shoe touching frog

shannonandtay

shannonandtay

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I did post this in the tack room but got no response so either I'm asking a really dumb question (I'm sure that Iam) or I didn't do an over rugging (don't think so) or I'm too big for my pony (probably) thread :D.

So I was picking out ponies hooves last night and noticed that on one hoof the shoe appears to be touching the frog and on the other hoof ( shod fronts only) its close to the frog but not actually touching it. I don't usually do the grooming (daughters job) so I appear to have missed this, but before I phone the farrier I wanted to get other peoples opinions as I'm assuming this isn't right is it? Normal shoes by the way.
 
I would ask your vet how well your horse's feet are shod! I advise this of every horse owner who is 'unsure' of the farriery. You should get a good unbiased opinion on balance etc.
 
Hmmm, happened to me too. Had quite a lot of other issues with that farrier (who I'd had for a very long time and thought was good) so I had to change. Didn't realise how poor the previous guy's work was until I changed to one who works closely with my vet practice. Previous guy was given plenty of chances to up his game, I should have moved much sooner.

I would mention it to the farrier this time and see what his response is, before speaking to the vet.
 
If the shoe has "moved" on the hoof due to a sudden sideways slip, you can see that the hoof and the shoes are not where they were when originally shod ie they will not be aligned.
Is the farrier booked every six weeks or do you call out when there is a problem.......
 
YasandCrystal said:
I would ask your vet how well your horse's feet are shod! I advise this of every horse owner who is 'unsure' of the farriery. You should get a good unbiased opinion on balance etc.
Click to expand...

I wish, some of the vets round here have little experience, and anyway they don't get involved in case they get sued.
The horse may not be well shod today, but there can be a number of reasons, feed, exercise, field conditions, conformation, periods between shoeing, skill of farrier.
I have to relate that one local vet declared to the owner "horse has long toe configuration due to farrier" : said farrier is a FWCF [Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, judges internationally, and was none to pleased by the comment!
 
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MrsD123 said:
I wish, some of the vets round here have little experience, and anyway they don't get involved in case they get sued.
The horse may not be well shod today, but there can be a number of reasons, feed, exercise, field conditions, conformation, periods between shoeing, skill of farrier.
I have to relate that one vet declared to the owner "horse has long toe due to farrier" : said farrier is a fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, judges internationally, and was none to pleased!
Click to expand...

My vet is more than happy to talk to farriers about issues .
It's part of what I pay them for to oversee my horses health with their long term soundness in mind.
 
There are many issues here:
1) how long has the shoe been on
2) does the pony have large healthy frogs
3) does the pony have contracted heels
4) has the farrier used wide section shoes
Which ever one it is, the farrier should be on the case, all of the above are things that a farrier can answer.
As a farrier who now only does barefoot trimming I will make one comment,
If the shoe is touching the frog because the frog is large and healthy, you may want to think about going barefoot as this will make transition very much easier .
 
thank you everyone for your replies. I have had another look today in better light! and I can get the hoof pick between frog and shoe, but only just so maybe not exactly touching although very near to it. I will have another look at the shoe to see if I can see if it has slipped. Farrier is due in three weeks time. He does appear to have large healthy frogs and I did put a post up previous to this about going barefoot as the last time farrier came he did recommend it without me even asking. I just wanted to make some adjustments to his diet which Oberon has kindly sent me over a two page information sheet regarding diet etc and I would like to get this under way first before I take his shoes off.
 
This is interesting, as I recently saw a horse being shod with the shoe over his frog, and it just has to be WRONG. The frog is essential to the horses blood pump. Why would you cover it over with metal ?
 
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