Bubba's toes

becdubie · Bubba's toes

Ok since Bubba tripped last weekend and it was suggested that his toe length might be too long..that has sort of been nagging at me so I thought I'd get some feedback about his feet.
Starting with his fronts. He is due for a trim this weekend (rasp and round is usually all I have to do) so here are shots before I've trimmed his fronts. That way If you have any suggestions, I can start applying them with his trim this weekend. Be kind...I am his trimmer and learning as I go.
A little info.
Bubba has never been lame, he is 5 yrs old, I've had him since he was a baby. He had shoes on his fronts for a few weeks when he went to training two years ago. Cautionary...the trainer did not want him to get sore riding in the rocks...he lives in rocks so I doubt he would have got sore..but she was worried so I allowed shoes for a short time.
He has always had good nutrition and no injuries to his feet.
Take a look at pictures here. I didn't want to adjust the size so you all can see as much detail as possble.
http://s345.photobucket.com/albums/p367/becdubie/BUBBA/FEET/

calatar

They don't look long to *me*. Just ready for a trim; soles and bars definitely need attention. Sometimes horses just trip.

appellativo

That was weird. It seemed to change from picture to picture. But overall, they don't look too long to me. Just ready for a trim. Perhaps you just want to go one week sooner on the trim, if he's tripping now, for example, but he wasn't last week....

calatar

becdubie

I had a hard time with those sole shots holding the hoof and taking the photo.....Yeah the angle and the shading were different in all of them. I'll get someone to help me withe next set of pics...

...About the soles....I've never touched them. I can't use a hoof knife very well so I have never even attempted to scrap off the flaky sole. Seems like the day after I trim him that stuff just flakes off by itself and he is back to a nice smooth hard sole.
I just trim down the bars to the point where they are not bending over...should I go shorter do you think?

appellativo

The way I trim them is with two guidelines in mind: one, so they don't fold over sideways and two, so its a bit higher than the sole plane and lower than the hoof wall.

Clarissa

Tripping usually has very little to do with the feet & much more to do with the horse being stiff in it’s shoulders from the saddle or way it is ridden. Sometimes it might be due to pressure on the muscles that run between the front legs which are being constricted by an overtight girth so the horse can't take a proper step forward.

If it’s the saddle, it is because he doesn’t want to rotate his shoulder blade back or he can’t take a good unimpeeded step forward.

Considering the tripping is a new thing I would think it has to do with something new that has just changed in his tack or the way you are sitting on him. I know you have just got a new saddle so it would be good to compare how he is now to how he was before.

Sometimes it is the way horse is ridden. It might have to protect it’s back muscles so it becomes stiff along it’s back, say if the saddle tree is digging in somewhere. That will cause it to take short stiff steps trying to keep the scapula upright & with it’s knees & elbows not bending much That's what actually causes the tripping. The toes drag because the horse is not bending it's joints properly therefore not picking up it's feet.

Perhaps the new treeless saddle is allowing too much weight to be transferred to the muscles along the spine or pressing on the backbone. Those things will cause it to have a stiff back.

thebundychick

Definately looks ready for a trim. Little bit of flaring on the FL.

It would be a good idea to trim him & then post pics post trim to see how short u take him.

ForgeNHammer

Beautiful feet. If he is being ridden on rocky terrain I probably wouldn't touch them.

thelmanelle

Unless the tripping is excessive, I say "Hey, I trip, too!" Horses trip or they get lazy in the walk and they hit the front with the back. flint is the worst.

When he is excited, great! When he is lazy...click, click, click...trip.

Boring....

Kim Cassidy

I think the feet look fine, not short at all.

I would be hesitant to suggest trimming the sole and/or bars, til I had more info.

Where do you live?
What terrain do you house him on?
What terrain do you ride him on?
In what context is he tripping? In the pasture or under saddle?
Does he do the tripping without a saddle and on the longe?
Does he do the tripping with a saddle and on the longe?
Has the tripping always been there or is it a new development?
How long has he been bare?

No matter what I wouldn't trim the sole in the front of the frog, you don't have much depth and the toe seems to be worn there, kind of like he is on his soles.

After seeing all the answers, I'd offer suggestions

becdubie

To clarify about the "tripping". He doesn't trip all the time.. in fact most times he is pretty steady, I have seen him stumble and trip in the pasture running around playing with the rest of the horses...but all they all do that occationally. He lives in uneven rocky pasture with hills, a creek, a few trees...mostly dry but a little wet areas down by the creek. I only brought up the trip because last weekend he went down on both front knees while I was riding him and someone mentioned that maybe his toes are long. Since I trim him and don't really have anyone with professional barefoot trimming methods nearby to check my work, I figured I'd take this opportunitiy to ask for some feedback here since i know we have a few pros who often give feedback.

Kim Cassidy

Well there ya go

I wouldn't trim those feet at all. I have horses trip sometimes but it is because of not paying attention or a tree root, etc.

Don't listen to anyone telling you long toes.

carefreegirl

um..it was me who mentioned long toes, and that was before I saw any pics, it was just one of the suggestions/reasons I gave that might contribute to tripping in a horse....I agree though since I've seen pics that the toes are not to long, his feet look great, wish my horses feet looked as good as that...

becdubie

Thanks again everyone. I DO appreciate it.

Carefree girl....I know you didn't see his toes...but you got me thinking, and since I'm not a pro trimmer...just thought I'd check. I obsess over these things.

I think our environment promotes healthy feet...we're pretty lucky.