Recently trimmd feet critique please

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shadowboy

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See previous post for background

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=490425

he was trimmed today- whats your thoughts on both the trim and his feet generally

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sorry they are a bit poo- pony wouldnt stay still and its in the field so hard to find an even area
 
Much better, but I am not impressed. He is still down on his heels and it wont be too long before his feet are at the same stage as previously posted. I cant see much remedial work having been done, just tidied up for now.
 
I have to say I didnt ask for anything as I wasnt there- just booked a bog standard trim that he has been having every 6 weeks for the last year.

He was a reccommended farrier from this forum actually so wouldnt have a clue who to go to to improve anything :(
 
They look darned good if you ask me after previous photos. I may be imaginig but heels look a little high... but then again maybe there is still some contraction in the heels. They look strong though :)
 
tallyho! said:
They look darned good if you ask me after previous photos. I may be imaginig but heels look a little high... but then again maybe there is still some contraction in the heels. They look strong though :)
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Oh really! Argg two different opinions! I have no idea! :( I'm rubbish- I try to learn about every aspect of horse care day on day but cant quite get my head around feet!
 
Yes... feet... they are the be all and end all of horses aren't they really.

Can't remember if any of the barefooters recommended Feet First or any of the Jaime Jackson or Pete Ramey books... that is where I started.

WHy don't you post on UKAEP or UKNHCP forum and see what the farriers/barefooters say on there. Although I'm sure more experienced people than I will look on here soon...
 
I have a book by Jaime Jackson upstairs and although I have read it and referred back to it, I still can't quite 'see' what I'm looking at. Good idea about the other forums though!
 
Shadowboy,
you have forgotten to provide the most important piece of information ie what does your horse think of his trim? Is he sound, happy, going any better or at least as well or is he sore after it?
If he is sound and happy then ride him and once you put some more miles on the clock his feet will keep improving.

I simply don't understand lionmans comments. What does down on his heels mean? do you mean they are too low, running forward or what.

As a matter of interest precisely what remedial work would you do on those feet?
Just curious.
 
paddy555 said:
Shadowboy,
you have forgotten to provide the most important piece of information ie what does your horse think of his trim? Is he sound, happy, going any better or at least as well or is he sore after it?
If he is sound and happy then ride him and once you put some more miles on the clock his feet will keep improving.

I simply don't understand lionmans comments. What does down on his heels mean? do you mean they are too low, running forward or what.

As a matter of interest precisely what remedial work would you do on those feet?
Just curious.
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He was sound this evening yes- and happy yes- full of beans and telling his little field buddy to move off- bucking and farting. I havent ridden him yet so cant comment on that but he has always been footy on stoney tracks- the type with angular edges.

He's never sore as such after his trims although the day or two after he feels marginally more footy on such gravel tracks- never had a problem on tarmac.
 
Well if he is reasonable happy I cannot see what else the farrier could have done. If he had taken more off the horse may well have been sore. Don't forget trimming is only a small part of the story. Photos can be a bit misleading as it is only someone's interpretation from a computer screen. What really matters is how the horse feels.

I see he is only 3.5 so obviously you are limited in the amount of work he has done but if he was mine I would work him to start conditioning and improving his feet even if you have to do some of it leading in hand on tarmac as many times as you are able. Work builds good feet more than anything. He may well improve on the stoney bits as his feet improve. The angular bits are quite hard on the feet and his may simply not have done enough work yet to be able to cope. I would work on the surfaces he is comfortable on and just introduce tiny bits of stoney work to gradually build the feet up. Too much too soon and you risk him getting sore.

Six months of work and I'm sure you will have very different feet :D

If he gets more footy on stones, especially next Spring, you will know you have to consider diet. You will probably have to anyway.

It is difficult to see exactly why he may be very slightly more footy after a trim but you could try next time asking the farrier not to trim the frog at all and see if there is any difference. It is only a small thing but it may make a difference.
 
The trim is al part of the whole regime> if you can walk him up and down tarmac 30 mins per day he should start to self trim, get to know the sound of his footfalls as you bring him in from the field, and ask a friend to walk him up and down so you can see his movement.
Diet and exercise are things to consider, See Feet First.
Study the feet on Rockley Farm site.
 
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