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Shoes mask weaknesses, barefoot highlights strengths

Saturday 26 March 2011

Recently deshod and chipping

Photo 1
Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6



































































I was reviewing my photos and I found I do have some chipped hooves - but only ones that have recently been deshod.  So by photo number.

1  Hoof wall heavily rasped, (you can't see it but the heel is stacked too).  Standard farrier approach to a hoof that is scooting forward.  Weakened wall chips and breaks as nail holes grow out.

2-4 This is the hoof used in 'bull nose' (you might spot a trend developing here).  Again hoof wall has been heavily rasped (note that it's a hind so has bull nosed rather than flared from metabolic problem) and nail holes are breaking even while still shod.  In photo 4 you can see that nail free the hoof is just dandy but the horse has also been weaned off her pony nuts and put on a lower sugar diet.

5-6 Cardboard hoof - horse has metabolic issues big time.  Very sensible farrier refused to shoe any more because of poor quality (hurrah!).  In 6 you can see the hoof has grown out nicely and quality is restored.

I do have one horse that has some chips in it's bare feet - they have been left too long between trims and I am working on getting Grace to chip hers................

4 comments:

Wolfie said...

It never ceases to amaze me how a horse can recover, fairly quickly, from awful cracks and chips. Obviously, there is human assistance with the process, but I find it quite remarkable how the horse is so resilient and can recoup even when the deterioration seems far gone.

Dom said...

Wow. Just wow.

amandap said...

It took a few minutes to work out the 'cardboard' analogy. lol
Corrugated... hehe.

Lucy Priory said...

Amandap - cardboard hoof also had the quality of cardboard too - lacked density and couldn't take a load so it never actually made it to the floor because it broke off as soon as any weight was put on the hoof wall. It is fine now - density and strength have returned.

But I like the corrugated :-)

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