riders rasp or your own rasp. I personally like toes to be all rounded and smooth :) but I don't think the horse cares.

They are still contracted at the heels. That will eventually decontract and get all shapely. Agree with getting any thrush blitzed.

They look long in the toe and high in the heels but don't do anything drastic, just let them take shape patiently. Lots of work is the best thing, booted if necessary.
 
Imo seedy toe/WLD, cracks generally comes from poor lamina connection (diet), abscesses from bruising of weak structure, injury or poor/unhealthy structure generally.
I agree with TH the hoof wall looks good quality. Nothing wrong with running a rasp round and applying roll but I don't believe it is essential in your horses case. I think the chipping is long hoof wall starting to break away.
 
Yep, agree with amandap about unwanted wall. That's just what would happen naturally and how a horse would maintain its hoof length if left to its own devices in the wilds of middle England! They won't ever chip excessively enough to reveal bare bones so don't worry.
 
My gelding had some flaking, although nothing drastic and not as much as your's appears to be. My trimmer reccomended a good disinfectant to avoid any infection. He lives out so I just brought him in 3-4 times a week, used a hose and wire brush to get rid of the mud, sprayed the disinfectant on and left to dry.

I don't know the name of the disinfectant unfortuantely as my trimmer makes her own - I know some people may say that's why she told me to do it but she also reccomended some cheaper ones, I just couldn't be bothered to go to the tack shop!

Can't advise on anything else as I'm certainly no guru!
 
Farrier is booked for two weeks time he is getting his hooves done between 5/6 weekly at the minute, this will hopefully space out more once we have good working feet and can get out more :)

I do have boots but I have yet to use the, He does have some bruising showing on the hoof wall of the white feet but he always has showed dome at certain times and his hind have been bare for 4/5 years, farriers have never been concerned though as never lame :)

So the chips are all cosmetic really just as my farrier thought, you can still see the nail holes so Im hoping that once they have completely grown down that there will not be as bad chipping :) Will this be the case?
 
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