Hoof Trouble *with pics*

[Catg]

Hi everyone,

I'm not overly worried about Zeb's hooves but I am interested so understand why they have suddenly started doing this and if there is anything I can do to help.

YO says it's just where his shoe nails have been and it just weakens that area and causes it to break away sometimes.

Offside Fore
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/photo-6.jpg

Nearside Fore
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/photo-7.jpg

What do you think?

Thanks

Cat x

[nic]

I agree with your YO about where the nails have been and weakening the hoof...does he have crumbly feet anyway?

I think the best things that are reccomended for better quality horn is keratin (ceratin?) or some sort of hoof supplement like Farriers formula.

Mind the weather has a part in all this too.....when its warm and wet basil and Oscars feet seem to grow very quickly and then break and when its dry their feet can dry out and become a bit crumbly (basil has poor feet and is fed farriers formula) so we put effol on their feet to help put some moisture back in (that what it says on the tub!!:lol:)

[Catg]

Thanks for your reply nic, he's feet are usually very good, I've never had any problems with them in the three years I've been sharing him.

I don't really want to go down the road of a supplement for his feed (I only share him it's not really for me to say) but I would consider a stable lick if there's a such a thing?

[nic]

Biotin! Thats what I meant for a supplement:o lol...you can get mineral licks fomr Dengie which have Biotin in them.....I cnat find a lick specifically for feet though...maybe a tub of effol would be handy...its just a goo you put on their feet with a hoof oil brush..thats very good, another good one is kevin bacon, but I think that is pricey....

[Catg]

Brilliant thanks nic xxx

[CityLights]

its normal and not a big deal its just nails weaken the feet and sometimes that happends, his feet might be a little dry or a little too soft due to the very wet weather and thats why you've not noticed it happening before

i think there might be some licks about for feet but gerneally speaking a good all round supplement, lick or otherwise will help his feet out although i wouldnt be sticking him anything extra if he was mine there isnt much wrong with his feet

if he was ever out of work for a little while or not doing much a period of time without shoes may do him some good in the long run

[Catg]

Thanks S&W x

[The Little Magician]

Interesting to see that this is only on the inside of the horses feet, rather than the outside. I dont actually think that is a coincidence.
Besides this very wet weather causing the structure to have weakened around the nail holes, it could also be due to the feet making unlevel contact with the ground when moving, ie taking more impact on the inside of the foot.
This can be caused by various factors, slightly unlevel shoeing, unlevel movement like dishing or plaiting, or even muscle pain across the back and wither area.
Might be worth having a closer look at the way your horse moves.

[Catg]

Interesting to see that this is only on the inside of the horses feet, rather than the outside. I dont actually think that is a coincidence.
Besides this very wet weather causing the structure to have weakened around the nail holes, it could also be due to the feet making unlevel contact with the ground when moving, ie taking more impact on the inside of the foot.
This can be caused by various factors, slightly unlevel shoeing, unlevel movement like dishing or plaiting, or even muscle pain across the back and wither area.
Might be worth having a closer look at the way your horse moves.

That was going to be my next question!

We've had saddle trouble this summer, today was the first day I have ridden him properly in the school since saddle came back from saddlers. Hmmmm...

I'll see if I have any pictures of him moving from the front.

Thanks Little Magician

[Sasca]

magician beat me to that comment. I aggree that the nails may have weakened the wall but the fact that they are worn in that way is no coincidence and will be due to his movement.

Get someone to trot him up (or trot him up for a good eye) and see what happens...maybe he is just nicking himself all of a sudden or falling uneven as he places feet. I would look into it and see if the farrier can correct it.

this is why mine are barefoot hehe, no nail troubles!

[Catg]

Ok, here are some action shots, they're not great but I think we can all see that as he's so narrow it wouldn't take much for him to be catching himself.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/P4270195.jpg
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/P9210153.jpg

trouble is, because of the saddle troubles we've been having that have taken ages to sort he's hardly been ridden in the last few months???

[Sasca]

i still say see or get some one to see him trotted up properly. You'll be able to assess what is happening and know whether it is just the hoof you need to heal or the balance to correct. He does have a close movement, maybe some over reach boots when turned out for a while and see if that improves anything?

[The Little Magician]

He looks relatively straight in his movement in the two above pictures, but possibly landing wrong, cant quite tell.

Though if these pics were taken back along before the saddle problems you mentioned, then possibly his gait will have altered due to muscular pain and tightening up in the back and withers region, which would exagertate any small landing problem, and cause stress in his feet.

Definately get someone who knows to look at him trot up, and possibly get a sports thereapist to have a look. It made a hell of a difference with Magic, and the way he lands his feet.

[monty]

:)hi can i ask you what class you are in ??? on the pic :)

[Catg]

It was Ridden Coloured. Why do you ask? x