Pony has started forging

[SEL]

Baby cob had shoes off over winter but wasn't coping with the tarmac and hated my attempt with scoots so had his shoes back on last cycle (5 ish weeks - farrier due next week). Striding out so much better first few weeks but has been a bit 'sticky' last week or so. I think he's getting a bit close behind but we know he has weak stifles and he's on a physio led rehab plan. Farrier knows to keep hinds (unshod) trimmed back.

Routine vet visit and trotted up fine with a clean bill of health, followed by a physio visit on Sunday which was also fine. I'd hacked on Saturday and was convinced I could hear that tell tale click of a hind catching a forefoot, but the ground wasn't great and we caught a nasty jammed stone on the way home. I had to hop off to remove it and walked him home from there - couldn't hear a click so wasn't sure. Physio didn't spot anything during the trot up either.

Hacked yesterday and definitely heard him catching in trot so popped him on the lunge today - he just isn't striding forward and is definitely catching. Fortunately I haven't got around to clipping his feather off yet so that's protecting him.

Could this just be a case of it being late on in the trim / shoe cycle at a time of year when there's likely to be a fair amount of hoof growth? He's not grown over the shoes or anything like that - they look fine - so I'm wondering if I just need to keep his hind toes back between trims a bit more.

Any thoughts, experiences welcome - thank you

 

[GinaGeo]

It might be a case of trying to keep the toes shorter in front as well.

When shod the breakover will creep forward through the cycle, and will be slightly further forward to start with, than without a shoe.

The forefoot will then be slower to get out the way of the hind feet

 

[SEL]

It might be a case of trying to keep the toes shorter in front as well.

When shod the breakover will creep forward through the cycle, and will be slightly further forward to start with, than without a shoe.

The forefoot will then be slower to get out the way of the hind feet

Thanks - he's slamming down his front feet. Large, flat dinner plate shaped cob feet and he just isn't confidently striding out any more

So it could be that they've got long. Physio did say he trotted up better than he walked up

 

[ycbm]

How old is he now? Has the back end outgrown the front?

 

[Gloi]

Large flat dinner plate feet normally means stretched white line

 

[SEL]

How old is he now? Has the back end outgrown the front?

5 - physio thinks he looks in proportion but he's feeling a bit all over the place under saddle right now. Still narrow in front and I don't think that's helping. He was starting to work down & into the contact but we've gone back to ears up my nose recently so could be wonky baby body. Got a saddle checked booked too.

Large flat dinner plate feet normally means stretched white line

Just him according to farrier. Fabulous chunky frogs, tight white line but hooves like a Shire.

 

[Gloi]

Just him according to farrier. Fabulous chunky frogs, tight white line but hooves like a Shire.

The bone inside the foot isn't a different shape than other horses when cobs grow the big spread feet. Anything you can do to encourage tighter growth the better.