upright/boxy feet- how managable are they?

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kazhar

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Ive fallen for a little chestnut yearling but havnt been to see him in the flesh- after looking at photos of him, I noticed he has slightly upright feet. Having not bought one with this before my question is, is this usual in youngsters and can it be improved with good trimming. I wasnt sure how bad it would have to be for a definite non -purchase. its not extreme by any stretch of the imagination and I wasnt sure if I was imagining it but I asked the owner and she confirmed. If anyone has any experience I would be grateful, rather than spending the day going to see him.
I wasnt sure how to put a pic up which would have been useful..sorry!
 
ok there is one in my profile- its the only one there. Its not great but its the best I have at the moment- hes stood in grass which makes it harder to see the whole foot...and thank you for your techy help:)
 
I have a gelding with one boxy front foot he did go lame when he was 5 and the foot was not in balance, I was advised to have natural balance shoes and he went sound the first time he was shod with them, his 9 now and just has normal shoes but without toe clips so the toes can be kept short and touch wood his been fine.

I cant see your picture on your profile so cant comment on that but my advise would be if you do buy the horse make sure you have a good farrier as it took me a while to find one that could keep mine sound.
 
From that photo, they just look like normal youngster hooves.

ETA - a good farrier or trimmer is essential with a growing youngster. I wouldn't be put off viewing the yearling from that photo, even though it's not a clear photo due to the grass.
 
Last edited:
Faracat said:
From that photo, they just look like normal youngster hooves.
Click to expand...

well that's really reassuring Faracat- I've backed youngsters before but they have never belonged to me and its been their owners that have dealt with feet and farriers etc. It was some time ago but I do remember the foals did always seem more upright for a time---its just so long ago I cant remember if it was the "norm" so to speak. Bit different when I'm buying for myself as well.
 
I had a NF who should have had her picture in a text book as her feet where so upright, her frogs never touched the ground even after trimming. As when I got her she was four there was nothing that could be done and any radical interference would have probably made her lame. She was never lame in the twenty years I owned her and never had any foot problems. Would rather have them a little upright than flat.
 
One thing that I have noticed is that slightly under-run and long in the toe is considered normal by many people that I know. This then makes well balanced hooves look boxy in comparison.
 
They can come and ride my big lad if they like long in the toe- if he gets anywhere near long in the toe he starts stumbling ( not little ones either) - great big fall off over his head types. When we moved I kept saying to the new farrier that they were too long and not good for him (or me lol) and then the physio picked up on it too....I changed farrier after 2 shoeings. But because the other horses on the yard were all fine with his shoeing..no one else thought it was a problem.
 
Thankyou..I'm excited now :). I may well get the vet if there is anything I'm unsure off- its only the feet that was playing on my mind and even then I was convinced I was being paranoid but had to check anyway. Hopefully he will be perfectly fine- wont know until the day but there was nothing else I was concerned about at all from his photo. I'l be having a lengthy look at him-it sounds like he's been well looked after but wont know until I get there. Thanks again!!
 
my mare has boxy feet- one slightly more upright than the other. Passed a 5 stage vetting when i purchased her age 14, she is now 17 and has never had a days lameness- a very sound horse infact and we do a range of disciplines. We have a very good farrier and he uses natural balance shoes. At the pre purchese vetting I enquired to the vet regarding this and he said it all depends on how a horse copes with it and that she copes with it very well. I would ask the vet if you are concerned as it depends on other aspects of conformation and also what you intend to do with the horse. Best of luck :)
 
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