Thin soles - how to treat?

[amandap]

It could well be deficiencies or even excess of something/s in the grass and or other forage. Copper (for example) is stored in the liver so effects of depletion may take some time to be reflected in the hooves.

 

[lazybee]

Well as some of you are aware I've been having some on/off lameness issues with my boy. Vet came out, reckons bruised sole so had been treating him for that and all was looking good. Then he pulled a front shoe on wed and came in like he was missing a leg. Shoe went back on yesterday, he seems ok, maybe not 100% on it, but think he's just still a bit sore. Anyway I was having a prod at his feet and realised I could flex the sole with thumb pressure!

Not sure what to do now, will speak to farrier on Monday but wondered if any of you had any experince in dealing with it?

He lives out on the rainy west coast of Scotland which probably doesn't help. Is fed adlib haylage in field, and gets small daily feed of happy hoof, fast fibre, equihoof hoof supplement, mag ox and pink powder. Regularly wormed etc and has just been brought back into work after a spell off due to the lameness.

Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated!

I know this is a bit like first aid but.........

I'm was having exactly the same symptoms as you're having, but with a Shetland. He had a bout of late laminitis due to him scoffing a whole tree full of peaches (they all fell off the tree on the same day and he found them) due to the massive sugar hit. Anyway, he seemed to take forever to become sound. We noticed then that he had soft soles and could feel them give with thumb pressure. We're lucky enough to have a good remedial farrier. He came out and as the pony was in pain the first priority was to stabilise the sole. He made some shoes, not heart bar, but longer and overlapped. They were made not so much as a support shoe but as a retainer for the filler. He then cleaned the sole thoroughly and dried it, then cut a small piece of mesh and bonded this in place with a Urethane product similar to sole guard. Then he filled the whole sole area with the same product. This then stopped the sole from flexing when he walked The filler stopped his pain straight away. After four weeks the sole had stabilised and the lameness gone. He had the same treatment repeated just to guarantee all was well. he's now back to normal. Our farrier says he's had loads of similar cases this winter from late laminitis and sole problems and he's seeing more abscesses than ever before. we've had so much rain in the last few weeks. which is making it worse. We've had two abscesses and two cracks in the others.

 

[horsedreams]

have not read all replies so someone may have already suggested this one
but my grandfather always used

eucalyptus oil on horses hooves for all kinds of problems---
one being soft soles

easily available from local chemists

 

[TigerTail]

Lots of fertilizer and other chemicals put on land are bad for horses (look at the rise in lami/cushings/equine metabolic disease) - they havnt evolved yet to deal with them. Same as humans getting all these different cancers because of the man made products we eat sleep and breathe.

Again just take a handful of haylege home with you and send it off to here

http://shop.forageplus.com/epages/e... horses forage to determine nutrition needs."

If the other liveries are all on standard diets like yours was on then this will also be contributing, as we've already discussed there is a lot that can be improved in yours.

Remedial shoeing is only covering up the issues tbh. Thats why a lot of us have suggested going barefoot with boots and pads as we know that is the only way to grow a stronger hoof - rather than covering up the issues with a shoe and putting nails into a damaged hoof wall.

 

[Oberon]

Thanks guys

Current plan of attack is as follows:

Email equimins and get that supplement, and ask them whether their paint on hoof hardener would be a useful addition in the meantime. Change chaff to something non molassed (although he only gets small handful once a day anyway), leave him in stable for few hours each day and couple of nights a week to let soles dry right out. Keep him in light exercise on good ground only, and all going well will invest in over the shoe boots for stoney ground until his hooves thicken. Will also speak to farrier on Monday.

Seem reasonable? I know I'm not doing everything recommended, but at least I'm starting somewhere! Also, did I read that cinammon is good for feet or did I make that up?

Seems very reasonable and thank you for listening to us nutters. We're determined - you can give us that

Equimins META Balance or Pro Hoof http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-HOOF-...r_Equipment&hash=item415ecd69e0#ht_1466wt_952 were created by demand by people who wanted a supplement that complimented UK's grazing more.

The gold standard is always forage analysis - you only get a true picture of what's 'off' with your grazing when you know what's in it. But those two supplements will help in the meantime.

I was nervous of doing a forage analysis that it may offend my YO - but they were perfectly happy (I think I amuse them with my little experiments

) and I could afterwards tell them that the forage was actually pretty good. Unfortunately not a single other livery has been interested in the results but no one 'moans' about the haylage any more

Do not use anything other than water on the horse's hooves (except when treating infection). Hardeners will do more harm than good.

You can add micronised linseed to the diet too - this will provide all the omega oils for joints, gut muculage, coat health and also moisture balance within the hoof wall.

Fast Fibre/unmolassed beet/hay chaff/oat straw chaff are useful to use as a base for the supplements.

Although I am a spokesperson for the Barefoot Taliban

and I agree that ground stimulation is the best way to thicken soles......I would be cautious about removing the shoes at this time. Try the minerals for a couple of months and see if that helps.

 

[cptrayes]

Although I am a spokesperson for the Barefoot Taliban

and I agree that ground stimulation is the best way to thicken soles......I would be cautious about removing the shoes at this time. Try the minerals for a couple of months and see if that helps.

Me too and me too and me too. All three in fact

 

[LeneHorse]

LeneHorse what supplement are you using?

You two both need to get your hay analysed and then feed the specific minerals they need rather than trying to blanket supplement with commerical stuff, which is too weak and clogged with fillers to give them what they actually need.

Thin soles is an extremely big problem and also a very specific one which needs getting on top of asap.

This thread has really got me thinking about what I am feeding my horse. I have been using Formula4Feet (suggested by my farrier) for her hoof supplement. It had good results at first with better hoof growth but after a couple of year's use her feet have stayed much the same as they were before. Previously I tried her on NAF profeet liquid but she refused to touch the feed with it in.
She gets Dengie HiFi original as well which probably has far too much molasses so I'm thinking of changing that. Would Hifi Lite be better, or should I try a non alfalfa based chaff? Any recommendations? I'm not sure about the A&P fast fibre as sometimes I get her brought in if I'm working late, and on those days I need to make her feed up in the morning and leave it in the box for her coming in at night.

Our YO supplies the hay but he buys it in so it can vary according to where he's sourced it from, so I'm not sure if it would be worth getting the analysis done as the next bale might be completely different. Where do you send it to get analysed - can anyone provide a link?
I am not aware of any of the other horses at the yard having problem feet - if the hay/grazing was poor would others not be affected? Her field mate gets no hard feed whatever just grass and hay, and her feet are fine.

I have actually started to suspect that she might be borderline EMS and am getting her blood tested next week. Is there any link between EMS and thin soles? I know they are more prone to laminitis.
I could go on forever about this but will spare you any more of my worries.
Anyway thanks to OP for bringing up this subject and to everyone who replied with such useful ideas.

 

[paddy555]

I am not aware of any of the other horses at the yard having problem feet - if the hay/grazing was poor would others not be affected? Her field mate gets no hard feed whatever just grass and hay, and her feet are fine.

No they are all different. I have some who can eat grass 24/7, no supplements and very little else and they are gravel crunchers. (they are all barefoot) Some of the others do better with a supplement and one is totally odd, cannot cope with the grass and needs the best supplement available to keep good feet on him.

 

[TigerTail]

Im fairly convinced that the company name 'NAF' is a hidden in plain sight joke at the expense of all their customers - never touch their products with a barge pole!

Most of the barefooters on here feed some variation on micronised linseed, a non mollassed chaff (readigrass in my case) and pro hoof. This isnt only for barefooters, its just that those who have gone barefoot tend to put massive amounts of research into it to make their horse happy and give it the best diet and consequently the best feet they can have.

Micronised linseed is very good for putting weight on so you dont need a massive bucket feet which is better for their tummies anyway as horses are trickle feeders.

http://www.barefoothorseblog.blogspot.com/search/label/thin sole horse

Link here to Lucy Priory's blog and a section on thin soles - she does come on here sometimes, shes a fab trimmer and that blog is a wealth of info for owners.

 

[saddlesore]

Thanks again guys. Sadly, horse came in lame today and is now on box rest to let his feet dry out a bit before doing anything else. Phoned my vet, but they are emergency only on a Sat and he didn't feel that this was an emergency So on his advice, horse to be box rested until Monday or Tuesday and if no improvement then to go for xrays to examine extent of damage, and if he's improving then he says its prob more of a managment issue like you guys have said.

Couple of questions - how do you feed micronised linseed and where do you get it? Also, am going to invest in hoof boots for over his shoes whilst hacking atm until things improve - can you recommend me any?

Thanks again for all your help - fingers crossed! x

 

[AngieandBen]

Linseed from Charwood Milling; I would consider taking shoes off completely and buying boots and pads. The boots are not designed to wear with shoes as they will probably damage them and wont last you long!

http://www.easycareinc.com/Our_Boots/easyboots/easyboots.aspx

http://www.charnwood-milling.co.uk/

Hope your horse is ok, good luck with the vet

 

[Miss L Toe]

This thread has really got me thinking about what I am feeding my horse. I have been using Formula4Feet (suggested by my farrier) for her hoof supplement. It had good results at first with better hoof growth but after a couple of year's use her feet have stayed much the same as they were before. Previously I tried her on NAF profeet liquid but she refused to touch the feed with it in.
She gets Dengie HiFi original as well which probably has far too much molasses so I'm thinking of changing that. Would Hifi Lite be better, or should I try a non alfalfa based chaff? Any recommendations? I'm not sure about the A&P fast fibre as sometimes I get her brought in if I'm working late, and on those days I need to make her feed up in the morning and leave it in the box for her coming in at night.

Our YO supplies the hay but he buys it in so it can vary according to where he's sourced it from, so I'm not sure if it would be worth getting the analysis done as the next bale might be completely different. Where do you send it to get analysed - can anyone provide a link?
I am not aware of any of the other horses at the yard having problem feet - if the hay/grazing was poor would others not be affected? Her field mate gets no hard feed whatever just grass and hay, and her feet are fine.

I have actually started to suspect that she might be borderline EMS and am getting her blood tested next week. Is there any link between EMS and thin soles? I know they are more prone to laminitis.
I could go on forever about this but will spare you any more of my worries.
Anyway thanks to OP for bringing up this subject and to everyone who replied with such useful ideas.

Re chaff, you can get Dengie molasses free, with or without alfalfa, it is very palatable.
I use it with Fast Fibre and linseed, it makes it more of a feed rather than a mush.
I make up two feeds at a time, as he is fed by the YO, it is fine, it would be better to make fresh on warm summer days, but then, only one feed will be needed.
If leaving a feed in the box, I throw some hay on top to prevent birds cra###ing on it.
I suggest you try the pro supplement, but
FF and linseed as well. Really as you have an udefined problem a forage analysis would seem a good idea.
Make sure you analyse some haylage from one or two batches of hay, and a bit of grass!
forageplus do analysis, but you really need the diet recommendations which is an extra charge.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Thanks again guys. Sadly, horse came in lame today and is now on box rest to let his feet dry out a bit before doing anything else. Phoned my vet, but they are emergency only on a Sat and he didn't feel that this was an emergency So on his advice, horse to be box rested until Monday or Tuesday and if no improvement then to go for xrays to examine extent of damage, and if he's improving then he says its prob more of a managment issue like you guys have said.

Couple of questions - how do you feed micronised linseed and where do you get it? Also, am going to invest in hoof boots for over his shoes whilst hacking atm until things improve - can you recommend me any?

Thanks again for all your help - fingers crossed! x

The linseed meal is a palatable powder, it is a slow release source of energy [oil=fat], 10 kgs from Equimins or 25kg from Charnwood Milling.
I would try to get him barefoot, get Cavallo boots [cheapest and fine for light work] [use gents socks or Boa Gaiters instead of gaiters supplied], personally I would rather wait for two weeks to see how things are before the X-rays, as the danger is that the vet will say "heartbar shoes" and you are rather stuck with his advice, or you will annoy him. If your horse is not so lame in two weeks, you can say, OK this is working, so I will continues with the barefoot and boots idea for a few more weeks.
In the meantime I suggest you put horse on two Danolin per day for up to four days, to prevent pain, and reduce inflammation. Vet should be encouraged to help, but if you want to take shoes off and work that way, you are going to have to make your opinion clear.
Make sure he has a dry bed, and is standing on shavings as long as he is lame, try to be there when farrier takes off shoes as you want to know if he has white line disease or thrush. I f you are going to join the "Barefoot Brigade" you will need to inspect those feet every day.

 

[saddlesore]

Hi MLT, barefoot is something that I will consider for the future, but not at the minute. He has enough to deal with imo without adding more change/trauma into the mix. My biggest issue/s with barefoot is that he lives out, and I live on the west coast of scotland. So his feet would struggle even more with shoes off. From what I've read on here their diet needs managed to the nth degree which really doesn't suit me. He's liveried 30 mins away from me and doesn't catch for other people, so a once a day visit is all I can manage. I also hack a lot, and not all of the going is very good.

As such, I'd rather leave him shod, but improve his diet so allow him to grow better/more resiliant feet.

 

[cptrayes]

Im fairly convinced that the company name 'NAF' is a hidden in plain sight joke at the expense of all their customers - never touch their products with a barge pole!

Most of the barefooters on here feed some variation on micronised linseed, a non mollassed chaff (readigrass in my case) and pro hoof.

Ummmmm "most barefooters" doesn't include me I feed NAF haylage balancer because it contains yea-sacc and a probiotic that suit my boys well and are cheaper than buying separately and I get a "free" all round vit and min top-up in the same bucket. They have done very well on it, including one who is sensitive to daytime grass in summer and one who is an outright laminitis risk. I don't feed any chaff but I do feed molassed sugar beet and molassed (but not much, they don't taste sweet) cheap own-brand pony cubes.

I do supplement more magnesium and also copper, the copper due to a heavy excess of both iron and manganese in my water supply.

I also recommended NAF haylage balancer to the owners of my Iberian, extremely grass/carbohydrate sensitive, navicular rehab and he is also doing very well on it. And to a friend who has four hardworking barefoot horses who also do well on it.

 

[amandap]

Ummmmm "most barefooters" doesn't include me I feed NAF haylage balancer because it contains yea-sacc and a probiotic that suit my boys well and are cheaper than buying separately and I get a "free" all round vit and min top-up in the same bucket. They have done very well on it, including one who is sensitive to daytime grass in summer and one who is an outright laminitis risk. I don't feed any chaff but I do feed molassed sugar beet and molassed (but not much, they don't taste sweet) cheap own-brand pony cubes.

I do supplement more magnesium and also copper, the copper due to a heavy excess of both iron and manganese in my water supply.

I also recommended NAF haylage balancer to the owners of my Iberian, extremely grass/carbohydrate sensitive, navicular rehab and he is also doing very well on it. And to a friend who has four hardworking barefoot horses who also do well on it.

LOL! I do think a lot of us talk about more difficult/sensitive horses. There are many more stonking barefoot horses out there who have owners without a care in the world.
Forums do tend to give a minority experience because we mostly talk about problems.

 

[pines of rome]

Yes, my friend,s old TB never has a problem, he is now retired but has never had problems, only gets a farrier trim about 3 times a year, she feeds him anything and he has as much grass as he likes! You can bring him in over gravel and concrete and he isn,t at all footy and this was a horse that had such bad feet he couldn,t keep shoes on which is why they came off!

 

[Miss L Toe]

I live West of Scotland, and my boy is b/foot, though he is stabled and hacked on a tarmac road every day. His feet do not smell as they did when shod, and he has great grip on roads. Also I don't have to worry if he kicks a horse in the field, or that he will pull off his hoof wall with the shoe, and its cheaper, though I spend more on bedding the total feed bill works out at the same as it ever did, he always got a magnesium supplement [Steady up from Feedmark]
The reason we are trying to push you toward the barefoot idea is to allow those feet to grow and strengthen without the wearing of "crampons" which are rigid steel bands nailed through hoof wall and effectively trying to work on a naturally flexible structure.
This is a good time because you won't be able to ride him until he is sound anyway. You need to ask someone to walk him up and down [when he is sound], and see if he is landing heel first or toe first, see Rockley farm videos. http://www.rockleyfarm.co.uk/RockleyFarm/Rehabilitation.html

 

[Miss L Toe]

As such, I'd rather leave him shod, but improve his diet so allow him to grow better/more resiliant feet.

There are three variables of which diet is one, exercise is two and trimming the hoof is the third.
We tend to shoe because a horse has a problem, when in fact we should be sorting the problem.
Shoeing does make them less sensitive and that is why most people go for it, barefoot may never suit you, but if you don't try it you will never know. If he is to be stabled for a few weeks and walked out in hand or turned out in the arena he won't need shoes on. It is much easier to put them on than to remove them, we all know that, but it may be that a radical alteration to his management is needed, just a few days in a stable and then returning to same thing won't work, and if the X-rays show a problem you will be asked to go further down the road to specialist shoeing, so it gets further and further away from a natural solution.
Many of the posts on here are from people who just took off the shoes, then asked what to do, its not an easy answer for some, but if you look at the Rockley site you will see that they specialise in horses which have had every treatment under the sun and are still lame. They usually improvement within a few weeks, and most are sound after a few months of barefoot management.

 

[Oberon]

Hi MLT, barefoot is something that I will consider for the future, but not at the minute. He has enough to deal with imo without adding more change/trauma into the mix. My biggest issue/s with barefoot is that he lives out, and I live on the west coast of scotland. So his feet would struggle even more with shoes off. From what I've read on here their diet needs managed to the nth degree which really doesn't suit me. He's liveried 30 mins away from me and doesn't catch for other people, so a once a day visit is all I can manage. I also hack a lot, and not all of the going is very good.

As such, I'd rather leave him shod, but improve his diet so allow him to grow better/more resiliant feet.

That is fair enough and I agree that leaving the shoes on while you tinker with the diet is a good idea. My trimmers live in the Shetlands (but still come to the NW for me by popular demand) and a couple of years ago, I remember they consulted with someone on my yard with the same issue as yourself. With such a compromised sole, they also recommended leaving the shoes on but tinkering with the diet. The horse has been sound since.
I'm not suggesting pulling the shoes wouldn't be highly beneficial for such a horse in the long run - but it isn't the only way to go initially.

The diet in a BF horse doesn't need to be tinkered to the nine degree.

But we routinely feed commercial feeds that are absolute crap while keeping them on forage that is overgrazed, stressed and chronically unbalanced in minerals (which are essential).

To be honest, I am continually amazed that most horses function as well as they do! We are ridiculously unfair to them when it comes to diet. It's like feeding a child on ready meals.

When we remove the shoes from a horse, the mirror gets held up very sharply and they will tell us in no certain terms if there is a problem.

I cannot over emphasize the importance of diet in ANY horse, not just a BF one. It's not difficult at all - it's about letting go of the feed company's jargon and keeping it as simple and helpful as possible.

(also - Fast Fibre soaks in two minutes, so it's super convenient if you are in a rush...but you can also soak it beforehand).

I have two BF horses (one is elderly), two dogs (whom I feed Raw) a family and a full time job with lots of overtime (I am also studying too).

A friend will bring in the horses sometimes when I am working but I do everything else on my own.

Believe me - a healthy BF horse with a diet that allows them to build tissues adequately and keeps their immune system powerful is MUCH less work than an unhealthy one at risk of bruising and infections

 

[Brownmare]

I have been in exactly your situation with my tb mare Belle. She had never had great feet but I'd managed to improve them to a decent standard by feeding Formula4feet. We then moved house to set up our own livery yard and farm and after a few months her feet went downhill. I eventually worked out that any mineral deficiencies in the grazing were compounded by feeding haylage that was also grown on the farm - is this the case with your yard too? Anyhow, Belle's soles were thin enough to flex on thumb pressure and "there was no way she'd cope barefoot" but when my Farrier broke his pelvis and the stand-in lamed her I had no choice and pulled her shoes just until she came sound / Farrier was back in action. I then looked at her diet and got our haylage analysed and a feed plan done by Forageplus (our forage is low in magnesium, phosphorus, copper and zinc) I got the advice of a barefoot trimmer who fitted hoof boots for me and I walked her out inhand as much as she could cope with. Nine months later you wouldn't believe her hooves belonged to the same horse! Not only have her soles thickened but her heels have come back and her toes are shorter with the dorsal wall at a steeper angle and the old white line separation is almost grown out. Most importantly though she can happily cross rough stony ground and I'd never now put shoes back on Good luck with your horse but please don't discount barefoot x

 

[Brownmare]

I should also say that I am currently taking a second horse barefoot and when I got him the first thing I did was have a new set of shoes put on and spent the next six weeks getting his diet right and treating his thrush before removing his shoes. He is reasonably fit and his feet can now cope with an hours hack of which half is roadwork and half grassy tracks. I haven't yet put boots on him but I will in a couple of weeks as I'll be upping his exercise more and over some rougher ground. Even after only 5 weeks barefoot there are noticeable improvements in his hooves...

 

[saddlesore]

Brownmare - very interesting! Yes the haylage is also cut from the yard's land....... curiouser and curiouser (said Alice). Wonder if buying in hay to supplement is a good option then?

Oh, and update for others. Vet is going to check him tom, I'm sure he'll just confirm thin soles but would be happier knowing that for sure. I have also ordered prohoof and linseed to add to his feed. Have to say he looked much more comfortable today after only 24 hours box rest, so hoping that a weeks rest, then slowly build up t/o and walk only exercise on good surfaces, combined with improved diet should equal healthier/happier horse! I will also invest in hoof boots to wear over his shoes whilst hacking atm.

Barefoot hasn't been written out, but shelved at the minute. Want to sort out the immidiate issues first.

I cannot thank you all enough for your help and suggestions - I was so stressed and worried and feel much better now that I have a plan of action!

 

[Brownmare]

I considered buying in haylage - for about a nanosecond but decided I'd rather have control over quality of production, fertiliser, herbicide etc and correct any deficiencies in the form of supplements given that I'd be unlikely to manage a perfect balance or even a consistent one with a bought in supply although it would probably iron out the worst deficiencies it could equally make them worse!

 

[Tiffany]

I suggest you stable at night on clean dry shavings, feed 20gm of biotin, consider researching barefoot, but first you need to get him on a solid diet, forget Happy Hoof as a good thing for feet, its a marketing ploy!
The basic barefoot daily diet is hi fibre low sugar, and additional minerals which must be balanced.
80-120gms micronised linseed meal [Equimins]
0.5 to 1kg Fast Fibre [Allen and Page]
A hoof supplement which will provide 20 gms of biotin plus MgO, available at Equimins, as is advice.
Assume the diet is low in Magnesium, you need to feed a balanced mineral supplement, targeted at hoof growth.
I use Dengie non molasses lo alfalfa chaff
Try to exercise on the road every day to get blood flow and encourage healthy hooves, you must get rid of any disease and have a good farrier.

Out of interest why is Happy Hoof so bad when it's recommended for ponies/horses with laminitis?

 

[Oberon]

Out of interest why is Happy Hoof so bad when it's recommended for ponies/horses with laminitis?

It is recommended by The Laminitis Trust, for which the feed company's donate happily.

It is a mixture of straw, alfalfa, grass, mint, garlic and soya oil with added vitamins and minerals with a starch level of 4% and a sugar level of 3%....so that's 7%.

It is under the 10% recommended.....but if you add what may be in the forage too - it's all going to add to too much.

It has molasses in the hidden guise of Mogolo, which they claim is a low sugar alternative to molasses for laminitics.

Molasses is 47% sugar. Mogolo is 40%

.

I am aware I sound like a paranoid schizophrenic but the feed companies are not interested in keeping your horses healthy. They are interested in making a profit.

And the Laminitis Trust do more harm than good by recommending inappropriate feeds and out dated advice.

Better sources of info are the Cushings and Insulin Resistance Yahoo Group and the SaferGrass website. Yes they are American......but at least they haven't been bought.

A laminitic horse needs forage under 10% sugar and a feed that provides plenty of magnesium, zinc and copper without too much iron getting in the way.
They also benefit from Yea-sacc and possibly a course of charcoal to get over the initial hump.

What they DON'T need is a bag of feed with molasses and a bunch of mould inhibitors

PS I used to feed HappyHoof years ago. My horse's loved it - so it MUST be bad for them

 

[Miss L Toe]

Out of interest why is Happy Hoof so bad when it's recommended for ponies/horses with laminitis?

It is not SO BAD, but listing a pinch of biotin as an ingredient is a scam, horses need 20gms per day, which would double or treble the cost of a bag of chaff.
I am not sure of the sugar content, but ideally we are looking for 3 to 5% as in Quick beet, which is an alternative source of fibre.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Really interesting thread with loads of advice and experiences. I am going to throw a spanner in.

There will always be horses with thin soles accompanied, more often than not with collapsed and or sheared heels.

Take a look at Soviet Song's history. That horse would not have wanted for anything, but her feet remained crap all her racing life and when I was lucky enough to see her last summer her feet were still crap. She lives in luxury, is looked after by the most experienced horsemen possible and is worth millions, but her feet are what nature gave her and have to be lived with.

I had a big ID horse with very flat feet and I had to accept if he was to stay sound he could not be allowed onto rough or firm ground. He was shod with very wide flat iron to support him and if he trod on anything more than a pea sized stone he was hopping for the next 6 steps. Luckily he did a decent dressage test, always on a surface of course. Hacking was an hour of stone spotting, no off roading on rough tracks and no turnout on hard ground or frosty ground. His feet were all white, flakey and soft.

My farrier, who is one of the best in the UK and the holder of many championships told me owners can do a lot to help poor footed horses but cannot not change the conformation of a horse and if nature has provided a flat footed/shallowed sole then so be it. Frustrating for the owner and I think these poor footed animals should not be bred from, unless of course, you happen to own Soviet Song. No foot no horse.

 

[Nocturnal]

if nature has provided a flat footed/shallowed sole then so be it.

but her feet are what nature gave her and have to be lived with.

I don't mean any offense, but I find it so sad and frustrating that people can still think like this despite the wealth of evidence to the contrary .

 

[Clava]

I don't mean any offense, but I find it so sad and frustrating that people can still think like this despite the wealth of evidence to the contrary .

Totally agree, hooves change dramatically given the right conditions, flat / thin soles are not a set condition.