Want to see a terrible hoof?

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NellRosk

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My horse has had a different farrier for a few shoeing cycles because my usual has been off ill. I can only look at this picture and cringe!! I've stopped riding him the past few weeks because I can only imagine what that breakover is doing to his poor limbs. He's coming again on Wednesday and I'm going to ask him to take his shoes off. Fingers crossed his feet improve from this shape!!!

I've pasted the link to the pic because it's massive when I copy it to the post!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e316/hedynavarro/image1_zpsg8uhwyyu.jpeg
 
Is your usual farrier better and coming on weds? or is it the farrier that has done the last couple of cycles? because to be honest I'm not sure that hoof has got that bad in a few cycles, and I would be having a serious think about finding someone else if it was my horse.

The hoof can improve, but it needs more than the shoe taking off and hoping for the best, it needs a good farrier to balance/trim it correctly, over several shoeing cycles. I would guess there are some improvements that you can make to diet as well. The "barefoot" diet is pretty good for shod horses as well.

Your horse can have healthy hooves with shoes on, so you don't need to take them off if you dont' want to.

For your horses sake you need to get on top of this. I can't post photos..... there are some in my profile I think, of my horses hoof. His feet were neglected, then I had a pretty awful farrier ( but didn't know enough at the time ). 5 years later, I am still struggling to keep my boy sound.
 
I think you are right to have them off Nell, those feet need some time out and the horse will do a better and quicker job without shoes on. Don't suppose you have any earlier pics?

Diet, better hoof care professional and movement.
 
Hi Circe, I think it's the usual farrier but not sure, need to give him a ring and see! My usual farrier does a great trim on my other working barefoot horse and leaves her flares on, doesn't hack away at frog etc so I'm going to keep him. His diet is good, been feeding a barefoot diet for a few years now but we've moved from a dreadful yard to an excellent one where the setup is perfect, he's on hardstanding all day and will be on hardstanding 24/7 in winter which will really help his feet. And I want to take them off Circe, he has bare backs which are a lovely shape and rock crunching. It's amazing the difference in horn quality between his backs and his fronts, they look like they're on two different horses! And I am getting on top of this! Why do you think they're coming off Wednesday ;)
 
did the second farrier come on the usual farriers recommendation, does the usual farrier know what your horse's feet not look like!?
 
ester said:
I think you are right to have them off Nell, those feet need some time out and the horse will do a better and quicker job without shoes on. Don't suppose you have any earlier pics?

Diet, better hoof care professional and movement.
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I don't have photos from immediately before the new farrier shod him. I've just found this on my HHO album from when I took his shoes off almost exactly 2 years ago. We failed though because the yard we were on wasn't suitable and they were in 24/7 in winter. I'm hoping with 24/7 turnout at the new yard then this increased movement will help :).

attachment.php


So this is the same hoof as in my original post. Still a bad shape but nowhere as shocking as it is now!
 
ester said:
did the second farrier come on the usual farriers recommendation, does the usual farrier know what your horse's feet not look like!?
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Yeah he farmed out all his clients to a few farriers in the area. No he hasn't seen them since he started doing them!! I don't have any sole shots but honestly it's a disgrace, I just can't wait to get them off.
 
You can see from that pic that he would have a tendency to under run heels. You should definitely try and speak to your old farrier and show him the feet though too. good luck, hopefully the new yard will mean it works better this time :).
 
ester said:
You can see from that pic that he would have a tendency to under run heels. You should definitely try and speak to your old farrier and show him the feet though too. good luck, hopefully the new yard will mean it works better this time :).
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Yes he does bad underrun heels, I'm hoping more stimulation will rectify this. I've got his boots looked out and a plan in place to handwalk :) Thank you! Will post an update if all goes well.
 
Wow those look like they have been like that for most of this year the angle of them. I would be ashamed if that was my horses front feet, I'd also be sacking the farrier! My boy ended up going from a boxy upright hoof to running on his heels with over long disgraceful toes and doing himself an injury within a year. I've learned since then but those are very bad! You are lucky he hasn't hurt anything.
 
Black Beastie said:
Wow those look like they have been like that for most of this year the angle of them. I would be ashamed if that was my horses front feet, I'd also be sacking the farrier! My boy ended up going from a boxy upright hoof to running on his heels with over long disgraceful toes and doing himself an injury within a year. I've learned since then but those are very bad! You are lucky he hasn't hurt anything.
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If you read my post the same farrier isn't shoeing him again :) they're extremely bad aren't they! And I haven't been riding, he's been a field ornament. Can't wait to get walking him out and take some after pics in a few weeks! Would you mention to usual farrier or just leave it? I wonder if other people have had complaints about new one.
 
NellRosk said:
If you read my post the same farrier isn't shoeing him again :) they're extremely bad aren't they! And I haven't been riding, he's been a field ornament. Can't wait to get walking him out and take some after pics in a few weeks! Would you mention to usual farrier or just leave it? I wonder if other people have had complaints about new one.
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I would say they need to know how long things have been going on so that they have an idea of what damage has been done that we can see.

I explained to mynew farrier what the old one had done and the result was a set of shoes for a cycle to make him comfortable. He had been barefoot for four years and had feet like rocks until and unfortunate set of circumstances and a very harsh trim, mucked him up.

I always explain but I never outright slate just the facts no more no less :)
 
Black Beastie said:
I would say they need to know how long things have been going on so that they have an idea of what damage has been done that we can see.

I explained to mynew farrier what the old one had done and the result was a set of shoes for a cycle to make him comfortable. He had been barefoot for four years and had feet like rocks until and unfortunate set of circumstances and a very harsh trim, mucked him up.

I always explain but I never outright slate just the facts no more no less :)
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Yes I always think it's best to be clear and concise and not let emotion take over! If it's old one on Weds I'll let him know, if it's the new one I might ask innocently why his toes are so long and why is it all cracked round the nail holes.
 
I've got some more pics for reference! Apologies if they're huge, photobucket seems to do that for some reason.

This is the same foot but from a different angle, doesn't look quite so dramatic but still bad:

IMG_50911_zpsrcz7vlzq.jpg


And these are his backs, don't have side views unfortunately but you can see how they're a much better shape and not cracked etc:

IMG_50921_zpss8jjavr5.jpg


IMG_50931_zps62z4eyne.jpg
 
I think i would be looking for a remedial farrier or ask on here for referrals to a barefoot trimmer..and re look at the barefoot diet you have your horse on...try adding micronised linseed if you don't already....
 
Micky said:
I think i would be looking for a remedial farrier or ask on here for referrals to a barefoot trimmer..and re look at the barefoot diet you have your horse on...try adding micronised linseed if you don't already....
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He's on linseed, as well as minerals, salt, brewers yeast and just has it in a smidge of molasses free chop so his diet is pretty good :) I expect to see a bigger improvement in winter when he's off the grass. Have you seen the horn quality on his backs though? They're smooth and not cracked at all, especially his black hoof. I think the increased stimulation of having shoes off will help blood flow to his fronts and improve the quality. Roll on Wednesday!!
 
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