Hoof trimming?

[Walkerlover]

How long should it be before a horse gets their hoves trimmed? (If they aren't shoed) How do you tell when to trim them?

Thanks
-Walkerlover

[shandy84]

I think general thinking is 6-8 weeks but that is dependednt on the hooft if they have any problems they might need to be seen more regulary. Shandy had to be done every five weeks when she was unshod as her heels were very low and it was the only way to stop them getting worse.

[Wally]

It all depends upon the horse, his gait and how good his feet are, whether you ride only on grass and soft tracks or hard roads.

If he's like Hákon and has a weird way of going if you leave his feet longer than a month he'll wear his feet all awry and end up with deformed feet.

If you cannot tell yourself you really need the advice of a well qualified and experienced farrier to keep an eye.

if you let the heels collapse and become too flat you can get all sorts of leg troulbe. Collapsed heels are a nightmare to put right and take ages.

[Walkerlover]

Well I just wanted to let you all know that He was jsut ridden today and he was fine and he is riden on soft ground most of the tine and when on gravel he is just riden from one place to another. And really the only thing that I can tell wrong with his feet are the chips and it is on the part of the hoof that is visable.

So let me know what you think
Thanks

[shandy84]

Wally - you know the troubles I have then, had a farrier who thought her feet should sit flat on the floor :rolleyes: shall we say I didn't use them again but two years down the line they are only just up a little bit and so we have had to shoe her as with backing her they were actully filing down.

The only thing I can say is that I can't see half the things my farrier sees, like my other pony is a bit low heeled and he saw it when i didn't you really ought to get someone qualified to take a look especially with all the hoof problems you are having as well

[virtuallyhorses]

We're assuming that you are calling a farrier in to trim for you and that you haven't had this horse very long. Give your farrier a call around 4 weeks - this will give you plenty of time in case he is very busy or has to cancel etc. He will be able to tell you whether you can extend the next trim or not. Ask if he will take your booking for the next time then, so that you don't have to remember. If you set up a regular appointment you won't have to worry so much about it . :)

[Bebe]

If you can't tell when your horse needs the farrier (which to be honest, I find quite worrying), then you need to call the farrier and get him to come out and talk to you about your horses needs with regard to hoof care, then let him set up a schedule of shoeing/trimming that he thinks will suit your horse.

Wally, I agree with you re: collapsed heels. Most of Bebe's hoof problems come from the farrier that I used just 3/4 times at the start of 2003 not trimming her properly and allowing her heels to collapse. It's now approx 18 months later and it has taken this long to get her hooves back in balance, and that includes a period of being unshod over last winter. Her hooves are improved so much now though that I'm hopeful that once I pull her shoes this winter, she won't need to have them back on at all (fingers crossed).

[Wally]

The farrier who taught me comes somtimes to bring her kids riding. While I am teaching the kids she waves a hoof pick in the air and goes to inspect.

She goes round the horses to make sure I'm doing things right.

She has told me that if ever she catches me shoeing short and allowing collapsed heels she'll take the forging hammer to my head!

it is a pet hate of mine and her's, that and hoof balance in general.

[TBEventer2002]

It really depends on your horse's particular needs. Seek the advice of your farrier.

My mare has shoes on the front and stays out all the time (I don't ride her anymore, but she needs the shoes because her feet chip out REALLY badly). I can literally leave her for a couple of months because her feet seriously don't seem to grow (my farrier is VERY surprised!). However, my gelding who stays in most of the time and gets ridden regularly on sand and grass grows sole much quicker than he grows wall, so he needs a trim every 4-6 weeks at the most to avoid bruises.