[northrider]

My farrier is MIA and I don't know what to do now its christmas break and I don't think my horse can wait.
I figure I'm going to have to learn how to trim until I can get a professional out. I'm planning to post my progress for people with a better eye to see in hope that will keep things on track.

Its actually been less then 6 weeks since my mare was last trimmed. We had months of record breaking wet then suddenly the sun came out with a vegence.

The really horrible thing is I was planning to get a vet out to xray her feet/hind end. I cant show a vet this and ask ' do you think there might be a problem with the feet', I'm also a little stressed over those rings. :frown_color:

 

[northrider]

Day 0 - no trimming

 

[horselovinguy]

Can you find another farrier?
Just not for now, but to be your new farrier and take care of those hooves on a steady basis?

So, from very wet to now very dry the horses feet show the effects...
Although broken badly, much of it would be trimmed off as she is due for her next trim...so she self-trimmed.
If you were going to call the vet out for possible radiographs and a consultation, call him anyway.
They have seen worse, they have seen better..
You will probably end up with some names/referrals for farriers if you asked.

Her feet need care, yes....
Please though do not just grab nippers and a knife and start "trimming" with no clue or diligently watching trained eyes observing.
You could in innocence do a lot of damage with one snip of the nipper or pull of a hoof knife.
Most farriers do internships besides schooling for quite some time, if good and talented in their trade.
Doing farrier work is also a lot more strenuous than many realize...
What are you going to do if you do do "1" hoof and are to tired to do at least the match of front or hind...
You can't leave the horse unmatched or uneven without some consequences to that action..
Be careful what you do...
:runninghorse2:...
jmo...

 

[walkinthewalk]

Yes, you certainly can and SHOULD show those hooves to the vet, in their current condition.

Most vets do know how to do a basic trim and had better have a good understanding of hoof mechanics. Your vet would be a lot more help than you would be to this horse at the moment. Yes, you should learn to trim but not on these hooves at this point in time

Today is Friday before Christmas --- I would call the vet's office as soon as they open and tell them you need to text or e-mail these very pictures to someone, and make an ASAP appointment. The vet might also be able to help you find a real farrier

Horselovingguy is correct in that the condition these hooves are in, is no time for you to start learning without having someone physically present to guide you. They are in bad condition, plus I'm pretty sure I am looking at founder rings on the left hoof in that first picture.

If it's been less than six weeks since the last farrier visit, for sure you need to find someone that actually does farrier work, not someone who bought a set of cheap tools and decided to trim hooves on the side for some extra money.

Best of luck

 

[loosie]

My main thought is those feet are months overdue, not only a week or 2. Without more info couldn't necessarily say its your farrier did wrong tho, that far out from trim.

They are in dire need of good trimming, but the good news is, they're not likely to get significantly worse in only a couple of weeks, so you can afford a bit of time to find someone/learn. Looks like he has reasonable feet... Assuming a few good trims ahead he should again. I would keep him on soft footing for now, to keep too much pressure off the walls.

I highly recommend you educate yourself as best you can, whether or not you plan to do your horse yourself or not. Don't just trust opinions of people, 'expert' or otherwise, blindly. To that end, the thread link in my signature will get you started. If at all possible, find a good hands on teacher, do horse owner workshops, find & still regularly employ a good trimmer, at least for a while as you're learning - its not something can be well learned with vids etc alone.

If you must 'go it alone' & there is seriously no pro help within cooee, then I especially recommend Pete ramey's DVD set 'under the horse' & Vids & study info from ELPO. And if you check out other link in my signature, you can post some hoof pics so we can get/give you a more accurate & precise idea of what needs doing.

 

[Acadianartist]

Like everyone else I would encourage you to seek out a good trimmer/farrier rather than try to fix this yourself. There is so much going on here. If you can find someone knowledgeable, get them to come a few times and ask them to teach you how to do it properly. Pay extra if you need to. It will be worth it.

The only thing I would consider doing is softening some of these edges with a rasp so they don't catch on something and get ripped open like a hangnail. This is what I do with my gelding who needs very frequent trims (3 weeks in the summer). My trimmer gave me her old rasp and told me to just go around the edges anytime there was a chip. I wouldn't do anything with a knife or nippers, but you can't do too much damage gently rasping around those sharp edges.

Others who know more about trimming - feel free to jump in and tell me if I'm wrong!

 

[northrider]

They really are just 6 weeks out, I can't quite believe it myself but there is no way the dates are wrong, I've seen better feet from horse 3 months out so I get it if your skeptical.
I still want to learn how to trim especially as being able to do a bit of maintenance will help prevent this in future but would agree this is to much for a novice at present. My thinking was only ever to do enough to prevent them getting worse till a farrier could attend but if you feel she can wait a few more days I will leave it. It is very frustrating as I would have had time to get someone else out but was left hanging on false promises. Now I'm feeling a bit ghosted, at least I can use these pictures if the barn manager questions why I've dropped her favourite farrier.
I know a lovely barefoot trimmer I can send an SOS too, hopefully she can make it. And yes I will go ahead and contact the vet anyway.
Thank you everyone for your sensible answers

 

[walkinthewalk]

And don't be a stranger. I will say welcome to the forum in the hopes you continue to post ----- oftentimes new folks get their answers then leave and don't come back

We are also curious of the outcome with your vet and also if you're able to get a new farrier.

FWIW, I wonder if your barn owner's favorite farrier charged you for work he didn't do? If you hadn't been able to get to the barn for a time, after the so-called trim, it's entirely possible the hooves either never got touched, or he took an obligatory swipe at them just to say he trimmed and could give you a bill. I suspect he might be her favorite for some reason other than quality hoof care-----------------

 

[SilverMaple]

I was also suspecting if your horse was even trimmed. That's a LOT of hoof grown for six weeks... it looks like several months' worth at least.

Good to hear you have a trimmer you can call. Let us know how things turn out!

 

[gottatrot]

I'd check into the horse's vitamin/mineral intake as well.
If there is too much iron in the diet, it can help the hooves to add copper and zinc in an appropriate ratio. Not getting trace minerals can worsen hoof problems in horses.

Zinc Deficiency in Horses | The Naturally Healthy Horse

 

[loosie]

They really are just 6 weeks

BTW my saying that wasn't insinuating I assumed you lied, just that they're that overgrown. As said, I'm loath to judge the farrier that far out tho - maybe he just took over the horses care, horse is a rehab project you recently got, it was a lot longer than 6 weeks before last, there were big climate/environmental changes....

 

[Hondo]

If those feet are six weeks out, the farrier being MIA may be the best thing that ever happened to the horse. I recently brought in a 6 YO from the herd on the ranch that had never had his feet trimmed. They looked similar.

In addition to purchasing DVD's or reading on Pete Ramey's site, Pete Ramey Hoof Rehab home. Horse hoof maintenance and care., there is also a balance of information on E.L.P.O. , Home . Also search YouTube for Gene Ovnicek. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gene+ovnicek There are an abundance of old videos there. Gene was the moving force behind the development of E.L.P.O.

Between Pete Ramey and Gene Ovnicek, you can learn all any self trimmer needs to know. They only differ on the fact that Gene will still shoe when needed, Ramey will not.

I do have DVD's from both of those exceptional people.

Also go to https://www.hoofcaretoday.com/

 

[northrider]

Hello again and thank you for the resources I've been linked too. The good news is I have managed to find a trimmer willing to make a special trip out for my mare. I will post some after pics for comparison

BTW my saying that wasn't insinuating I assumed you lied, just that they're that overgrown. As said, I'm loath to judge the farrier that far out tho - maybe he just took over the horses care, horse is a rehab project you recently got, it was a lot longer than 6 weeks before last, there were big climate/environmental changes....

It wasn't that I thought you were suggesting I lied, I just know I would be questioning it too if someone showed me their horse with feet like that! This is not what her feet normally look like after 6 weeks. In general I have a good opinion of my farrier and he is well respected in the community. It's true he can be conservative when trimming a barefoot horse and this works great for a horse with already good feet but I am feeling that he is not what's best for my horse right now especially when he goes MIA like this.

It's going to be difficult to stop using him if I continue at my current barn, but even that's an uncertainty right now, at least her feet will finally be trimmed soon.