Post vetting help appreciated :) Especially from a farrier!

[gallopinghooves]

Hi all,

Would you buy a horse with 'bad feet' from years worth of bad farrier at previous home? Not unsound or lame and doesn't appear to be in pain which the vet was surprised at considering how badly the shoes had been fitted (shoes curving into the frog on both front feet!! and now cracked feet).

Other vetting remarks - Generally, the horse isn't an extravagant mover and she's 'fine' at everything - passed flexion etc with reasonable conformation.

I'm just wanting to hack and have fun so not bothered about the way she moves but I am worried about the feet. Especially because it will take a long time for them to recover and a lot of money. But, the vet was very optimistic that they can be fixed (with time and money).

Has anyone had experience of 'bad' feet due to farrier / similar feedback at a vetting? Any insight very welcome.

 

[silv]

Your best bet is to get photos of the feet and send them to your farrier and ask his opinion. If you are worried. What is actually wrong with them? apart from being badly shod this time, are the feet unbalanced and cracked? If they are properly balanced that will go a long way towards them not cracking, and probably a few visits will correct this.
If the vetting did not red flag this I would not be remotely worried.
I have just bought a horse unseen as a project with bad feet but I have a good farrier so would expect within a couple of visits they will look much better.

 

[ester]

they are at least a fixable bit of anatomy. It might not take them that long to recover, how old is she/how long has the farriery been poor?

 

[VictoriaSponge]

Yes, on the basis that you have a trusted farrier ready go and echoes the vet’s thoughts that they are fixable with correct shoeing.

In the current market I’d say it’s increasingly rare to find a horse that’s vetted “fine” otherwise, so if you’re confident they can be improved I’d go for it.

 

[gallopinghooves]

Your best bet is to get photos of the feet and send them to your farrier and ask his opinion. If you are worried. What is actually wrong with them? apart from being badly shod this time, are the feet unbalanced and cracked? If they are properly balanced that will go a long way towards them not cracking, and probably a few visits will correct this.
If the vetting did not red flag this I would not be remotely worried.
I have just bought a horse unseen as a project with bad feet but I have a good farrier so would expect within a couple of visits they will look much better.

Yes they are cracked right down the middle. Back feet seem OK. Front ones are bad and now the whole shape of feet has changed slightly.

Thank you for the advice

 

[gallopinghooves]

they are at least a fixable bit of anatomy. It might not take them that long to recover, how old is she/how long has the farriery been poor?

True! The vet reckons a year but I didn’t think they looked THAT bad. She is 8 and it’s been poor for almost two years

 

[ester]

Id prob buy if thats the case and she's otherwise sound and a nice person.

 

[gallopinghooves]

Id prob buy if thats the case and she's otherwise sound and a nice person.

Thank you for your perspective. I think I will!

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I’ve just bought a horse with unbalanced hind feet - I asked the vet to get X-rays of his feet to check if there was anything underlying or if it was just dodgy trimming. The X-rays were fine and he was completely sound during the vetting and has a lovely temperament. I sent photos/videos/x-rays to our farrier who wasn’t worried and thinks it won’t take more than a couple of cycles to get them looking much better.

 

[gallopinghooves]

I’ve just bought a horse with unbalanced hind feet - I asked the vet to get X-rays of his feet to check if there was anything underlying or if it was just dodgy trimming. The X-rays were fine and he was completely sound during the vetting and has a lovely temperament. I sent photos/videos/x-rays to our farrier who wasn’t worried and thinks it won’t take more than a couple of cycles to get them looking much better.

Ah that’s really reassuring, thanks so much. Unfortunately she’s my first horse so I don’t have a farrier I can go to for help. I might ask for X-rays though! Thanks x

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’d buy the horse. Try to negotiate the price down. It shouldn’t be overly expensive, just correct shoeing should gradually improve things. Good luck.

 

[gallopinghooves]

I’d buy the horse. Try to negotiate the price down. It shouldn’t be overly expensive, just correct shoeing should gradually improve things. Good luck.

Thank you! X

 

[Highmileagecob]

Any chance you can take a farrier with you for a second viewing, as it were? I think I would like to be reasonably reassured that navicular changes haven't already shown up. Maybe have a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab pages, and generally read up on barefoot rehabilitation. It gives another option for correcting balance, and saves £££s if the horse can stay barefoot.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd buy the horse but negotiate the price down.

It's not really going to cost you any more than a horse with good feet. Farrier maybe a week or so shorter cycle to start and a good balancer to help good foot growth, but realistically if they are 'just cracks' and 'poor farrier work' then it's just time and a good farrier (which costs the same as a bad one).

 

[gallopinghooves]

Any chance you can take a farrier with you for a second viewing, as it were? I think I would like to be reasonably reassured that navicular changes haven't already shown up. Maybe have a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab pages, and generally read up on barefoot rehabilitation. It gives another option for correcting balance, and saves £££s if the horse can stay barefoot.

unfortunately not but a reputable farrier recommended by the vet is going to have a look on Thursday and send photos and videos. Unfortunately I live miles away and this will be my first horse so I don't have a farrier. I think I will ask him to FaceTime me whilst there and I might get X-rays if suggested. Will have a look at Pete's page, that's very helpful - thanks so much! Yes definitely open to barefoot and where I ride doesn't have stones etc so could work well

 

[ester]

I'd buy the horse but negotiate the price down.

It's not really going to cost you any more than a horse with good feet. Farrier maybe a week or so shorter cycle to start and a good balancer to help good foot growth, but realistically if they are 'just cracks' and 'poor farrier work' then it's just time and a good farrier (which costs the same as a bad one).

We don’t know what the price is though? Good that the vets farrier is going to have a look. I’d prob get X-rays as a starting point anyway but prob depends how quick the seller wanted to proceed as to whether I did that pre or post purchase (wouldn’t want seller to get fed up waiting if vet and farrier have already been once and horse technically passed)

 

[emilylou]

Where are you based? Maybe someone on here could recommend a good farrier for you.
I'd buy, get XR's of all 4 feet once home and work with a good farrier that will make gradual changes over many trims. Too much too soon, even if the right changes can lame a horse.
And learn as much as you can about feet yourself, foot hygiene, and what you are aiming for. Good follows on fb are- the equine documentalist and study of the equine hoof.
I'm sure others have good recommendations too

 

[dorsetladette]

We don’t know what the price is though? Good that the vets farrier is going to have a look. I’d prob get X-rays as a starting point anyway but prob depends how quick the seller wanted to proceed as to whether I did that pre or post purchase (wouldn’t want seller to get fed up waiting if vet and farrier have already been once and horse technically passed)

True, but it's a bit like buying a car with worn tyres when it comes to the price negotiation - I need to replace the tyre's and this is likely to cost me XXX so I would be happy to offer you XXX.


I've just read that this is OPs first horse which might change my recommendation depending on their experience and/or support network.

 

[TheMule]

I'd want foot x-rays before I considered it

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd want foot x-rays before I considered it

100%.

Depends on how bad the foot imbalance is.

This is how my junior eventer homebred came back off loan as a 7yo, we never got her fully right after that. Shod by a fancy pants training farrier or his apprentices, never did get to the bottom of just who left her like that.

 

[TheMule]

100%.

Depends on how bad the foot imbalance is.

This is how my junior eventer homebred came back off loan as a 7yo, we never got her fully right after that. Shod by a fancy pants training farrier or his apprentices, never did get to the bottom of just who left her like that.

View attachment 153316

Oh my good god, you must have been seething!

 

[fredflop]

100%.

Depends on how bad the foot imbalance is.

This is how my junior eventer homebred came back off loan as a 7yo, we never got her fully right after that. Shod by a fancy pants training farrier or his apprentices, never did get to the bottom of just who left her like that.

View attachment 153316

One of my previous horses was shod like this, by the “best” farrier in the area. They didn’t look like it before he went near her.

 

[ycbm]

I would be extremely worried about a vetting which commented on poor foot balance and restricted gaits.
.

 

[misst]

As another view point. Our dressage horse was sound for the vet but daughter felt he was not moving as well as he used to. Vet pooh poohed the idea but agreed to nerve block. He movedike a dream once blocked. Personally I would be concerned.

 

[gallopinghooves]

Just a note to say thank you to everyone who has responded, I love this forum! x

Where are you based? Maybe someone on here could recommend a good farrier for you.
I'd buy, get XR's of all 4 feet once home and work with a good farrier that will make gradual changes over many trims. Too much too soon, even if the right changes can lame a horse.
And learn as much as you can about feet yourself, foot hygiene, and what you are aiming for. Good follows on fb are- the equine documentalist and study of the equine hoof.
I'm sure others have good recommendations too

This is SO helpful, thank you so much!!

 

[Tarragon]

100%.

Depends on how bad the foot imbalance is.

This is how my junior eventer homebred came back off loan as a 7yo, we never got her fully right after that. Shod by a fancy pants training farrier or his apprentices, never did get to the bottom of just who left her like that.

View attachment 153316

That is appalling! Considering that these hooves haven't been "neglected" as such, they have been "created" by very poor farrier work, someone who has regularly "trimmed" and shod in a professional capacity. I can see how a barefoot horse can end up with very poor feet if no trimming is done, but to have a shod horse that has been re-shod every 6 or so weeks to end up like this is dreadful.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oh my good god, you must have been seething!

I was. And so very sorry for the horse .

I tried to initiate a formal complaint about the farrier, but because the horse wasn’t under my care at the time that she was shod it just proved impossible to proceed. Still no idea if it was the training farrier or one or more of his apprentice who left her like that.

Took the shoes off and she was so crippled that the first vet thought it was acute laminitis. She had to be box rested for three weeks on a thick shavings bed, initially with frog support pads bandaged on.

 

[Fieldlife]

Hi all,

Would you buy a horse with 'bad feet' from years worth of bad farrier at previous home? Not unsound or lame and doesn't appear to be in pain which the vet was surprised at considering how badly the shoes had been fitted (shoes curving into the frog on both front feet!! and now cracked feet).

Other vetting remarks - Generally, the horse isn't an extravagant mover and she's 'fine' at everything - passed flexion etc with reasonable conformation.

I'm just wanting to hack and have fun so not bothered about the way she moves but I am worried about the feet. Especially because it will take a long time for them to recover and a lot of money. But, the vet was very optimistic that they can be fixed (with time and money).

Has anyone had experience of 'bad' feet due to farrier / similar feedback at a vetting? Any insight very welcome.

Is the vet local to where you will be keeping the horse? If the vet feels the feet can be fixed, and is able to recommend a specific farrier / trimmer to do the fixing, then it seems doable. Otherwise as a new horse owner, seems too much of a risk to find your own trusted professional to fix a problem.

 

[gallopinghooves]

These are some photos taken of her feet. I’m not an expert so any advice welcome! You’ve all been so helpful already - thank you

 

[ester]

We can train you to take better ones in future as not ideal

Look shod tight and a bit short (so not supporting the back half of the hoof- this is done a lot still unfortunately - it does mean pulling them off by overreaching is less likely)

frog and heel bulbs not so compressed that they’ve folded up on each other and disintegrated (the bulbs are somewhat squished out the back of the hoof, they need to relax and straighten out)
Looks to have some heel still though.