Please Help, What do you think of my horses feet?

Firewell

Firewell

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Opinion is mixed at my yard as to the state of my horses feet and wether the farrier is doing a good job...

I think they look OK but my mum thinks that the balance of weight is too far forward and that the way his feet are is putting pressure on his tendons.

He is a TB, but my farrier says he has really good feet and that they look perfect but then he would wouldn't he! They never crack, they are hard and the clenches never rise but they do grow very fast!

Firstly i'm really sorry his feet are muddy. I took these when it was wet and I don't hose his feet off in case he gets mud fever. I probably should have taken the pictures on a dry day when his feet were clean but I didn't... Hopefully you can see the general idea though.

He had been shod two weeks previously when I took these photos.

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So whats the general view on here, good/not good? Pictures are only of his front feet. Thanks
 
I'm hoping I can just be straight? I would hate to cause offence though!

Basically, I wouldn't be happy with them on either of our horses. The heels look contracted and underrun, will be putting strain on tendons. It does look like your farrier has brought the heels of the shoes out a little on the insides, but I would be wanting to chat to him about these issues and what he suggests to help them, or what he is already doing for this. Have his feet become this shape recently, or have they always been a similar shape? If they have recently become like this then I would be worried, but it could be that if they were worse that your farrier is slowly improving them. Hard to say when you just see one moment in time tbh.
 
No straight is what I wanted thank you. This farrier has been shoeing him for about 7/8 months now as I wasn't happy with the last farrier!

I'll see if I can find a picture from a couple years back x
 
festivefirewell said:
No straight is what I wanted thank you. This farrier has been shoeing him for about 7/8 months now as I wasn't happy with the last farrier!

I'll see if I can find a picture from a couple years back x
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That would be really interesting! It is so easy to mud sling at farriers, but unless you can see progress (good or bad) then it is hard to know what is really going on!
 
Sorry this is all I can find really, I may have an old photo on my phone. This is a picture from when the old farrier was shoeing him, its a confo shot so wasn't meant to be a foot shot:-

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I'll see if I can find anythin else. I changed from the old farrier because the front feet never looked like a pair and I didnt think he was supporting his heels. To be fair to the farrier I am currently using, the horn on his feet now looks healthier but to me something doesnt look right. My mum thinks they are getting worse but then why is the horn healthier?

Old farier:-

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Ok this is a picture from nearly three years back, and it was the same old farrier. I'm thinking they looked a bit neater back then?

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I wouldn't be happy with the feet in your original post and, from what I can see, prefer the old farrier's work but it is quite hard to see from those shots.

Either way, me personally, would be having a work with current farrier (but I am extremely picky about foot balance!).
 
Thank you, my mum is ALWAYS right, it is rather irritating lol.
I think i'm going to have to use a whole new farrier. I have one in mind but he is super duper expensive, £110 a set. Worth it for a sound horse though.
He has been tripping more recently, thats what made my mum have a 'chat' with me about his feet!
 
Hard to say, but I would agree with you that the shape looks better in the older pic - the heels aren't as high and the toes aren't as long.

I wouldn't care if the feet look like a pair though tbh - unless you can be sure that what goes above is exactly the same and loaded perfectly evenly then the feet aren't going to match exactly anyway. Making non-matching feet into a pretty looking pair can cause lameness if continued so I wouldn't want a farrier to force the issue. They should be balancing and trimming the feet the horse needs to grow, not making them something they are not.

I think a chat with your farrier about your concerns and some ideas from your farrier about a plan of action would be a good next step. Make sure you understand the suggestions and feel happy with what is going on. As well as shoeing your horse, your farrier should be happy to enable you to be an educated owner, so don't accept a fobbing off!

I don't know what ways a farrier can help the foot shape back and lower the heels though tbh, I am wary of ones that get a bit file happy and just dump the toes more and more (seems to be the 'solution' for alot of horses on the yard I'm on, but not an approach that I think helps the horse use it's feet correctly or that is conducive to a long sound working life) - I have to admit that our mares had their shoes off and that fixed it very nicely!
 
Thanks,

Goodness :(.

I would but we have acres of roadwork hacking and he needs studs for eventing in the summer. If I had off road hacking they would be off like a shot. Hes got pretty hard feet for a TB :)
 
Tend to agree with the other posters and your mum. He's leaving the toes too long and this will result in underrun heels and additional strain on tendons.

The hoof horn getting healthier isn't anything to do with your farrier, it's the conditions and feed that you give and keep your horse in that will affect the hoof growth (so the good growth is down to you!)

I would be thinking about finding a new, more experienced farrier. Yeah he's got good feet for a t/b but that is easily ruined by inexperience or careless farriery and it doesn't take long for it to happen.

If he's got good feet is unshod a route you could go down? Then you could let him grow his natural shaped foot and you will have an idea of what his feet need to do for optimum performance - at least then, if you do need to shoe in future you will know what his foot should look like :)

he's gorgeous btw, and well done on your first BD point :D
 
I agree with ThePony, 100%.

And btw, I have a TB I've just taken barefoot - road work is THE best thing for hooves ;). I hack mine out over miles and miles of roads - he's happy as larry on them, and has not long had his shoes off :).
 
festivefirewell said:
Thanks,

Goodness :(.

I would but we have acres of roadwork hacking and he needs studs for eventing in the summer. If I had off road hacking they would be off like a shot. Hes got pretty hard feet for a TB :)
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Don't want to turn this into a 'yay barefoot' post as it isn't really on subject with your initial question, but I just wanted to mention that roadwork is no barrier to a sound and comfortable barefoot horse (and is v good actually). You could always shoe and stud up for eventing as needed, and work barefoot the rest of the year. The strength of your horses feet would benefit.
Don't want to waffle more as there are 100s of posts out there if you want more info, but just wanted to suggest that it is a possibility for more horses than I think people initially imagine.
 
festivefirewell said:
Thanks,

Goodness :(.

I would but we have acres of roadwork hacking and he needs studs for eventing in the summer. If I had off road hacking they would be off like a shot. Hes got pretty hard feet for a TB :)
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I've never had a problem with taking a freshly un-shod horse out on tarmac, it's rocky, hard uneven bridleways that are trickier for the horse to begin with.

You could always shoe for the eventing season and take them off the rest of the year.
 
Thanks everyone, thanks poojay :D. He is absolutly blooming at the moment, he's in perfect health so yes that could be why his feet are in good nick :D.

It's weird as I have thought about barefoot with him just because when he does lose a shoe I do still hack him and jump him as normal! He is a bit footy on big stones but fine otherwise. Hmmm maybe it is something I will think about... Ive asked the farriers and they have said 'maybe' but have always been put off by the roadwork, honestly a pair of shoes barely lasts me 5 weeks, they get worn down by the roads that quickly!

Thanks x
 
Feet last longer than shoes! Ours were shod every 5 weeks, and were on smooth slippy shoes about half way through that. Not ideal for good footing on the road, and more than a little painful on the wallet lol!
 
festivefirewell said:
It's weird as I have thought about barefoot with him just because when he does lose a shoe I do still hack him and jump him as normal! He is a bit footy on big stones but fine otherwise. Hmmm maybe it is something I will think about... Ive asked the farriers and they have said 'maybe' but have always been put off by the roadwork, honestly a pair of shoes barely lasts me 5 weeks, they get worn down by the roads that quickly!

Thanks x
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I'm not trying to be pushy, but if it helps allay your worries - I've found that hoof growth speeds up massively when you start hacking on road without shoes. At the moment my TBs feet are going mental & I'm struggling to do enough road work to keep them down! I can't see me ever wearing them down too much, I'd have to hack to Scotland and back, I reckon :p.
 
festivefirewell said:
Thanks everyone, thanks poojay :D. He is absolutly blooming at the moment, he's in perfect health so yes that could be why his feet are in good nick :D.

It's weird as I have thought about barefoot with him just because when he does lose a shoe I do still hack him and jump him as normal! He is a bit footy on big stones but fine otherwise. Hmmm maybe it is something I will think about... Ive asked the farriers and they have said 'maybe' but have always been put off by the roadwork, honestly a pair of shoes barely lasts me 5 weeks, they get worn down by the roads that quickly!

Thanks x
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if he jumps fine after losing a shoe then i would say he's a good candidate. There're always hoof boots for hacking if he is footy to start with. :)

I wouldn't event barefoot though and my mares feet are superb. It would be heartbreaking to put shoes on them but i couldn't risk the slip factor on the grass...

***runs for cover***:D
 
I just wanted to say I really like him :)
Not to sure on ther feet thing as its been ages since I had a good look at shod feet as the pony doesnt have any shoes, theres definatly something not quite right about them though. But he does most of his work on the roads when we are a uni so roadwork can be done if thats the way you want to go.
 
Umm they sometimes looked a bit long with the old farrier as well, but actually now I think back he was standing more over his foot rather than behind it with the old farrier and his heels were lower to the ground. I'm not that good on foot issues, for some reason I find it quite hard to assess.
My friend basically changed to the new farrier and she sort of talked us all round to it as her old mare had really really uneven feet (but then she has leg problems anyway). My friend has since left the yard and my mum has gone back to the old farrier. Unfortunatly I think the old farrier has well and truely had his nose put out of joint and i'm not sure he will have me back now!
Nightmare, and the new farrier although he is really nice and chatty and fun, he's not the sort of guy who will take critisism or input. When I asked him about J's feet last time he got very on the defensive and said they had improved so much, that he had great feet and why could'nt I see how perfect they now were...

He's due next week. Not sure what to do! I'm the sort of person who when I find out something is wrong I want it stopped right away.
 
festivefirewell said:
Umm they sometimes looked a bit long with the old farrier as well, but actually now I think back he was standing more over his foot rather than behind it with the old farrier and his heels were lower to the ground. I'm not that good on foot issues, for some reason I find it quite hard to assess.
My friend basically changed to the new farrier and she sort of talked us all round to it as her old mare had really really uneven feet (but then she has leg problems anyway). My friend has since left the yard and my mum has gone back to the old farrier. Unfortunatly I think the old farrier has well and truely had his nose put out of joint and i'm not sure he will have me back now!
Nightmare, and the new farrier although he is really nice and chatty and fun, he's not the sort of guy who will take critisism or input. When I asked him about J's feet last time he got very on the defensive and said they had improved so much, that he had great feet and why could'nt I see how perfect they now were...

He's due next week. Not sure what to do! I'm the sort of person who when I find out something is wrong I want it stopped right away.
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Maybe you get the really expensive potential farrier out for a visit to shoe him (or unshoe him) and ask his advice? If you are upfront with him (the expensive farrier that is) and say you're after a very experienced 2nd opinion?

Either that or go cap in hand to the old farrier and beg his forgiveness and pretty please will he take you on again - it'll suit him more to have 2 horses to shoe at your place (i'm assuming your ma stables with you?) so unless you were really rude to him it would be in his best interests to take you back on too. :)
 
festivefirewell said:
Umm they sometimes looked a bit long with the old farrier as well, but actually now I think back he was standing more over his foot rather than behind it with the old farrier and his heels were lower to the ground. I'm not that good on foot issues, for some reason I find it quite hard to assess.
My friend basically changed to the new farrier and she sort of talked us all round to it as her old mare had really really uneven feet (but then she has leg problems anyway). My friend has since left the yard and my mum has gone back to the old farrier. Unfortunatly I think the old farrier has well and truely had his nose put out of joint and i'm not sure he will have me back now!
Nightmare, and the new farrier although he is really nice and chatty and fun, he's not the sort of guy who will take critisism or input. When I asked him about J's feet last time he got very on the defensive and said they had improved so much, that he had great feet and why could'nt I see how perfect they now were...

He's due next week. Not sure what to do! I'm the sort of person who when I find out something is wrong I want it stopped right away.
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I'm sure if the old farrier is still doing your mum's horse , with a little buttering up and smooth talking i'm sure he'd take you back , you could always tell him that your friend talked you into changing and now that she's left you feel able to ask for his services again. Changing farriers is hard, because it takes a while ( i.e the time it takes the feet to grow ) to know exactly what your getting and i would say that from your pics the old guy was the best man for the job re your boy.
 
Thanks,
Ive text my old farrier a really nice text, will see what he says, he took my mum back so he may take me back!
I'll wait a couple days and see if I hear from him. If not I will try the expensive farrier who I have used before, he shod my old horse before she died and I think he would be happy to come out.
Whoever comes out I may see if we can try him without shoes, if anything just to let his feet get back to a normal shape! All our comps for the next 2/3 months are on a surface anyway, will see how he goes, can always put the shoes back on once I have the farrier I trust.
He's booked next week but I think I will tell him that I'm going to back to old farrier as my mum is as well, that we have used him for years. He's bound to get in a hump but what can I do, I must put my horses best interest first even if it means I have a very grumpy farrier on my hands!
 
I prefer your old farriers shoeing. The current ones don't have any heel support and do look like s lot of pressure's going on the tendons.
 
festivefirewell said:
Thanks,
Ive text my old farrier a really nice text, will see what he says, he took my mum back so he may take me back!
I'll wait a couple days and see if I hear from him. If not I will try the expensive farrier who I have used before, he shod my old horse before she died and I think he would be happy to come out.
Whoever comes out I may see if we can try him without shoes, if anything just to let his feet get back to a normal shape! All our comps for the next 2/3 months are on a surface anyway, will see how he goes, can always put the shoes back on once I have the farrier I trust.
He's booked next week but I think I will tell him that I'm going to back to old farrier as my mum is as well, that we have used him for years. He's bound to get in a hump but what can I do, I must put my horses best interest first even if it means I have a very grumpy farrier on my hands!
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It's always hard finding and getting rid of farriers. You've done the right thing though :) at least you've not just sat on it and hoped for the best!

Good luck! :)
 
The feet look a better shape in the older photos, shorter toes, more heel.

That' s not to necessarily say the old farrier is better than the new one because those old photos could have been taken just as you took the old farrier on and the new photos taken just as you stopped using the old farrier! I think the hoof takes 10-11 months to grow from coronet to ground, so in 7-8 months, I would expect to see an improvement in foot angle/heel if those things were a problem at the start of those 7-8 months.

Farriers sadly often experience their customers leaving to go to other farriers, esp on DIY yards where one person may bring everyone's horses in for the farrier on a weekday morning, and then that person leaves the yard or changes farrier, so everyone else has to change too or else start taking time off work.

It's nice if you can have a relationship with your farrier whereby you can ask questions and ask "why do you do that?" I've learnt lots from my farrier by asking him why he does particular things with my horse and he always takes the time to explain which I appreciate.
 
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