Typical TB feet, what do you think?

Also when you have the shoes off dont let your farrier trim the frogs/soles - they need to be allowed to build up natural callous to protect them :)
 
Non molassed Sugar Beet Pulp has had the sugar extracted [and no added mollasses] so it can be used as a low sugar energy source.
I feed mins and vits [Equimins/Benefit Advanced] all the year round, using Fast Fibre as a carrier for the mins and vits plus 50gms micronised linseed.
In winter I add non molassed SBP, and Dengie non molassed chaff for variety and texture.
20gms salt per day, magnesium [Feedmark steady up] to calm and to balance the diet, and 100gms micronised linseed [good dooer].
I no longer feed cereals other than a few oats sprinkled on top of his mash. I can increase this if he needs a bit more energy.
My hoof quality has always been very good, but the micronised linseed and feeding all the year round, have improved skin and hair, plus the soles and the frogs are healthier.
My pony is now barefoot, though I have to adapt to his needs, as he can be footy in front.
Barefoot and doing roadwork on smooth tarmac will improve feet no end, as will winter diet, which is lower in sugar than summer grass.
 
TB's don't have bad feet when they are born, feet form within hours of birth initially, and go on from there.
The management regime of most TB's do nothing to develop their feet, normally quite the reverse.
The concept of it being genetic is rubbish. The sire and dam of most TB's have had their feet spoiled and foal go through the same system.

Proper barefoot principles applied to TB foal will produce good feet like any other horse.
 
Oberon said:
The Dengie Healthy Hooves is 9% combined sugar and starch - so we're up to 27% with the C&C.

I have heard (but I don't know) that the Bailey's Topline Cubes are 26%

So we could be up to 53% in a bucket.....
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sorry to disagree but if you feed multiple types of food with various starsc and sugar levels it averages rather than accumulates in terms of percentage i.e. if i fed a feed that was 20% and an equal amount of something that is 10%, the starch sugar content of that mix would be 15%

As a owner of a bf tb who is also prone to allergies and prone to personality changes at the sight of sugar, i don't feed any mix or cube but only straights. Feed has been crucial though in turning his feet around.

He gets
Bran
Copra
Sugarbeet (not too much or even 5 % sugar can go to his head)
Linseed
I also add brewers yeast for the b vits inc biotin and the yeasts for his gut and it's cheap :)
Plus minerals
But the main thing for keeping weight on tbs with no side effects is getting as much fibre as you can. You can add timothy haylage - not ryegrass if he needs a bit more and that is better for him than huge feeds.
 
Op you seem willing to listen and learn which is great and will help you a lot.
I failed 1st time round as I didn't know enough. This forum will help you loads and do what I don't and do research after research. Lots to learn and now it's working for my lad
good luck
 
My lad has horrid big humongous flat feet ... he hadnt really been ridden since his racing days so had been left with no shoes on ... werent in the best condition and full of cracks - farrier told me putting shoes on him wouldnt work and would do more harm than good and to leave shoe-free to see how he goes ... been completely fine mbut needs trimming a little more regularly until cracks have grown out (nearly there) :D
 
Oberon said:
The Dengie Healthy Hooves is 9% combined sugar and starch - so we're up to 27% with the C&C.

I have heard (but I don't know) that the Bailey's Topline Cubes are 26%

So we could be up to 53% in a bucket.....
Click to expand...

Oh my god you've given me a heart attack! I think the Topline Cubes will be going in the bin, lesson learnt!
 
For those asking I've made a public album with some pictures of her feet in took today. please bear in mind that she was only shod 4 weeks ago so is not even due and look at the state of them! Please also remember that I have only had her 6 weeks so and am not letting her carry on like this I am doing something about it!!!
 
Victoria25 said:
My lad has horrid big humongous flat feet ... he hadnt really been ridden since his racing days so had been left with no shoes on ... werent in the best condition and full of cracks - farrier told me putting shoes on him wouldnt work and would do more harm than good and to leave shoe-free to see how he goes ... been completely fine mbut needs trimming a little more regularly until cracks have grown out (nearly there) :D
Click to expand...

Your farrier sounds fantastic!!
 
TigerTail said:
Ooo yay piccies :D And def get the diet changed over ;)
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Just got to work out the kinks lol, new horse new problems haha

her owner said its fine to take off the back shoes and she how she is with that and I'll get her some keretax hh and change her diet

Only problem is she is on ad lib hayledge and 24hr turnout in summer but is brought in 2 nights a week. Being out suits her better as her legs do swell up when standing in a lot but I may restrict her grazing and bring her in during the day?
 
I have plenty of experience with tbs.

First one was quite often pulling shoes off; previous owner hadnt looked after him very well. The farrier on the yard is one of the best aroud. He occasionally had a hoof suppliment in his food, and Cut Heal's hoof heal put on his hooves three times a week. Worked wondered.

Second TB mare... took her racing shoes off when she came, as it was cheaper without shoes. She was fed a normal diet and there was never anything wrong with her feet!"
 
Another vote for unmolassed sugar beet - Speedibeet is unmolassed. I've used it for everything from a poor doer ex racer to a very old cushings pony. You can also add sunflower oil or similar to help weight gain, or even better, linseed as others have said. Could you restrict grazing and feed hay instead of haylege? Even just in the daytime would be good. Have a look into the track system of strip grazing, this works well to keep them moving about. Even if you can't go all the way round the field perimeter you can still make a long, narrow strip.

If you're really set on improving hoof quality have a look through the multitude of threads on here, read up on Pete Ramey and get hold of a copy of Feet First. Then have your grazing and hay analysed so you know what to balance with. There seems to be a massive market for supplements and so many of them seem to be a waste of money; they really know how to play on our continual sense of worry that we're not doing our best for our horses!
 
Nudibranch said:
There seems to be a massive market for supplements and so many of them seem to be a waste of money; they really know how to play on our continual sense of worry that we're not doing our best for our horses!
Click to expand...

I feel guilted into buying every type of feed and supplement under the sun! I recently swapped to C+C instead of speedi beet but may change back, undecided on that one. Im gonig to have a search round, change her diet, whack her back shoes off and get some keratex hh :) Thanks everyone
 
Well.... having looked at those feet, I fear that it is not only diet that needs changing... perhaps a new farrier is in order. Sack your farrier at once!!!!!!

Who nails shoes to feet like that????? I am horrified!!! To think you actually ride her with those feet. Oh dear.

They are way too long in the toe, thankfully they have not under-run that much. The nails in the shoes weaken the hoof wall, the hoof wall is already trying to break because it is overly long, and far too far forward for her leg. No wonder she can't keep shoes on.

My dear girl, please get a decent farrier. A diet will improve what will grow but nothing is ever ever going to change that hoof wall... nevermind a bit of oil in a tub!

Apologies if I seem harsh but I really am pretty shocked. You need to read this thread...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=513676&highlight=brave+people+pics

I can't believe your farrier was trying to shoe on to THOSE feet!!! This is not YOUR fault by the way, it is the person you chose to look after his feet.

Diet is one thing but this is where I think a good trim will really make a difference.
 
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No i completely agree with what you are saying, but please bear in mind that her feet were like that when I got her and have only had her 6 weeks so I'm trying to sort this out but he is up tomorrow to do her and I will make sure he does a good trim and the back ones are coming off as that's why her front are in such a state because she's pulling them off standing on the back on them. He's only shod her once before and I wasn't there someone else was sorting them out, tomorrow I'm there and i will tell him straight and if it is a bad job then i know of others.
 
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Criso
Quote de*OberonThe Dengie Healthy Hooves is 9% combined sugar and starch - so we're up to 27% with the C&C.I have heard (but I don't know) that the Bailey's Topline Cubes are 26%So we could be up to 53% in a bucket.....sorry to disagree but if you feed multiple types of food with various starsc and sugar levels it averages rather than accumulates in terms of percentage i.e. if i fed a feed that was 20% and an equal amount of something that is 10%, the starch sugar content of that mix would be 15%

Oberon think Criso is correct on combining the percentages.
But agree does need to b lower than 10% combined. Can b difficult without getting hay and grazing analysed. My feed is 7.5% sugar and starch total but don't know about hay and grazing yet. May look into it.
:-)
 
Found em - my face is something like :eek::confused::eek:

I think you need to change your farrier tbh as TallyHo has said how on earth someone thought putting more nails into feet like that was a good idea i'l never know - whereabouts are you?

These feet are basically the next stage on from yours - where the cracks have got up into the coronet band and caused permanent damage so they will never grow down :( PS this is a yr after shoes came off- shes totally sound but infection control is a daily job thanks to this particular farrier.
2194c440.jpg
 
Rohan s epa UK. Haven't used other so can't comment but I trained with rohan so maybe biased but also know a good trim :-)
Sounds like u miget have a few options which is always good :-)
 
Yes, the OP horse's hooves do remind me of CM's hooves, especially CM's not so bad fore.

OP, there is hope. My mare is now back in ridden work which at one point seemed impossible.
 
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