myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
I know nothing about this condition, so looking for advice please? Is it an issue? Horse is perfect for me in every other way
Would you buy a horse with a box foot?
- Thread starter myheartinahoofbeat
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TheMule
Well-Known Member
Depends on how boxy, I might take a punt on the right horse at the right price.
But generally, no
But generally, no
eggs
Well-Known Member
One of my homebred warmbloods has a slightly boxy front foot. It has not caused him any problems.
Many years ago I was speaking to a German friend who said that they had more problems when the farrier tried to correct a boxy foot in an adult horse than if they left it alone. This was in the days when warmbloods often seemed to have boxy feet.
Many years ago I was speaking to a German friend who said that they had more problems when the farrier tried to correct a boxy foot in an adult horse than if they left it alone. This was in the days when warmbloods often seemed to have boxy feet.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Would I buy a horse with badly mismatched front feet? No.
Two boxy front feet, yes at the right price. As a bonus they seem to find going barefoot very easy.
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Two boxy front feet, yes at the right price. As a bonus they seem to find going barefoot very easy.
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Sasana Skye
Well-Known Member
Just the one box foot? I personally wouldn't knowingly do it, no - but it depends what you want to do with the horse?
I bought my mare as a rising two year old and didn't notice at the time that her front feet didn't quite match, neither did the vet, but it became more obvious as she grew. I keep her barefoot for many reasons, one of them is because of the mismatch. She has had lameness issues on her more upright foot which prevents her from doing the job I intended for her to do (dressage, jumping, general allrounder), whether that is related to the shape/mismatch I don't know for sure but it's likely. But she is beautiful inside and out, super easy to do and makes the most perfect hacking horse so I'm delighted to have her!
I bought my mare as a rising two year old and didn't notice at the time that her front feet didn't quite match, neither did the vet, but it became more obvious as she grew. I keep her barefoot for many reasons, one of them is because of the mismatch. She has had lameness issues on her more upright foot which prevents her from doing the job I intended for her to do (dressage, jumping, general allrounder), whether that is related to the shape/mismatch I don't know for sure but it's likely. But she is beautiful inside and out, super easy to do and makes the most perfect hacking horse so I'm delighted to have her!
Cortez
Tough but Fair
My best competition horse (and incidentally an approved, standing stallion) had one box foot in front. Never caused him any problem, and he didn't pass it on.
honetpot
Well-Known Member
I had a mare that every hoof was a box, it looked like she was on stilts, never lame, ever, even on hard ground in summer. Her frogs never touched the ground and were tiny. Just do not let anyone try and improve them. The other had a was completly pigeoned toed on one leg below the knee,but had a wide open draught foot, again no problems.
Melody Grey
Well-Known Member
Depends…how old, how much, is it currently sound and doing the job you want?
Flowerofthefen
Well-Known Member
My now retired warm blood had one foot smaller than the other so not box as such. He got it caught in a wire fence when he was a yearling and took the inside of his hoof off. It never did grow back properly. It didn't cause an issue until he did his check ligament on the other leg. I rehabbed him then because of the strain the bad foot/ leg took that check ligament went as well. I think if he had better feet I might gave avoided it.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
My horse was born with a boxy front foot, the farrier worked on it every 2 weeks from birth and I did all the physio with her. Today at 12 you would have to look very carefully to see any difference and it only shows when she is on week 5 and 6 of the shoeing cycle when her heel is slightly taller than the other foot.
For a potential purchase I would speak to a good vet and farrier and get their advice.
For a potential purchase I would speak to a good vet and farrier and get their advice.
Ratface
Well-Known Member
Adorable Alice is, in my opinion, a reliable informant!
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Makes me sound like a criminal !
lynz88
Well-Known Member
Mine has 1 slightly boxy foot. Doesn't cause any issues. In fact, it's the other foot that causes the issues. Farriers never had a problem trimming the boxy one properly. The other one? Not so much....
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
^^^ This. I think you need more information.
If you like the horse and it ticks all the boxes for you then (having already spoken to your vet & farrier) I'd make the seller a silly offer and see how they react. If you have a good farrier - and depending on the age of the horse - you might find the issue something that isn't really such a problem and might get sorted over time with good remedial farriery.
However, I'd speak to your vet & farrier in the first instance.
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
It is currently sound, like it from birth, now 8 . showjumping 1m 10
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
This horse was born with it too. He is now 8 and it had not been a problem. I'm waiting to hear back from my farrier and will speak to my vet.
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
Good advice. He is 8 with a grade 2 box foot and as yet it doesn't cause any issues. He's out competing in dressage and jumping 1.15.
claracanter
Well-Known Member
Do you know what grade of box foot it was? This one is a grade 2. It was born with it, is now 8 years old and was barefoot until it was 5. Was your shod? Currently out jumping at 1.15 which is high enough for me.
claracanter
Well-Known Member
Do you keep your horse barefoot? The breeder said this horse was barefoot until 5 years old
Cortez
Tough but Fair
I’m not familiar with grades, but it was pretty significant. He was shod. He was on the Canadian Olympic team after I sold him (dressage), and retired sound.
lynz88
Well-Known Member
Yes I do. I did have shoes for a number of years but caused more issues than it solved so got rid of them
Mrs. Jingle
Well-Known Member
I went to view a beautiful Polish warm blood mare, she was perfect and a dream to ride and drive, but one front foot was decidedly on the boxy side of what I wanted to see.
Luckily seller was more than happy to let me bring my farrier to give her a once over before I arranged vetting. (She was rather expensive for back in the day) My farrier loved her. Said he couldn't see it becoming a problem and in his experience it is not uncommon in Polish warmbloods. I have no idea if that is true or not.
After vetting I bought her and she was a dream. Last known to be living in very happy ancient retirement in Scotland with a good friend.
Luckily seller was more than happy to let me bring my farrier to give her a once over before I arranged vetting. (She was rather expensive for back in the day) My farrier loved her. Said he couldn't see it becoming a problem and in his experience it is not uncommon in Polish warmbloods. I have no idea if that is true or not.
After vetting I bought her and she was a dream. Last known to be living in very happy ancient retirement in Scotland with a good friend.
Hollylee1989
Well-Known Member
My sister's warmblood has one boxy foot. He has to have a slight different trim, but never caused him any issues.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
What breed is the horse? I was shocked to read the other day of a study that found the congenital C6/7 vertebrae malformation in a very high number of horses. It causes the vertebrae to be asymmetric, which can cause this kind of issue because of unequal attachment of the shoulders to the legs. If the horse has TB blood and is pricey then I think I would want an xray to check. I read at the same time that the problems really begin to show at around 9 years old.
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rara007
Well-Known Member
I’ve had very good horses with uneven front feet. Would I chose to deal with the worry about it- no. If everything else was good, for the right horse and price I’d chance it again. To be fair with good farriery you often need to know the horse to tell.
Hollylee1989
Well-Known Member
Sasana Skye
Well-Known Member
Oooh interesting, I've had a quick flick through online and found this: https://www.thirzahendriks.com/post/the-un-balanced-horse is this similar to the study you read?
My mare has always favoured her left fore which is the bigger, flatter foot, and will always graze with that leg forward and smaller, taller right fore behind. In pictures of her as a foal she is always doing the same thing.
She is an Oldenburg and seems boxy or mismatched feet are particularly common in warmbloods. The difference in her feet isn't massive but most noticeable right after a trim.
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claracanter
Well-Known Member
No, it’s a knabstrupper
GreyDot
Well-Known Member
I had a mare (TB ex broodmare) who had one box hoof. We had her for 2 years (bought as a 14 year old) and then she was diagnosed with navicular.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
BB doesn’t have a box foot but he does have one hoof bigger than the other, goodness knows how he won so many races 
OP I wouldn’t hesitate as it sounds like the horse is perfectly healthy and sound
OP I wouldn’t hesitate as it sounds like the horse is perfectly healthy and sound