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Need Advice: Tripping / Fussy about Feet Picking / Farrier Friday

3K views 29 replies 9 participants last post by  hyperkalemic4 
#1 · (Edited)
The farrier is coming on Friday to trim and re-shod my boy. I plan to be there and want to be sure to properly communicate the concerns that am developing with my horse. There are two issues that I have noticed. I'm not sure that there is any causation or that they are even related, but I would love to hear your thoughts.

My gelding is 9 years old. He is shod on the front and sees the farrier very regularly - every 4 to 6 weeks. The farrier is a good and trusted farrier that trims and shods many of the barn horses. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Within the past couple weeks, I noticed that my gelding has tripped several times. Now, I know that this can be perfectly normal. He really doesn't always mind his feet when he is walking. He would rather check out the scenery. I know this because he trips in the same area almost every time. This place is just a slight change in elevation that goes from a grassy to concrete area. He's usually checking out the interior of the barn or the mare field as he walks by. I hear a "ka-thunk" and a collection of feet as he gets himself back together. LOL So, that is explainable. He is a klutz like me.

That said, he tripped with his trainer on his back the other day - a lovely and knowledgeable gal who has brought him along very well. He actually went down on a knee and stuffed his schnoz in the dirt that time. Okay, can still be explained by being a klutz... But, there's something else.

Today, I brought him in, groomed him, squared him up, and asked for his front foot. Now, I'm pretty good about holding on to his hoof and I am gentle, quick but thorough. I'm also very consistent with praise when he does what I want. Finally, I always tell him before I put his foot down and do so gently. But, today, he began to jostle his leg around for control - trying to pull out of my hand. He managed to pull out of my hand one time and stomp his foot down, for which he received an immediate sharp verbal correction. I don't like foot nonsense.

I didn't feel or see anything strange. He's not walking or trotting strangely, but I'm still acting like a concerned mom. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations of what I might want to take up with the farrier?

Also, I just want to add that I am far beyond getting injured when people give me advice. In fact, I love it. So, if I have said anything that makes you think that I might need to change something I am doing, post away!

Thanks in advance!!!
 
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#3 ·
First question that crossed my mind is, was he fussy with both front feet or just one? If just one, did it happen to be the one he went down on?

Hondo is transitioning to barefoot. He is very fussy about standing too long on either front foot without taking a short break. He will allow me to hold either rear foot as long as I like.

I ride him without boots occasionally and he is definitely still a little tender on the front in the rocks. I really get aggravated at him sometimes for taking his front foot away so much but then I feel bad when I think the one he is standing on may be needing some rest.

The farrier should be able to use testers to see if he is sore anywhere. I have some but do not really know how hard to squeeze.
 
#4 ·
Both front feet... This is not characteristic of him. He has refused to pick up, but has never "wrestled" me for control. He is a thinker though.

Thanks for mentioning the farrier testers. I will ask.
 
#9 ·
From this view those look like some pretty well-shod feet, actually. Sole views and a good full body shot will tell the rest of the story.

I would keep an eye open for possible nervous system issues, like WNV and the like, but also for possible laminitis. The stumbling coupled with his sudden reluctance to hold his feet up are certain red flags. He could be sub-clinical laminitic, in which case he might not show any other overt signs. If iy continues after the trim and reset I would have the vet out.
 
#10 ·
Within the past couple weeks, I noticed that my gelding has tripped several times.
Yes, if this is not just the odd 'trip' or 'gimp' on a sharp rock or such, especially if this is new for him, it is likely to be physical, but without much more info, who knows what. Maybe tender heels, tender feet generally, thin toes, forward/imbalanced hooves... May be further up the leg, shoulder, back, saddle...

From the pic you posted, it looks like his feet & shoes are OK. Maybe a bit forward of toe, maybe a bit high of heel, but can only guess at good/bad from that - see link in my signature before posting more critique pics.

trips in the same area almost every time. This place is just a slight change in elevation
That makes me think proprioception may also be an issue.

But, today, he began to jostle his leg around for control - trying to pull out of my hand. He managed to pull out of my hand one time and stomp his foot down, for which he received an immediate sharp verbal correction. I don't like foot nonsense.
Yes, if this is not normal behaviour it's also likely a symptom of pain. So don't punish him for it - how else can he tell you to stop hurting him?? I'd be interested to know if this was on concrete, whether his hooves are padded, and how he behaves when on soft, yielding footing? It could be that he's a bit laminitic.
 
#13 ·
*Almost* all stumbling is from either saddle fit or foot imbalance. many dependable, nice, experienced farriers do not get the bottom of the hoof balanced accurately around the bones inside all the time. And in some horses it only takes a slight imbalance to cause stumbling.
I can not assess his hooves without correctly set up photos , on a current shoeing, taken like this: hooves need to be on hard flat surface for the side views and the camera aimed exactly from the side, not angled at all from the front or rear.
 

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#15 ·
Laminitis... That word scares the #### out of me, like colic. A barn buddy thinks he's clumsy and preoccupied. But, I will be there for the farrier Friday to get his advice.

He seemed to be fine today - happily rolling in the mud and grazing. However, I am a person that notices the slightest change in behavior and wants to get to the bottom of it.

Thanks for everyone's input.
 
#16 ·
Well your being a good horse owner who's in tune to your horse,everyone should be like that. Don't need to scared of laminitis, educate yourself so you know what to look for.

Horses do recover from it and go onto be very usable riding horses,my gelding did just over 2 years ago. :wink:
 
#21 ·
Sorry for the suspense. His feet are fine thankfully.

I also noticed if I grab his attention right before we go from the grass to the concrete, he doesn't trip. So, my friends, I think he might just be lazy, clumsy and / or distracted. However, the vet is coming to the barn this week, so I will have him take a peek.

Thanks for all the tips from everyone. I really appreciate it.
 
#23 ·
Within the past couple weeks, I noticed that my gelding has tripped several times.

That said, he tripped with his trainer on his back the other day He actually went down on a knee and stuffed his schnoz in the dirt that time.

But, today, he began to jostle his leg around for control - trying to pull out of my hand.
It still seems somewhat perplexing that the behavior you describe is a change from the past, if I'm understanding correctly. If so, I'd still keep an eye on him as I'm sure you will.
 
#24 ·
my mare started dripping when she started showing symptoms of PSSM1. It causes muscles in the hind quarters to be stiff, which in turn leaves the horse heavy on the front and prone to stumbling. If the symptom persists and there is no other explanation, I would perform a genetic test for the disease. Symptoms very much depend on the individual horse and do not necessarily be as severe as a full blown tying up episode. PSSM1 often only shows up later in life. It is rather common amongst QH and paints, but rather difficult to diagnose because severity of symptoms vary so much. Most vets don't know the symptoms very well. Good info is here:
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy - CVM - UMEC, University of Minnesota
 
#26 ·
All... He has done it on the lead, on the lunge line and under saddle.
Then I would be reevaluating the feet. I would map them to see if the "footprint" or the ground surface ratios are equal from a line dawn across the widest part of the shoe to where toe toe rolls, and from the same line back to the heels . If there is more distance from the line to the front than there is to the back it is a very common cause of stumbling. In my experience fixing that ratio cures nearly all stumbling, as long as the saddle or rider is not the problem. Given that this horse does it all the time , I have to suspect hoof imbalance.

something really really easy to check at home is to simply measure how far it is from the end of the frog to the end of the toe or to where the wear or roll in the toe if the shoe begins. It should no more than an inch and a half ,maximum in a non distorted to of the average horse. one inch is even better. If it is more than two inches, it is distorted and the likely cause of the stumbling .
Good pictures of the new shoeing could offer some insight.
They need to be taken close up with camera aimed straight on at the sole of the feet, and straight from the side with the camera literally on the ground level with the side of the foot. And the foot needs to be placed on a clean hard surface.
Be aware that of course the farrier who is doing the shoeing is going to see everything as "fine", because they are looking at their own work and are dong the best they know how from what they were taught. However there is a lot more to learn sometimes.
 
#29 ·
He hasn't tripped once since his last farrier visit thankfully. The farrier shortened him up a wee bit. I am also making him pay attention in the spot where he normally trips. I found out he was looking around and not paying attention when I was leading him. He was trying to see who was in the barn right as we came to the small change of elevation where the concrete starts and grass ends.
 
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