(You'll see some pictures where the hooves have been touched with a rasp- we'll just ignore that for now.)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Hooves for the end of the world
I snagged these photos from an online barefoot trimming group. It was recommended to the owner a few months ago to stop trimming the horse (he had been sore after a trim) and just to let the hooves grow. Here they are a few months later. What do you think? Chalk this up as another win for the "celery" approach?
(You'll see some pictures where the hooves have been touched with a rasp- we'll just ignore that for now.)
BTW- happy winter solstice!
(You'll see some pictures where the hooves have been touched with a rasp- we'll just ignore that for now.)
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I think they look like they could use a trim now, just to tidy up the bottoms. The crack in the one hind foot seems to be growing out nicely. Otherwise, the hooves seem to be pancaking out a bit at the bottoms, so that should be trimmed/ shaped off. They look like a work in progress that is well on its way!
ReplyDeleteHi Punks Kid Rock, thanks for your comment :) I'll weigh in with my thoughts after a few more people take a look.
DeleteI don't know too much and I am still learning, but the heels look too long, the toes look long, and the hoof wall look a little flared.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. I am not quite sure where you are going with this post, but after scrolling through some of the pictures I decided that you may be joking about this being a win.
ReplyDeleteWithout pre-photos, it is difficult to see what improvements have occurred. Currently, I see a very long hoof capsule and excess hoof wall with uneven wear. This looks like hoof wall that wants to be worn off, not the squished-flat, level-with-the-sole type hoof wall that I see on the Rockley blog. The back of the foot looks atrophied (and lopsided) and there is a central sulcus crack reaching the hairline in more than one picture. The bruising visible in the white hoof made me shutter. Is that caused by excessive flare being leveraged against the foot? Ouch.
I do so wish my horse could self-trim by the way. Just not possible in our setting.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! (It's my last day of work until next year, I'm a little punchy right now)
DeleteThat is so much more descriptive than I could have ever been! But I agree, they do not look like hooves i would want on my horse.
DeleteDitto. Especially the heel - it is way too long and the horse will never be able to go well.
DeleteLooks like a case of stopping with the trimming, but not regulating the work/footing up to the point where the horse can become self-trimming.
ReplyDeleteThe whole hoof capsule is long and flaring out, but I would be really hesitant to whack it way back, especially if the horse is comfortable right now. You'd be putting a huge amount of pressure on parts of the foot that aren't used to it, and I'd be worried about the horse being uncomfortable again. Instead, I might seek a conservative trim to cut down on the overall flare, then arrange for the horse to be worked on surfaces that will help wear the foot to where it wants to be. I would take this route because I've dealt with a horse who was comfortable when the hoof wall was longer, but did not have the sole depth to support a "normal" barefoot trim where the hoof wall is level with the sole. So I'm probably over conservative in that way. :)
Can't wait to hear more about this horse!
Unfortunately I don't know more about this horse since I pulled the photos off a Yahoo group. They just reminded me of something I've been wanting to say for a while.
DeleteStay tuned...
Is this horse moving sound at all? I'm curious to that piece of lacking info AND I agree with Jenj, maybe an increase of movement, ground stimulus (if this horse is comfortable and able) would help if no trimming (at all?) is happening.
DeleteAs always I'm not much help with hooves but I'm sure you know what you're doing. Have a great Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHeels can be lowered more and need to be more level. I would like to see the seat of corn... Bars need more work. Thrush treatment please. And more 45˚ bevel. If he is a bit sore after a good trim it could very well mean that things are coming back in the right place. Besides proper trimming this horse would like some adjustments in the diet.
ReplyDeleteIf it was my horse I'd give him a short trim, let him out in a field or paddock day and night and only to bring him in for a few hours to let him dry up and treat his frogs.
Put the bevel heels and bars in place every 2 weeks and he's going to be fine for riding when spring comes.
PS Letting hooves grow to make the horse less sore is not going to work. Peripheral loading is the cause of the problem, not the answer.
ReplyDeleteI second this statement.
DeleteJust stopping by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWell I couldn't help myself, I reached out to the owner who is willing to listen to some different advice. I'll send her some information and see what happens. Apparently the horse is already unwilling to stand on that black hoof. That's not good :(
ReplyDeleteOh, here we go....not good at all...
DeletePoor horse. Seems though something to consider, the owner could have been lead down by many different trimmers, different non working paths, so be patient with them...
Being tactful isn't my strong suit, but I did my best. I've sent her my suggestions, we'll just have to see now...
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI commneted on the post above.
Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you have a good one. I'm looking forward to your posts and ever informative comments in 2013.
Thank you Carol, you too :) I hope your riding center does well this year.
DeleteThe short answer: these hooves are a mess .... sorry, for being blunt:
ReplyDeleteBeing blunt doesn't bother me, that's pretty much what I thought when I saw them too.
Delete