Update - 'Twisted Sole' - what can these pics tell you about her feet?

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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I posted the other day about my farrier telling me my barefoot mare had a 'twisted sole' and I didn't know what it meant.

I've taken some pics, they aren't great as I was on my own and she was trying to pinch grass but I wonder if anyone with a barefoot inclination would care to take a look and let me know what they make of her feet - good or bad. She is due a trim, she gets done every 8-9 weeks and she has only been in in hand work since January as I'm pregnant.


Near Fore

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Off Fore

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Yeah I'd love to know what he meant by it too...

All I can see is that there are some very overgrown hoof walls, one has a flare which can be trimmed and balanced. The reason for one side of the sole being wider than other is that the foot is not balanced. Inside, the coffin bone will be tipped to either left or right. As a farrier, he should be able to see this and correct it over a short period of time. If not the "twist" will just continue as the horse tries to grow extra hoof to compensate for it itself.

It's not a huge problem as long as the horse is sound. no reason why the balance should not be improved. But if your farrier is not helping to remedy the situation, ask hm why and if he says there's nothing he can do, well, just find another one who can do something about it. Plenty of farriers and trimmers out there to choose from.
 
Orchardbeck said:
I posted the other day about my farrier telling me my barefoot mare had a 'twisted sole' and I didn't know what it meant.

Near Fore

Carlisle-20130310-00024.jpg


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OP - 'twisted sole' is not a commonly used term, so don't feel bad about not knowing what it meant.

Photos can be deceiving but I would agree with other posters, hoof walls are long and there is some flaring. I'd like to see a back of heel shot, but it would appear that the foot in this photo is somewhat contracted. Walking in hand and keeping the foot properly trimmed is ideal for sorting though.

Good luck and take care
 
Tallyho, Astonsmummy, thanks for responding so quickly! It is interesting that they have become overgrown in only 8/9 weeks (they were last trimmed 6th Jan) but she does seem to grow new horn and frog very quickly for some reason.

My previous farrier used to make them look really neat, as if he were about to shoe her and there was never a sign of any flare. I have used the current farrier before, albeit a good few years ago now. I have my reasons for changing farriers but I'll not say why on here. This worries me now!
 
my last horse had this on her fronts, my farrier called it "windswept feet" She was barefoot at the time but it was more a case of not being shod as opposed to "barefoot" So .... she was shod at the front and slowly corrected over the following 12 months.
 
Lucypriory - thanks for your input. I'll try and get some back of heel shots. There have definitely been some changes since she had laminitis - I guess corrective trimming for this could have changed things. She is 23.

She had to have drastic feed changes to encourage weight gain after colic in early December which seems to have shown up as growth rings, - biggest change being a switch from hay to haylage- but she is a normal weight now (I was worried she had too much condition for this time of year) and is on Top Spec Senior with Top Chop Lite and a tiny bit of Calm and Condition until it runs out - at least I know I can put weight on her if I need to which is reassuring. I was feeding Mag Ox along with other supplements but hopefully won't need to do this with a full balancer.
 
In trimming terms, the excess horn takes minutes to correct, no shoes required. If the flare is caused by diet issues then it will take longer to stop it coming back. But again no shoes required and if it is dietary then a good non flared hoof capsule can be grown in as little as 4 months when the diet is right.

Hooves don't always look 'neat' some horses have to grow some 'interesting' shapes to compensate for upper body issues. They should be fit for purpose and not likely to cause problems at a later date.

OP some horses grow foot at an amazing rate - celebrate it, you may need to trim more frequently but it's so much better than the reverse.

And whilst in theory after a period of time with consistent diet and exercise growth = wear, there are some cobs out there who have chosen to always break that particular expectation and grow new hoof like weeds.
 
Her feet probably wear like that because she doesn't move completely straight and as she lands she'll put more weight on the outside of the hoof which causes that wall to become a bit more upright and the wall at the other side to develop a bit more flare. There's nothing to get worried about though, they just need trimming.
 
Gloi said:
Her feet probably wear like that because she doesn't move completely straight and as she lands she'll put more weight on the outside of the hoof which causes that wall to become a bit more upright and the wall at the other side to develop a bit more flare. There's nothing to get worried about though, they just need trimming.
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Ah yes, this complements the chicken and egg situation... not moving completely straight causing that wear pattern OR the imbalance causing her to not move straight...

If it were me, I would always try and correct the imbalance and apply a good trim because whether or not conformationally she will wear her hoof this way, a hoof still needs to support the limb above and balance is easily manipulated whereas conformation is not. Despite this, a good trim will provide not only stimulation but relief from unwanted forces causing uneven strain and tension on the tendons above it.
 
Gloi, Tallyho - thanks for your input. It's reassuring to think that it should be sorted with a good trim - just waiting on the farrier to let me know as he tends to fit me in at short notice as Yas is so good and it doesn't take him long - sometimes he'll just turns up, gets her out of the field and have her done before I have arrived (I wasn't happy about it though as I like to see what he's done).

So my previous farrier was probably doing the right thing with trimming everything right back like a lovely manicure, and leaving bits that are growing as some sort of compensation for leg issues is perhaps not the right way - that did seem a bit revolutionary to me! I was thinking I would have to change my whole way of looking at feet from now on, but perhaps I don't.
 
Orchardbeck said:
Gloi, Tallyho - thanks for your input. It's reassuring to think that it should be sorted with a good trim - just waiting on the farrier to let me know as he tends to fit me in at short notice as Yas is so good and it doesn't take him long - sometimes he'll just turns up, gets her out of the field and have her done before I have arrived (I wasn't happy about it though as I like to see what he's done).

So my previous farrier was probably doing the right thing with trimming everything right back like a lovely manicure, and leaving bits that are growing as some sort of compensation for leg issues is perhaps not the right way - that did seem a bit revolutionary to me! I was thinking I would have to change my whole way of looking at feet from now on, but perhaps I don't.
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I think confusion arises when there is a lack of understanding or a misuse of terms such as flare and deviation. Flare is a product of a stretched white line. The cause of the latter needs to be addressed and the excess horn removed.

A hoof may have a deviation to compensate for issues higher up the leg/body. But in these instances the white line is tight. The deviation should not be trimmed out, it is needed and to do so will often compromise structural integrity.

An example of a temporary deviation - to compensate for an abscess hole on the other side is shown here. The horse remained sound while the abscess hole and deviation grew out.

http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/deviated-hooves-now-you-see-it-now-you.html
 
Glad Lucy explained that. There was a thread on it last year somewhere... Or maybe even year before. Time goes a bit fast... Be Easter soon! Eep!
 
Last pic doesnt show a foot in line with the rest of the leg, maybe he means sole as in hoof being twisted as in not sitting directly below the pastern, you should have asked him what he meant.

But feet could do with a good trim to get rid of flare before spring therwise look good.
 
This thread has been moved, sorry I didn't see the new replies. Farrier is coming back out on thurs eve so will ask him to clarify and do a good trim. Lucypriory, thanks for that link, now I have another area of horse care to become obsessive - sorry I mean educate myself - about!
 
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