Please crit feet!!

[gordo]

Need honest opinions please.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120452.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120451.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120450.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120449.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120448.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120447.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120446.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120445.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/katehooper/P1120442.jpg

Thanks for being patient. :rolleyes:

[Tim]

Whats up with 'em? They look ok to me, the only thing I could say is the deep clefts on the frogs could allow easy development of thrush if left uncleaned for any length of time.

[gordo]

Have a lame hind and no obvious reason. Been told the angle of trimming is not right so making him sore.

[Yann]

Which are the hinds, the black and white pair? Overall they don't look too bad but I'm guessing they're more than due a trim. Some of them are quite contracted too, but without knowing what they looked like when you started it's difficult to say if it's bad or not :)

If the black and white pair are the hinds, is the black one the leg he has issues with (if I remember correctly?) there looks to be something going on with that foot balance and growth wise.

[gordo]

Yann, black and white are hinds. The white is the one with ringboce and also the lame leg. No obvious pain or swelling but lame for over 2 weeks now. Not happy with the look of his feet, heels seem too long and small frogs. Been bare for 1 year now!

[MelanieD]

They do look contracted. Can't tell for sure from the pics if the heels are too high relative to the sole. Fronts look like they could do with a pedicure, more in need of shaping and rolling the edges than taking lots of length off. Is there bruising in the wall towards the top of the stripey foot or is that just something to do with the pic?

The black back foot is wonky, that foot doesn't look balanced from the sole pic either. Wonkyness could be the hoof not being balanced correctly or could be something wrong further up causing the foot to wear oddly. My horse that has locking stifles does something similar to her back feet if they aren't re-balanced quite often.

How long ago were they trimmed? If very recent I'm not too impressed.

[Yann]

How long since they were last trimmed? The heels do look awfully long in the solar shots but I have a tendency to see that every time I look at a hoof photo:rolleyes: It would certainly account for the contraction not going away and narrow frogs if that was the case, the same thing happened with my horse. The hoof wall looks too long in the quarters too which is why it looks like there's flare there.

I don't know how often you have him trimmed but it might be worth trying to do some maintenance in between yourself if you can, it will help progress. I'm only a bit of an enthusiast but I can't really see anything dreadful going on in the white foot that would explain the lameness:confused: Unless heel height is the issue?

[gordo]

Thanks guys, these photos were taken about 10 days after a trim. The black foot is horribly wonky and seems to weight bear on the outside wall. Thoroughly miserable:confused:

[Yann]

He's either growing foot like hell (possible, Rio can grow a roll out in a week ATM) or the trimmer isn't doing enough. Was he working during that period? Little or no wear might also not help.

Have you run your concerns past your trimmer? I'd get a second opinion if you're not happy.

[gordo]

He was being worked yes Yann. Now lame behind. I need to get him off grass asap as I believe he is in a bit of a metabolic state. Off to find a detox for him too.

[Bobbin]

The fronts do look incredibly long, like they are due a trim. The frogs and deep clefts don't look to dissimilar to Brys.

Brys fronts wear unevenly on the inside. I think this is partly to blame for her unsoundness.

I'll take some pics and see what you think.

[MelanieD]

Either his feet grow at an amazing rate or the trim 10 days ago wasn't brilliant. Is it a farrier or some variety of barefooter doing the trim? IMO it'd be well worth getting a second opinion.

[gordo]

Been diagnosed with spavins in both hocks today. On 2 weeks of virtual stillness as now in a tiny paddock. Poor, poor lad:( :(

[Yann]

Not great news but at least you know what the problem is now and can take it from here :( Best of luck with working through it, have you been given a prognosis?

[Jaimee]

The heels need to come back a long way, not so much down but the first point of weight baring needs to come BACK. The bars also need to be trimmed curved bars stop functioning as they should and they get curved in the first palce by heels migrating forward.

The issue surrounding the hoof balance: this horse lacks toe height. Dont trim from underneath at the toe. Only rasp from the top of the foot, besides that once the heel balance is brought back his toes will be able to grow better. (this is for the hinds)

Te fronts have bar issues too, you can see if bar is causing some issue within the foot by the curved hairline. When veiwed from the side the hairline should be straight, your horses is very curved. A bit of an arch in the quarters will also help this.

Bottom line: If these feet were trimmed 10 days ago, you need a new trimmer. But then the fact that the horse is sore, which lead you to asking us told you that already:)

[Boffin]

Try having a look at the barefoot pages on Les Sparks website. He was UK barefoot endurance champion in 2004. He still rides extensively and recently told me he hasn't had a veterinary failure due to hoof problems in 2 years so he must be doing something right. Mostly does his own trimming and has some very specific advice & photos as examples. Very friendly & helpful if you want to contact him. The page below links to photos etc.

http://www.fnesaddles.com/Hooves-Barefoot.shtml

[gordo]

thanks guys x