Rubbing hind hooves together

Pipistrelle

Member
Joined
15 April 2014
Messages
19
Visit site
My horse is quite close behind and, when hacking on uneven terrain, he frequently brushes his hooves together. I've tried using a sausage boot to prevent damage to the hooves, but it doesn't work. Is there anything else I can try apart from putting overreach boots on his hinds?

Thanks

Pip
 
Get the farrier to trim back the flare on the inside hooves, also check the shoes are not too big and sitting over the shoe
 
Well i know when the racehorses brush behind the boss gets the farrier to take everything he possibly can away from the inside of the hoof, you may think there is no flare but a professional farrier would see it, and if its knocking the other leg then there is flare, or your horse has terrible conformation, so bandage for exercise
 
OP, do ask your farrier about it next time, but really he should have noticed so he may already have taken action. Having said that, do a pair of thickish brushing boots make enough of a difference? If not, a pair of overreach boots may be the best bet.
 
What on earth would bandaging do if its the hooves that are rubbing?!
Exercise bandages should not come that far down the leg.
 
Hi,

we have often come across this when bringing big Irish Babies into hard work, especially on hills. I moderate the work and put overreach boots on until they fitten up.

I find that with this they will grow out of it.

Even if your horse is not young it could be because you have changed/ increased his work?
 
What on earth would bandaging do if its the hooves that are rubbing?!
Exercise bandages should not come that far down the leg.

True but if the hooves are rubbing the fetlocks will also be close, so putting thickish boots or bandages between them will keep the hooves apart.
 
My old pony did this all his life but apart from removing the hair on the coronet band no harm came of it. If he isn't shod behind he shouldn't really do a lot of harm to his hooves but you could put overreach boots on his backs if you wanted to protect them. Mine did it worst if he was tired so yours might improve with fitness.
 
Ah okay, thank you!
I was thinking that STRIKER meant that the bandages would protect the hoof- hence the confusion! Silly me :)
 
You put brushing boots on not overreach, but if no brushing boots a bit of vetwrap over some soff ban for exercise just on the fetlock where pony knocks.

But really why spend money on boots when you could get farrier to check feet and tell him pony is knocking he will know what to,do before you have to outlay on a pair of boots
 
We had a horse which used to do this. I say 'used to' because she started doing it and then just as suddenly stopped again! Not really sure what caused it, although she had just come back into work after being off with a tendon injury and wasn't very fit so we reckon it could have had something to do with that. She used to wear an over reach boot just on one foot and this solved the problem. It looked a bit odd but did the trick! She doesn't do it anymore so we have stopped using the boot again now. Hope this helps. :)
 
I'll ask farrier next time he comes then as I can't see any flare and my horse has excellent conformation so I don't think that it could be that. I have noticed that the hair on the coronet band has been neatly cut, he didn't do this before, I've only seen it recently (a few months ago) since i've had him for the last 10 years.
 
Mine used to do it, however I had a chiro out (seemed sore across her back) and after a few sessions actually stopped doing it. Have you had someone walk to horse in hand so you can watch how its moving behind? She was tight across sacra iliac and just needed a bit of work to loosen it up
 
Also agree with sundae there are a myriad of things which cause it but looking at the hind feet first is a start then go from there
 
My pony does this, but its nothing to do with his feet, its the way he's put together (one leg bends into the other) its never caused a problem (injury) and i dont boot him up either, its just the way he is.
 
My young horse does this. He was born very wind swept and is weak behind. The stronger he gets the less it happens, but at the moment he has an overreach boot on one hind foot when ridden.
 
Mine used to do it as a youngster - I tried the fetlock rings but like you they were too high up to work. He did it particularly when it was hot and he was slobbing along - mainly in the field rather than under saddle. I used overreach boots on hinds, and put up with the bemused looks, but as he got fitter he stopped doing it apart from when he was really tired. I'm sure that it is likely your horse will get better with work as well.
 
Top