what foot changes can I expect - lots of "before" pictures

coffeeandabagel

coffeeandabagel

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I dont think his feet are that bad but am a real beginner at this. Shoes are coming off on Wednesday. He isnt doing much work due to his rehab plan for arthritis in neck and SI joint.
What changes do you guys think I will see?
 
You need to get dirty on the floor and take side pics at ground level.

Looks like some bull nosing but can't really see much from so high above the hoof.

Can I be boring and ask about his diet?

Not bad frogs to start with though.
 
OK will take some more tomorrow.

He is fed a real mixture of stuff. Basics are Top Spec balancer, sugar beet, top spec alfafa chaff, micronised linseed plus veg oil. Then he is getting some magnesium, seaweed and brewers yeast. Lastly he has just started getting Vetvirts EquiMSM and Equiflex.
Unlimited haylage and usually about 6 hours turnout - but less with the wet and snow recently
 
coffeeandabagel said:
OK will take some more tomorrow.

He is fed a real mixture of stuff. Basics are Top Spec balancer, sugar beet, top spec alfafa chaff, micronised linseed plus veg oil. Then he is getting some magnesium, seaweed and brewers yeast. Lastly he has just started getting Vetvirts EquiMSM and Equiflex.
Unlimited haylage and usually about 6 hours turnout - but less with the wet and snow recently
Click to expand...

Which Top Spec Balancer?
 
The comprehensive one. When he was in work - up until 3 months or so he was getting higher energy conditioning cubes but cant remember what!

He has always looked lean.

Apparently before I got him he would often go 7 weeks between shoeings - with me has been 5 then 6 now 7 this time since feet not grown much. He did lose a shoe last week in the snow but thats the only one.
 
Frog look pretty good which is unusual in a shod horse. They'll really help him walk heel first hopefully.

Rest photos not much use (take from ground level, from the side) but they do look rather long, esp in the heels. Second photo esp looks like the heel is running under the foot. They will get shorter ( a working bare hoof is usually a good inch shorter than yours shown!) and the heel grow in at a steeper angle so the heels actually supporting the back of the foot.

To give you an idea of how short a barefoot hoof actually is:

This is a hard working front foot

Tobysfrontfoot.jpg


Frogs aren't as great as they sometimes were (bit eaten away by though due to weather)
Tobyfrontfootsole.jpg


And a back foot, even shorter
tobyshindfeet.jpg
 
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It will take time to feel comfortable looking at such a short foot! Couldnt take pictures today - was still dark at the yard but will do so tomorrow morning when the farrier is there.
 
Im the opposite. I've always had barefoot horses and look at pics like yours and think 'god they've got still on' :o So many shod horses have tincan feet.
 
coffeeandabagel said:
Here are the side views - even I thinbk they look long now!
Shoes came off this morning its so strange to hear him padding along beside me!
Click to expand...

Soon he will be clip clopping along beside you. My first pony has been here 7 months in work without shoes and she sounds shod. Pony 2 only 3 months in but getting cloppier as time goes on :cool:
 
I'm struggling to work out which foot is which, with three shod with 2 clips and one with only one. But hold onto your hat, because it's likely that you are going to get a truly shocking angle change in the growth of those feet.

You need to take the diet advice seriously too, your horse has some bullnose feet, curving outwards, and in my experience that is cured by removing carbohydrates from the diet. It needs to happen because there is a strong possibility that the bullnosing is being caused by a pedal bone at the wrong angle in the foot. That will be cured by better attachment (diet) and building up the heel (work).

I think you will be shocked and then thrilled by the changes that you will see.
 
Is he comfortable without his shoes? He needs to be moving comfortably for them to improve. If he's not then try boots until he his.

Ditto the diet change. Cut out all carbs and sugar. What's he currently eating?

You say he's outnod work at the mo but those feet really need work and simulation to grow. 20min walk every day on smooth tarmac will.do them the world of good.

You will hopefully see a big change in the heel area. Currently the heel wall has run underneath and doing naff all to support the back of the foot. It should grow in at a much more upright angle so the support is much further back.

Take some decent photos now of his newly bare feet then you'll have something to compare to in a couple of month once they grow in better.
 
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