What to do with these pigeon toes?

[CarrotCake]

Hi all,

I have acquired a 12 year old mare with pigeon toed

Shes currently barefoot but was shod before

I have 0 experience of pigeon toed. How bad do these look? Are they likely to cause issues? Are they better off barefoot to self-balance or shod?

Advise please

 

[shortstuff99]

If she is 12 and hasn't had any lameness issues then leave them as is. Keep barefoot and trim to what she needs not what they think they should be.

 

[IrishMilo]

They're pretty bad and you won't fix them as the growth plates are fixed now. What are your plans with her? A photo of the sole of the foot would be helpful so we can see where she is wearing the wall. I'd leave barefoot because at the very least the concussion on the outer limbs will be less.

 

[CarrotCake]

A few more pictures...its so hard to find photos small enough to upload!

She is totally unfit at the moment but I am hoping just to hack, some riding club bits a local shows. Nothing major!

Will take some photos of her soles

 

[shortstuff99]

If it helps, this is my mare at her worst (over due a trim as I moved yards and changed farrier). She is 15 now and these have never caused her an issue. She dressaged to Advanced level and now jumps. Always barefoot, never footy etc.

 

[Red-1]

I have seen a lot worse. I would have bought her with those feet and not worried about it. My first eventer had them and dished like mad and was sound to an old age.

I would be wary of doing too much to try to correct them though, as she is aged and managing fine.

 

[Above the snowline]

I am no expert but I had a horse with one pigeon toe - never had a day lame or sick in 26 years. Did tons of hunting, showjumping and xcountry. She was shod but no effort was ever made to correct it.

 

[Orangehorse]

If she is OK barefoot I would leave them and let her grow the foot she needs. You need to have confidence in your trimmer though who will work with the horse and not try to correct things.

When mine was barefoot his feet altered quite a lot and moved and ended up a lot less pigeon-toed than previously.

 

[dorsetladette]

A good farrier will work with what he/she see's in front of him. I've had 2 similar and it never caused either of them any problem.