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Little Long in the Toe

By

Cheryl Ann Smith

 

 Nature has a way of taking care of her creatures, however there are variables that come to play with horse’s hoof growth.  Despite our efforts as horse owner to take proper care of our animals, Nature has her own agenda.  During late Winter/Early Spring, the green grass may play havoc on the digestive process in some equine.   You may find your horse or donkey hooves growing unusually long.  It might time to have the Farrier come out for a trim after a long Winter, or  you may find  the growth spurt unusually quick.  If the hooves are starting to curl up, and your animal barely able to walk there may be more serious issues involved, and a professional should be consulted immediately. During the winter months, the horse hooves slow-down in growth.  This depends on weather, diet, the age of the animal and terrain they live in.  Now that the snow has melted, the water is flowing, the grass is already sprouting, Spring will be upon us in no time. 

For some horses, their digestive systems may not be able to metabolize the sugar of the newly sprouted grass.  These horses who have difficulty disgusting too much sugar in their systems may have a situation that triggers an event where the blood is pumped to the hooves, causing inflammation and difficulty for the horse to walk. 

Some horses horse's hooves grow quickly.  In these cases, once the hooves are trimmed normally, the animal can walk normally again. And of course, each animal is different as is each situation.  A Veterinarian should be consulted in extreme cases when the animal cannot stand or walk.  There are times when the horse might need special shoeing, medication or a special diet.  

Rusty hooves grow unusually fast and long, despite an eight-week Farrier schedule.

 

Even though Rusty is on an eight week Farrier schedule, his hooves grow quickly and quite long.

 During the Summer months, his hooves grown hard, long and quickly, making trimming quite

difficult, and seems to rule out the effects of a diet where the sugar cannot be metabolized.

It is unknown as to why his feet grow so fast and so long in such a short time. 

At the end of each trim, he is back to normal.  Early in my career, I showed up

at a new client’s ranch were Jake was brought from the pasture. 

He could hardly walk,  He unlike Rusty, Jake has a toe crack. 

His hooves grow differently then Rusty's.  Instead of growing straight out at the toe,

he flares symmetrical.  His owner was very concern because of the hoof condition.

Jake's hoof before the trim.  Jake was brought from the pasture.  He could hardly walk.

 

 

Jake's hooves after the trim. 

 

  I trimmed normally, got the crack out of the hoof wall, and Jake would walk with out a limp.  The owner was quite relieved, and Jake went back to his pasture.  

 Jake’s situation was not a result of his diet or green grass.  He lives on a hillside, and quite possibly stubbed his toe.  It is hard to say, because as horse owners, we find horses get into situations, that are hard to explain.  It could have been as simple as result of dry hoof wall.  It is too important not to have a profession periodically assist your horse’s hooves. 

Not too long ago, I was phoned to a ranch in the dead of Winter to trim an unusual condition of a mare, who at birth has a deformed hoof. 

Bella Before Her Trim

 

In this very unusual case for me, is Belle, a mare has an elongated hoof, on the right hind.  This is not the result of the owner not having the Farrier come out on a regular schedule, but the owner informed me the horse has deformed hoof from birth.  The owner had the Veterinary on hand to sedate the mare so I could trim off the dead hoof.  It was handy having the Veterinarian guided this procedure. 

What I found is Belle has accommodated for her condition.   Unlike Jake who was limping before his trim, I witnessed Belle walk, trot and cantor before she was haltered and brought out of pasture.

After she was sedated, I found the hoof wall has folded over on the bottom of her foot  creating a surface for her to walk on and keep in balance.  

 

View of Belle's hoof after the trim from top of the hoof stand.

 I left the some toe and trimmed back some of the curled under hoof wall so she would have a nice balanced hoof to walk on.  Bella's owner was amazed with the team work. and quite delighted with the trim.  She has had the Veterinary and I on a regular trimming schedule for Bella. 
Bella's owner like Rusty's and Jake's owners are very proactive in their horse's hoof care.  They have amazing horses, and it makes the trims go well with such cooperation. ~The End_Cheryl Smith 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rusty hooves grow unusually fast and long, despite an eight-week Farrier schedule.

Even though Rusty is on an eight week Farrier schedule, his hooves grow quickly and quite long.  During the Summer months, his hooves grown hard, long and quickly, making trimming quite difficult.  But at the end of the trim, he is back to normal. 

Early in my career, I showed up at a new client’s ranch were Jake was brought from the pasture.  He could hardly walk,  He unlike rusty, has a toe crack.  His hooves grow differently.  Instead of growing straight out at the toe, he flares symmetrical.  His owner was very concern because of the hoof condition.

I trimmed normally, got the crack out of the hoof wall, and Jake would walk normally again.  The owner was quite relieved, and Jake went back to his pasture. Jake’s situation was not a result of his diet or green grass.  He lives on a hillside, and quite possibly stubbed his toe.  It is hard to say, because as horse owners, we find horses get into situations, that are hard to explain.  It could have been as simple as result of dry hoof wall.  It is too important not to have a profession periodically assist your horse’s hooves.  Most owners have their animals services every eight weeks, but in unusually situations as in Jake and Rusty’s case, it is better to be on a four week Farrier schedule.