Calling @dustyk for you or @wvfarrier, they would have the correct answer for you

 

Thanks!!

 

Also I wanted to say, that is a great question!!

 

I would think there is some sort of inflammation weakening things. Without that it would take quite a bit to cause enough stress to stretch the white line much less separate the laminae.

 

2 weeks of growth shouldnt be enough to cause weakening of the laminae. Any pics of the "stretching"? Either there is something else going on or perhaps the toe was left too long at the previous trim?

 

I should have gotten pictures but I forgot. Farrier just mentioned it when I ran out to pay him. He said it was fine once he trimmed a little off. He wasn't really worried and said probably diet related. I just haven't changed anything and I ride a lot so that made me wonder if it's more related to the length?

My horse has always had low heels which I think makes his toe a bit longer? I really felt he was too long at eight weeks. At seven weeks he started tripping a lot under saddle and on lunge line. I rode him today (first time after trim) and no tripping whatsoever. After this last trim his angles look much better too.

 

@NJG clear pictures of the soles would really be helpful. Pick them clean and brush them but don’t get them wet.

Also try and get clear photos from the side and the back of the hooves.

I have dealt with founder so my eyebrows really go up when ”stretched lamina” is in a sentence. Maybe I’m overthinking but I am not totally buying what your farrier is saying.

Long toes and low heels is also an eyebrow raiser for me.

At any rate, clear photos would really help🤠🤠

 

He has shoes on so I'm not sure I'll be able to get the whole sole. I can grab a few pictures on Sunday maybe? I can't go out tomorrow...

The timing on the past two trims wasn't consistent. I think the trim before this last one was also past six weeks - contributing to the lower heels/longer toes issue, which is a lot better after this recent trim.

Good news is that when I got the PPE for him, I xrayed the front feet so I have clean x rays from earlier this year (if I ever need x-rays to compare).

 

I would guess you probably had the beginnings of some mechanical stretching caused by leverage from those long toes. As long as it trimmed out you probably haven't done any damage. Keep those feet backed up, and maybe put a light rocker toe in your shoe. As @wvfarrier said it might be more than a 2 week accumulation that caused it. You caught things early and you're well aware what's going on. You should be fine

 

Oh that's good to hear! Thanks!

This is a terrible photo, but I took it 1.5 weeks ago (so he was at 6.5 weeks). He was even longer by this week.

 

Those are some long toes alright. He either grows toe really fast, not enough was cut back, or both. Until his toes get back to where they should be, he should be trimmed every 4-5 weeks. I know that can get expensive when a reset is involved, but things might get more expensive if his hooves aren’t able to get back to a normal shape and length.

I could use some of that excess on my Walking Horse. Rusty has never grown a lot of hoof and is one of those horses who could go 8 weeks, if I had to let him go. Instead he gets rasped every five weeks because any other horse I’ve owned grows hoof at an average or slightly fast rate🤯

 

I think it's a mix of both. I will get updated (after trim) photos tomorrow because I'm interested to know what you guys think.

 

Does the horse definitely need shoes? It would be easier to get the toes back if he could be rasped between farrier visits, especially if they're not happening until a 6-8 week interval.

 

That makes sense! Unfortunately I don't really want to take them off because he's been shod pretty much his whole life.

 

After trim:

 

From what I can see, it looks like he did a nice job of bringing the toe back this time, and backing the shoe up a little.

 

Might be a dumb question, but how does backing the shoe up help?

 

It definitely shows solid improvement, its hard to tell in those pictures but how are the hoof and pastern angles now?

 

I think they are a lot better -- not as low/long. He has been moving a lot better too.