Shod vs Unshod and dinnerplates...

[Queenbee]

so, a very short rundown... 16.1 MW hunter type, backed at 3 and unshod for the most part. Pretty much self trimming but with both farrier and trimmers checking him over from time to time and 'titivating' if needs be. Hinds have always worn nice and boxy, but fronts just kept growing out like dinnerplates, no matter how often the trim, or how much work they would get wider and wider at the base. So we gave in last year (aged six) and added fronts, we now have hind shoes too this year -first set last time because we want to add studs, but my point is that with front shoes on, growth lines have contracted on the fronts in as much as you would expect from the opposite transition... its a curious thing... does anyone have any ideas as to why or any ideas as to how we can achieve this with the fronts without shoes? The problem is with his fettish for barefoot dinner plates on fronts... over time his concavity becomes minimal and this makes hacking - not at all impossible, but less comfortable for him.

Additional info, he is on perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre of unfertilised (for 10 years) grazing in the day 1 large haynet of haylage (I cant imagine that this is high quality as this too is only fertilised every couple of years with manure) - in the night, and the same regime in winter with a scoop of grass chaff for dinner.

As a side note, his hooves are rock solid... my farrier swore the other day because trimming and rasping was so hard with him I have been religious in hoof oil since then never normally bother with it but hoping it will help the farrier next tuesday!

 

[Nudibranch]

Nothing to help, but I have the exact same issue with my 5 yo. Rock hard feet, no footiness, but dinner plates in front. Vet and farrier aren't worried as he is sound but I can't help think there is some compensation going on somewhere. I may ask for x rays to see what's going on inside....