Squaring off front toes

[Charla]

Horse is rising 4. Has just been lightly backed and does short walking hacks at the moment. However, I’ve noticed he is squaring off his front toes. I think it’s more noticeable now he’s walking on the roads and wearing them. Had farrier look, he said it could be a number of reasons, possibly just growing, but there was nothing to trim and they were best being left as they are. Both fronts are worn evenly. How concerned should I be?
he seems to do it if he’s doing a lazy walk. If striding out or walking actively he doesn’t.

 

[Wagtail]

My mare doesn't do any roadwork and really picks up her feet, but hers were squaring off in front. Realised with the help of my farrier that she is doing it by pawing when impatient, or simply digging (which she loves to do in the stable and sand).

 

[ester]

do you have any photos?
It might be helpful to do a slow mo video, at hoof height, of him walking.

 

[Goldenstar]

My answer to this in a horse that age would be remove the shoes .

you definitely need to get him videoed in slow mo and let the vet take a look .

 

[ester]

ETA I was presuming he was unshod. Can you clarify OP?

 

[ycbm]

What type is the horse? I ve seen square toes often on heavy horses that are completely fine, it's just what they do (often with triangular hind feet as well).


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[Pinkvboots]

My navicular horse will sometimes end up with square toes his barefoot though, it only happens if he does a lot of road work and he only seems to drag them a bit on the way home, so maybe it's like a tired sort of thing I don't do a huge amount of road work anyway but I think you notice a toe drag more when you are on the road.

 

[Charla]

Yes he’s barefoot. Otherwise has fantastic feet and isn’t footy in any way. He’s a small sports horse, mix of warmblood, thoroughbred, Connemara.

 

[Charla]

It’s not noticeable him toe dragging. I’ve really had to look for it. But I think it must be that as it’s more obvious since he’s been on the roads.
He sometimes scraps when he’s given his feed.

 

[Pinkvboots]

The hooves do get worn that way more on the road if they have a tendency to drag a bit, his quite young do you think he may be a bit tired, is he ridden for long? And is he ridden every day?

 

[Nudibranch]

I have a very similar thing with my 4yo Dales- unshod, just backed, short hacks. Nothing noticeable. She does like to paw the ground, but is out 24/7 so I'm not convinced it's that. Typical excellent Dales feet otherwise, so hopefully it's just a youngster/growing/learning to carry herself thing. 30 minute hacks in walk with a small amount of trot are plenty at the moment, she tires easily so my guess is that's the most likely cause. Although it is marginally worse on one foot, which also grows a little flare. That leg also threw a small splint last summer, which has gone done again now. She's due teeth and jabs in a couple of weeks so I'll get the vet to do a quick look over, he is equine only and has an amazing eye for feet and legs. I'll be following your thread with interest!

 

[ihatework]

I would imagine it’s just a case of the feet starting to work on a new surface and wearing back. As long as the wear is even and horse not footsore I wouldn’t worry. Mine is doing the same, just taking the toe back naturally

 

[Charla]

He’s ridden for no more than 20 minutes in walk for a hack and does that twice a week at the moment. The only time I have daylight! We don’t have any off road hacking, hence the road work.
I was wondering if he is perhaps growing and is just going through a stage. Or hoping that is all! Vet checked him over when I purchased him around 10 weeks ago and said he was sound and there was nothing of concern.

 

[Charla]

I would imagine it’s just a case of the feet starting to work on a new surface and wearing back. As long as the wear is even and horse not footsore I wouldn’t worry. Mine is doing the same, just taking the toe back naturally

I hope that’s just it. He’d lived out his whole life at the breeders before coming to me.

 

[Gloi]

If the farrier is trimming them flat he could just be wearing them to a natural breakover on the tarmac.

 

[ester]

As much as anything it may well just be the work v. wear difference since he has started his short road walks.
I was more aware of it the other way round as mine went from doing miles and miles a week and requring a trim every 2-3 weeks to rest/very light duties and dealing the the subsequent trimming was quite full on for the first couple of months. Now in his retired life he goes 6 weeks easily.

I guess keep his walk active and see how he goes while it is all so new .

 

[Cragrat]

What are his frogs /central sulcus' (sulci??) like?

 

[Charla]

What are his frogs /central sulcus' (sulci??) like?

I’ll get a photo this week as I’m not too clued up on what they should/shouldn’t look like...

 

[ester]

Oh good hoofy photos

 

[Cragrat]

Oh good hoofy photos

 

[Charla]

Here is the frog

 

[Charla]

And front feet face on

 

[ester]

ok so the angles aren't great and it's useful to brush soles with a wire brush for photos

But they wouldn't concern me, I'd be treating the frog but from those pics I'd say she's trimming her toes quicker than the edges but they don't look overly short. It looks like she probably has quite upright feet?

Fwiw my own didn't break over straight, so he would end up with a straight trim line but to the outside, hopefully you can see it on this pic (pre trim), the ones from above don't show it as well

post trim

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[Gloi]

To be honest that looks like a pretty normal breakover being worn on the hoof. It may be wearing a bit more than normal because the frog and back of her hoof look weak and she could be landing toe first.
If you work on treating the thrush and getting a stronger frog she will land her foot in a better way and should start to wear the toe less. Where you said at the start it is when he is doing a lazy walk that is probably when he is landing toe first and starts walking heel first as he strides out.
I wouldn't stress too much about it though , treat the thrush and it will become better in time.

 

[Charla]

Thank you both, very helpful comments. What is the best treatment for the frog?

 

[Gloi]

Thank you both, very helpful comments. What is the best treatment for the frog?

Do a search on the forum, everyone has their favourites, I like the blue terramycin spray from the vets, or sheep foot rot spray.

 

[Landcruiser]

Red Horse Hoof spray seems to work very nicely for me.

 

[tallyho!]

Just needs a trim but very normal.. that's what my horses hoof looks like when the toe gets a bit long and is due a trim. Although nowadays when that happens I take a bit of toe back because I know that's what the hoof needs.

 

[Tarragon]

I keep my two ponies barefoot, and do a lot of road riding and do most of the trimming myself. I get them done professionally 3 or 4 times a year to make sure they are kept in balance. So, if after a good road ride I see the "squaring" off, I see it as an instruction to me they need a trim and I will round off the sides to keep in line with the new edge, if you know what I mean.

 

[Tarragon]

i also use the Red Horse field paste to keep on top of thrush.