Toe wearing down?

So Lizzy's shoes were pulled at the beginning of October. I wasn't sure when it would snow and I didn't want to risk her having shoes on when it snows. Farrier is due back out last week in November.

She was barefoot all summer except for those last 8 weeks. Next year she will be shod as soon as the snow melts. I plan on doing a lot more riding and getting into endurance. I know they don't need to be shod but I like how well they held up. Plus here is my problem. In the 4 weeks her shoes have been off we have done some pretty serious trail rides. We usually have to walk on the road to get anywhere. Usually on the gravel sides as her ouchyness has gone away since her stint in shoes. But I noticed saturday that her toes have worn to a pretty good square shape.

I will get new pictures tonight, hopefully I remember, the one picture I have is from Friday and it was not taken to show the squareness so bare with me. You can still see the square part starting. It is more pronounced now.

Is this from her not picking her feet up all the way? Or is it just wearing from doing a lot of riding on the road/gravel?

I don't want boots now as we are getting into the fall muddy season.

Is she doing it on all 4 feet?

Just the front two. The backs have never really had any wear.

She is telling you where she wants her toes to be. If she still has almost a month to go till the next trim, she will benefit from a nice mustang roll.
My old farrier, 25 years ago, used to say: why let a horse wear off the toe by itself....build it in on a new shoe. Smart guy!

Ok good so nothing too serious then? I'm nervous to rasp her feet at all but I might be able to find someone to help out. My farrier showed me how to do it this summer but still scared to actually do it myself.

Oops! Other people answered while I was answering.


In my veryyyy limited knowledge, it appears like she's somewhat overgrown (it looks like there's maybe a cm of hoof past the white line) so I would think she's just self trimming...

I'll draw a line on your picture so maybe what I'm saying will be clearer. Haha
That blue line is where her white line appears to be which is about where her hoof naturally wants to "break over". I would not be worried aside from possibly getting her on a tighter trim schedule. :)

If you are riding in loose sand that can happen, the emery board effect. What wonderful big healthy frogs. When transitioning out of shoes it often takes the second trim to get a good shoeless trim.

^^That!

Ok so I need to rasp her feet then? I know we have a few at the barn, I'm just not very...well... coordinated lol.

If they start to wear down too much or just look aweful I can move the appointment up but it's a group appointment so..... I would have to move everyone up :)

Thanks Saddlebag, I've been so paranoid about thrush lately with all the mud it makes me feel better that her frogs look good.

I heard from a farrier years ago that this is common and will eventually stop happening.
My horse is doing it too regardless of the nice roll she gets.

Also, the thing I wonder about is when the angle is higher, I wonder if that puts extra stresses on the toe which are causing the toe to break up faster than the rest of the foot.

My horse never did it till recently. Maybe cause her hooves are dry (?)