Hoof problem

blazinpistol28 · 07-01-2008, 06:39 AM

I have just bought the most beautiful one year old grulla pinto, my dream horse. I noticed something wrong with the front hoofs. The part that is around the frog is very deep, I can stick my thumbs halfway into them. Its very strange. He doesnt limp or anything, I'm just worried. Is this normal for a young horse thats hoofs are just a little bigger than my hand? Also, he looks to be club footed in his left hoof. Farriers are hard to come by where I live. They are not listed, and if you find one, they do not want to come for two horses, or they have stopped doing farrier work.

Moostang · 07-01-2008, 06:45 AM

Pics would be helpful, normally from what I have seen if the groove is wide then the bars are being left long, if the groove is deep then there is a lot of hoof that probably needs to be removed. But I am not expert, just observer, JB & Rick could probably give more on causes

JBandRio · 07-01-2008, 07:21 AM

Pictures are indeed necessary.

Have you had a horse before? Who trimmed that one, if you did? If you didn't, it might have been a good idea to find a farrier/trimmer first

Do you at least have a vet? Can that person recommend someone?

I'm not sure if you're talking about the collateral groove, which is beside the frog, or the central sulcus, which is the middle of the back of the frog. Either way,
being able to stick thumbs in there doesn't sound good at all.

blazinpistol28 · 07-01-2008, 07:28 AM

Yes, I have had horses in the past, and still had one up until the one Im talking about. My vet gave me a number to one that lives 70 miles away, he didnt know of one closer. That farrier only comes once a month, and it will be three weeks before he will come back. I trimmed my other horses feet, which I might add are in very good shape, no cracks, chips, etc. As far as shoeing and special needs, I have no clue.

blazinpistol28 · 07-01-2008, 07:29 AM

I'll get pics up. And Im talking about the sulcus. Thanks for any help you can give me.

JBandRio · 07-01-2008, 08:35 AM

A crack in the sulcus is from thrush, or poor hoof form (contracted heels), or both. Thrush as a primary issue can cause heels to contract a bit, or at least not fully decontract. Contracted heels can easily lead to thrush. So, when you have both, you have to treat both - can't just treat the bad hoof form because you may hit a wall if you don't also treat the thrush.

blazinpistol28 · 07-01-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazinpistol28

I have just bought the most beautiful one year old grulla pinto, my dream horse. I noticed something wrong with the front hoofs. The part that is around the frog is very deep, I can stick my thumbs halfway into them. Its very strange. He doesnt limp or anything, I'm just worried. Is this normal for a young horse thats hoofs are just a little bigger than my hand? Also, he looks to be club footed in his left hoof. Farriers are hard to come by where I live. They are not listed, and if you find one, they do not want to come for two horses, or they have stopped doing farrier work.

These are pictures of his hoof, which doesnt look as bad as it does in real life. The hole is very deep. Also, there is a pic of his front feet, do you think he is club footed? I also threw in some body pics.

Dusty1979 · 07-01-2008, 11:08 AM

Just my two cents worth, but it looks like you are putting your thumb in the collateral grove (along the side of the frog). The heels appear to be very long, which would result in this grove becoming deep.

It's hard to tell from the pictures (odd angle and standing in grass) but it looks like the heels can come down quite a lot, which would result in the correct depth to the collateral grove.

wrightdanes · 07-01-2008, 07:01 PM

DOesn't look to abnormal to me. Go here and check out what a barefoot horses feet should look like. You horse may have some retained sole and long heels that need to be trimmed. www.ironfreehorse.com

Dawn · 07-01-2008, 07:10 PM

It does look like you're refering to the collateral groove.

It's a bit hard to see the photos as your hand is sitting just where we need to look. But it does appear as though the heels are quite high, which will lead to deep grooves.

From these photos though, it's really hard to say what, if anything, is going on.

07-01-2008, 06:39 AM	#1
blazinpistol28 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Images: 6	Hoof problem I have just bought the most beautiful one year old grulla pinto, my dream horse. I noticed something wrong with the front hoofs. The part that is around the frog is very deep, I can stick my thumbs halfway into them. Its very strange. He doesnt limp or anything, I'm just worried. Is this normal for a young horse thats hoofs are just a little bigger than my hand? Also, he looks to be club footed in his left hoof. Farriers are hard to come by where I live. They are not listed, and if you find one, they do not want to come for two horses, or they have stopped doing farrier work.

07-01-2008, 06:45 AM	#2
Moostang Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northern Calif Posts: 9,799 Images: 680 Blog Entries: 55	Pics would be helpful, normally from what I have seen if the groove is wide then the bars are being left long, if the groove is deep then there is a lot of hoof that probably needs to be removed. But I am not expert, just observer, JB & Rick could probably give more on causes __________________ Don't poke bears... give them honey! http://moostangproductions.com

07-01-2008, 07:21 AM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 21,655 Images: 132 Blog Entries: 12	Pictures are indeed necessary. Have you had a horse before? Who trimmed that one, if you did? If you didn't, it might have been a good idea to find a farrier/trimmer first Do you at least have a vet? Can that person recommend someone? I'm not sure if you're talking about the collateral groove, which is beside the frog, or the central sulcus, which is the middle of the back of the frog. Either way, being able to stick thumbs in there doesn't sound good at all. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

07-01-2008, 08:35 AM	#6
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 21,655 Images: 132 Blog Entries: 12	A crack in the sulcus is from thrush, or poor hoof form (contracted heels), or both. Thrush as a primary issue can cause heels to contract a bit, or at least not fully decontract. Contracted heels can easily lead to thrush. So, when you have both, you have to treat both - can't just treat the bad hoof form because you may hit a wall if you don't also treat the thrush. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

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07-01-2008, 07:28 AM	#4
blazinpistol28 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Images: 6	Yes, I have had horses in the past, and still had one up until the one Im talking about. My vet gave me a number to one that lives 70 miles away, he didnt know of one closer. That farrier only comes once a month, and it will be three weeks before he will come back. I trimmed my other horses feet, which I might add are in very good shape, no cracks, chips, etc. As far as shoeing and special needs, I have no clue.

07-01-2008, 07:29 AM	#5
blazinpistol28 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Images: 6	I'll get pics up. And Im talking about the sulcus. Thanks for any help you can give me.

07-01-2008, 11:08 AM	#8
Dusty1979 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota (rural area) Posts: 554 Images: 7	Just my two cents worth, but it looks like you are putting your thumb in the collateral grove (along the side of the frog). The heels appear to be very long, which would result in this grove becoming deep. It's hard to tell from the pictures (odd angle and standing in grass) but it looks like the heels can come down quite a lot, which would result in the correct depth to the collateral grove.

07-01-2008, 07:01 PM	#9
wrightdanes Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 916 Images: 1	DOesn't look to abnormal to me. Go here and check out what a barefoot horses feet should look like. You horse may have some retained sole and long heels that need to be trimmed. www.ironfreehorse.com

07-01-2008, 07:10 PM	#10
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,652 Images: 1283	It does look like you're refering to the collateral groove. It's a bit hard to see the photos as your hand is sitting just where we need to look. But it does appear as though the heels are quite high, which will lead to deep grooves. From these photos though, it's really hard to say what, if anything, is going on.