Long chestnuts and ergots

[bandol]

One of my cobs has long chestnuts on front legs and a couple of long ergots.

Am I best to leave them, or can someone tell me how to shorten them.

Chestnuts on my previous horse never a problem they were short and just used to peel off.

Are they dangerous being long.

Should I get vet or farrier to deal with them, or can I do it.

thanks

[Denbenj]

I hate touching them!!! However next time your farriers up..he will whizz them on in a second :D

[coss]

my old mare used to get long chestnuts, they would gradually fall off, they were very long before falling off though. i heard it was to do with age http://thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/s-smilie.gif

[Joyscarer]

I pick the loose bits off Joys chestnuts but the farrier does her ergots if needs be :)

[Jessey]

You can pick at them and they should come off, just don't try to make them too short :D or get your farrier to trim them for you :D

[jenren!!]

Farriers will quite happily snip them off for you - no worries!

[LMS]

i heard it was to do with age http://thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/s-smilie.gif
Hmmm never that one before:confused: (but wouldn't dismiss it depending on the horse)

I've found over the years that it depends on the horse, whether it's a purebred (I've found TB, Arabs, QH had very thin chestnuts that peeled off easily), native bred or grade horse.

Ariel (QH/Arab) has very thin & flaky chestnuts whilst Heidi (Appy/Standardbred) are huge & need to be snipped off because they wont on their own. When the latter happens, you can't just leave them or they'll tear off & you end up with a bloody horse *sigh*.:rolleyes:

But I've had grades that had huge chestnuts that you could peel off anytime.

So, depends.

Get the farrier to snip them. I used to do it myself but it's handier to get him to do it for me.

[bandol]

Thanks for all your advice, one of them is quiet long, so to be safe I think I'll ask the farrier to snip them.

Thanks

[domane]

I posed this question about a year ago and someone told me to soak them in babyoil overnight and they could be peeled off... :eek:

I asked the farrier :o

If you are brave, a decent pair of sharp secateurs will do the job too if you can guarantee that your horse will stand still and you are quick!! :p

[Lovemyappy]

Put baby oil or vaseline on them may take more then one day/application for them to get soft enough to peel off though. But this is what we have alwas done at out barn if they dont peel off easy. I actually just did this today!

[millie n pride]

I picked Pride's off! Made me feel sick :eek: :o

[joey_olop]

Pick them off-I love doing that job, mum thinks its sick haha :D :D :D