[lilianaliliana]

Hi. We're new to horse ownership. We pick out her feet almost every day, but why does this frog stick out to the side? It's hard. Do you see the frog has a curve and it looks dark, black? She walks well. This is her back hoof.

Also, aren't the bottom of her feet supposed to be flat? It seems like a lot of empty space there on the sides of the frog?

If I need to I can go back and wash her foot to get a better photo if this one's too dirty.

Thank you.hoof.jpg

 

[HowClever]

definitely difficult to see whats going on in that photo, however by the look of her feet I would say she needs a farrier. They look very uneven and chipped.

 

[lilianaliliana]

Yes, they're uneven and chipped. We're moving her very soon because the place she's at I'm afraid is not working out. The person to do her feet isn't doing them, and so we're doing our best by ourselves till we move her which will be within a week or two. We have filed her other feet and they look nicer around the edge, but we got tired and still need to do this foot - which happens to be the one with a strange frog.

Till I get help - I'm wondering what I'm looking at.

 

[lolayla]

a lot of people dont know this but frogs that arent kept up with farrier work actually shed. you just dont notice it because the farrier cleans up the extra "skin" of the frog during trimming. your horses frog is fine. just needs a good trimming. the extra "space" that you are talking about will also be because she needs a trim.

 

[EPMhorse]

Liliana,
I'm sure that one of the trimmers on Horse Forum will speak up, but there are several good web sites from natural trimmers that have photos and case studies. A barefoot horse that lives on hard ground (and is trimmed) will not have a flat sole, it will be concave. This is natural and healthy. Look through some of these web sites, and read the articles.

Pete Ramey hoof care heals founder in horse’s navicular disease farrier

www.cvm.msu.edu/research/efl/

Iron Free Hoof

I would suggest that you find a natural trimmer to teach you how to trim the horse.

 

[lilianaliliana]

Thanks to each of you so much. And those first and third links, EPMhorse, are super helpful. I was worried that she was abnormal.

She is a pasture horse on hard ground! And I see some concavity in one of the photos at ironfreehoof. I'm super relieved.

I will find a farrier and I will look for a natural trimmer one. I like that idea very much.

I am so relieved. Thank you. ~Liliana

 

[Anvil]

All that foot needs is a good farrier to trim it and clean it up real good.
Get the horse on a regular schedule and it shoul be fine.

 

[kevinshorses]

I would suggest that you find a natural trimmer to teach you how to trim the horse.

Don't drink the cool-aid!!!

 

[Mercedes]

This just simply looks like a foot long over due for a trim. There's a good half inch or more of heel to come off (can't tell how much toe/wall/quarter from this view), and with that the frog just needs a good cleaning up.

 

[rocky pony]

Got to agree with what Kevin is..implying, haha
No matter how much you read and how much you learn about it, absolutely do not trim your own horse's feet. Do not trust any farrier/website/etc that tells you you can, because there are reasons that people go to school to be farriers. It's not something anyone can just learn, otherwise we all would have done so a long time ago. Not even taking a short course for it is enough. You would have to go to school for years to learn how to do it properly..otherwise you can REALLY mess things up.
Always remember: no hoof, no horse. You don't want to take any chances with this.

But I agree with pretty much everything else said above. A new barefoot farrier would be superb.


Good luck! =)

 

[lilianaliliana]

Thanks for the additional responses. I think there's a clear consensus that she needs a farrier and a trim and that otherwise, it's a normal horse foot and not deformed! We are getting her fixed up very, very, as in very soon so she will have beautiful feet.