Remedial Farriery?

[Dovorian]

JUst been to look at a horse - interested to see grooves cut into both fore feet running from just below coronary band right down to sole (it was shod), spaced about 2cm apart and all round the foot. Seller said it was to prevent cracks in the dry weather??? Never seen it before and just wondered if it is a preventative procedure + also thought horse unsound behind so did say 'no thank you'.

 

[debradley]

My horse had this done when I first bought her, but that was to prevent cracks she already had from going any further and then had to grow out as her feet were in such a poor state and unstable, but not right up to coronary band and it wasn't all the way round the foot, just where the worst cracks were. She has a big dig out at the moment similar to this (just the one tho) as she's got a touch of seedy toe which is a sod to get rid of!! Think you made the right decision on that one, I can't see any farrier doing something like that unless a problem had existed in the first place.

 

[sally2008]

According to my farrier it is a very old fashioned method used in horses with sidebone, the idea being that it makes the wall more flexible which allows for the extra bony growth going on within the foot.

The same method was sometimes used to try and correct contracted feet.

Sounds like you did the right thing to walk away!

 

[Spot1]

Yes, hooves can be grooved in this manner for side bone/contraction (of the heels) but only at the heel, two or three groves are normally used, it allows the hoof to expand away from the bony development on the lateral cartilages. Grooving all the way around the hoof strikes me as a very strange procedure that would probably cause a degree of lameness and loss of stability (of the hoof capsule). Did the horse have heart bars or any form of pads? Both front feet

This again is a cause for concern. I would be very interested to know the reasons for this procedure

or from anyone else who has seen this done. Best left. Don't buy trouble.

To prevent cracks in dry weather??? Have they also hogged the mane to prevent hair loss

 

[Dovorian]

The odd thing is that this horse was being sold by a well known dealer of sports horses..... they 'implied' that I'd clearly realised I'd be over horse once I'd said 'no thank you'. Foolish of them, the horse wasn't for me to ride!