[jedy]

4 yo pony, working 4 days a week on sand and once on tarmac road, 40 minutes each time. That will be gradually increasing, I'll aim to be on the road twice a week for 1h-1,5h
Has been shod for 6 month per year, every year, since 2,5 yo.
Unshod since March this year, hasn't been riding up until late August.
Lives in matted stall, the turn out (3 hours) is pure muck.
Last trim 4 weeks ago, the farrier trimmed the wall flat with the sole , there's been more growth than wear up until this week, now I'm worried about the toe region and wonder if he needs shoes this time
Has never ever been sore on any surface.
I know nothing about feet.
What photoes will I need to ask a question- does he need shoes? I'd like to stay barefooted if possible

[EVOO]

Did he exhibit lameness after the last trim -- the one that you think was too short?

Photos would be helpful. Take 4 of each hoof. All with the camera at ground level, the horse standing square on a hard, flat surface.

1) Straight from the front of the hoof.
2) Straight from the side of the hoof.
3) Straight on from the bottom of the hoof.
4) Looking straight down across the bottom of the hoof from the heel to the toe. (Hold the horse's leg by the canon bone, not the pastern for this shot)

[jedy]

No, never lame. I don't think trim was too short as such, but but it was a trim with flat sole, like for shoes. We rode very little at the time, and only on sand, so I went on with it, and soon enough there was enough growth to lift the sole; now that we do more work he's rubbed the toe at the breakover, and there's something what I think could be toe callus right behind the wall at the toe? I'm kinda worried about that- is that normal. I'm not sure how the best to show that part on the photo, especially the level at which the structures are in respct to each other.
I'll take photos soon.

[IIIBarsV]

I know nothing about feet.

Well you came to a good place to ask about them.

The toe wearing off is probably the outer hoofwall being worn away during breakover- excess hoofwall that was not already "rolled" by the trim will do this. A flat trim in particular will show up with this result because I'm pretty sure no horse, feral, wild, or domestic, ever had a perfectly flat, pointy edge to their hoofwall at any time. XD Not sure why people think that's a cool way to trim a horse who will be staying barefoot?

Anywho... pictures are helpful... as well as if he's sore, what he's sore on, etc. He's only four so his feet can't be that bad in terms of quality, although I'm wondering why he was shod as a 2-3 yr old?

[jedy]

on the phone, puter refusing http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/v...urrent=LH1.jpg

[RickB.]

Looks to me like your horse has some pretty decent hooves that just need a bit more attention to detail when being trimmed. The medial-lateral balance, heel location and breakover point could be tweaked and the frogs needs some minor 'detailing'. All things being equal, I see no reason why , at this time, your horse shouldn't remain barefoot. When trimming is undertaken, no sole should be removed unless it is already starting to exfoliate/fall out. I would bring the foot forward on the hoof stand and dress the wall from the top side to remove the little bit of distortion that appears to be present.

Were this pony in my custom, I would not have to spend a lot of time trimming it. Its feet are 'already there' and just need some maintenence.

[jedy]

O, that's great, thank you so mush. I appreciate being barefoot when on tarmac, as he can get excited with flocks of sheep and herds of cattle spooking at him, and weather is going to be very wet and windy from now on, leaving roads slippery. But the last, last thing I need is to make him sore right now.


Sorry about not answering questions, I wasn't able to

Not sure why people think that's a cool way to trim a horse who will be staying barefoot?

I think he genuiney didn't know any better, mu husband asked, as I instructed him- what does he think of barefoot and is he willing to try, and he said if you don't want shoes I won't put them on.
I really hope I'll be able to be present this time, but this other guy is 1.5 drive away, we have to be in his yard before he leaves for work at 8 am. He knows the pony since foal, but I've no idea what he things of barefoot.

Anywho... pictures are helpful... as well as if he's sore, what he's sore on, etc. He's only four so his feet can't be that bad in terms of quality, although I'm wondering why he was shod as a 2-3 yr old?

________

Every now and then on the road, maybe once or twice during the ride, he'll kinda trip on front foot, which I assume he stepped on bigger stone (road is full of scattered stones)
Otherwise never ouchy, the only time has was lame was with splint.
Why he was shod- no particular reason, that's the way things are done here. Youngsters go on the road in long reins, as that's the only feasible way to get them out, and they need to be bombproof with traffic from early age. People believe horses need shoe if they have to as much as touch the road with the toe. So that was first set of shoes. Next time he got them when going to stallion inspection, he'd be frowned upon as untidy if he didn't wear them. And then he was backed and ridden for couple of months, so again- first thing the horse gets is shoes slapped on. So I'm swimming against the stream....