Vanishing Frog ?

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shmoo

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Ok, so this might be a little wierd but my mare (full TB) appears to have receeding frogs, mostly on the backs which are unshod, but also a little at the front.

I was going to ride today but one part around an inch up from the point, and around the size of a fingernail is so soft it feels like the palm of my hand. Didn't ride as didn't want it pierced by a stone. Its a little red, so already a little bruised.

I'll get my farrier out early next week, but in the meantime wondered if anyone else had encountered this? If it's singular to the breed? She's my first full TB riding horse, always had chunky X breeds & cobs before. My other who is kept in same field, same circumstances, same feed etc is absolutely fine. She's shod all round though?

Hmmm. Thanks.
 
I'm so pleased you posted this.... My mare is the same and I'm also having the farrier out this week. It's just in her hind feet, there's no smell, and she doesn't seem bothered by it but they've definately receded. Mine is a standardbred and she's shod all round.
 
Cant help but bumping for you incase someone can. I was nearly posting a similar thread today - my boy has just come out of heart bars and, while I'm delighted with the result, his frogs are looking incredibly weedy!
 
I'm no expert but I believe that the frog contracts if it's not in use. If a horse is stabled and not getting work on more challenging surfaces, or if the frog isn't getting contact with the surfaces due to shoes or needing a trim, it will contract like a muscle that's not being used. My lad is on box rest and his lovely wide frogs are contracted and tatty. I also believe frogs can shed in a big chunk at this time of year which is usually nothing to worry about. However a pink frog does sound like bruising. Could she have trodden on a stone to do this? You can toughen up a frog a little by scrubbing with salt water but there's no substitute for walking on different surfaces, as long as the horse is comfortable. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along with more info shortly!
 
They do atrophy if not in use. Are her frogs pressing on the floor when she stands on a hard surface? If not, that will cause atrophy and it's possible that she has not been trimmed enough.

Also it is quite normal for them to shed the whole top layer from time to time and if your mare has both done less work over winter and shed the top layer, the new one underneath may well be a bit mushy and won't stand up to hard work and might have been bruised if she trod on a stone.

Shedding starts at the heel and works towards the point of the frog. lots of people will find a line that the shedding has reached across their horse's frogs if they look closely.

Is it possible that your mare had a flap that was shedding and someone "tidied it up" and cut it off early, exposing the new frog too quickly?
 
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Yikes, only just picked these answers up.. Slap wrist. Her field went all swamp for a couple of weeks then froze to fierce jaged peaks but is now back to lovely even (albeit brown) soft soil. Come on grass !!!

Totally possible she sheered it off on the ground. My other girl is shod all round and gets a whole lot more excersise as my daughter rides her and has boundless energy/enthusiasm. We don't get out much, so I'm liking the idea of not enough work.

Any thoughts if I slap some stockholm tar on it for a week or two? Would that make it worse? Or just some riding - as a girl at the yard suggested?

Thanks :o
 
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