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impy
Bronze Member
108 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 03:23:53 AM
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Have any of you got a good reason I can give to change my farrier - I don't want to fall out or upset my current farrier (just in case I have to go back to him) I just wonder if someone else could do a better job? This farrier stepped in where 3 others had failed and got his feet right - but has now, 5 years later, gone off the boil and I seem to be nagging every time he comes.
I'm really not happy with Rushka's feet at the moment but whenever I mention to him I get laughed at and told it's the weather all horses feet are bad, but looking round no they are not.
Then today I went to see my physio who also has same farrier and when discussing the splayed feet, big holes and large crack down one hoof discover her horse has the exact same problems. She's has managed to change by simply moving yards - a bit extreme, I don't want to move yards.
He can't go barefoot - tried that and he was really uncomfortable.
Another thing you may be able to help with - has anyone tried anything that has actually helped the hoof grow? I've tried Formula 4 feet, Farriers formula, Chinese biscuits and nothing worked so far.
Many thanks in advance.
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West Yorkshire
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 08:01:12 AM
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I know it goes against what you have said, but the best way to stimulate hoof growth is to work barefoot, but diet and hind gut function need to be correct first. Splayed and cracked feet can be addressed in part by a good farrier, but if the diet is not right it is an uphill battle. There should be a great deal of advice re diet on here, but usually the first stage is a good feed balancer with probiotic.
On the subject of changing farrier, you first need to find one that will make a difference. |
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Edited by - Judith S on 03 Oct 2012 08:02:31 AM |
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Paresh
Gold Member
613 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 08:52:56 AM
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I moved farriers a month or so ago, I found a new one had her come out and meet the horse that I was worried about, same as you, feet just not right and miss shaped and balance totaly wrong, and I could tell it by just looking at his feet, and when I questioned my farrier he told me my pony had bad confomation(pony has won lots inhand showing and is an M&M and normaly in large classes and goes champ as well, so confomation cant be that bad)
Anyway I phoned old farrier and just said I had managed to get onto someone elses books who were handier for me, and thank you for your service but I wont be requiring you again. |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 09:16:09 AM
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| I have found that the Simple systems Total eclipse had made a real difference to my mares feet, she used to have a crack from the top to the bottom, that has now almost grown out, I also don't feed any cereals and definitely no molasses. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 09:51:02 AM
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Just tell him you'd like to try someone else for a while but you reserve the right to come creeping back if it all goes terribly wrong. Thats exactly what I said to my last farrier, lovely bloke but just not all that ambitious in dealing with Spiders very low heels and long toes. New one has made a visible difference albeit in a year.
By the way new farrier insists that Spider is fed 'pro-feet' supplement. I did stop adding it for a couple of months (mainly because its quite expensive and I didnt notice any difference) but got caught out as no real growth over the summer so hes back on it again. |
   
West Sussex |
Edited by - Arachnid on 03 Oct 2012 10:00:33 AM |
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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 10:06:13 AM
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I agree feed from within to get the best feet.
Thsi year has been bad for feet apparently, my gelding has had an abcess in one of his front feet and he is 17 years old and has never had an abcess in his life and his feet cracked up quite bad this summer.
Got the vet out and she said they are having about 5 calls a day for foot abcesses this summer, its been a very wet one and then dried out causing some horses out at grass 24/7 with no additional feed/supplement hooves to crack. he has always had good feet and has been barefoot for over 5 years now and have never had a problem, I wouldnt changemy farrier for the world but thats me, he came yesterday and confirmed that his feet had cracke dmore than usual he has been doing him for 10 years.
Forumla4feet is very good and it promotes good healthy growth and a good quality horn, a bit too much really but if you have the farrier out regulary it shouldnt be a problem.
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 1:35:11 PM
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As has been said...feed from within..it may be that the qaulity of the pasture or hay he is eating has changed if you havent altered his feed but it takes 4-6 months to grow a new foot so changes happen slowly and it can be hard to spot a negative change until they are well establised and you've forgotten what it was that caused it!
I would opt for a reduced version of the truth if possible when firing your farrier but not before you have found a replacement!
My friend wanted to switch to my farrier and she sadi something along the lines of i'm not going to book my next apt this time as I have been asked to try 'xyz' by a friend as they wont come out to just one!
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Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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impy
Bronze Member
108 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 2:47:38 PM
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Thank you all so much for your replies and links to threads.
Rushka does suffer with cushings which is managed and we have bloods done every 6months to keep an eye on levels. Unfortunately the only way I can get his tablets down is with a Trebor mint every day. Hence I did try cut down on sugar, he's on Moli chop for veterans, but it may still have some molasses so as I am at the end of the bag I will look at getting Badminton Alfa A oil chop. He's on grass nuts and supplements of devils claw and garlic and also Baileys No 14 balancer - that I will also look at changing to Top Spec anti lam balancer as again I'm at the end of the bag.
He does have lots of ring round his hoof's - we have excellent grass and haylage but unfortunately our YO wont allow restricted grazing unless you have been diagnosed with laminitus Rushka always comes in during the day in summer and at night in winter due to sun burn - not that it's been a problem this year so does get a rest from the grass - I will also look at giving him hay rather than haylage when he comes in.
I did go to the vets because he was lame earlier this year and had xrays - he had slight rotation of the pedal bone, side bone and wear over the navicular - the vet said the wear over the navicular and side bone are probably to do with his age -18 but the rotation was because his feet where too long, she didn't like the shoes and the shoes where set too far back and told my farrier how to amend his shoeing - he then told me yes the shoes where too far back he'd been trying something! His experiment cost me £1000 as not insured on his front feet. I am having the vet out again this month as he is due his jabs so will get the same vet out to look at his feet and see what she thinks. This farrier is the remedial farrier recommended by my vets.
If Kelly happens to read this would you please let me know where abouts you are in Yorkshire and which farrier you use please?
Once again many thanks to all of you for replying. |
West Yorkshire
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 3:08:56 PM
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Hmm well I wont comment on your yard - it is your choice where you keep him but I would suggest you join the ECIR (Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance) Yahoo Group who can give you all the help and advise you need...
In the meantime if he were mine he would be on Speedi Beet, Micronised Linseed + a tablespoon of Salt. For vits and mins I feed Equiminns Advance Concentrate Meta Balance (Formula 2). IF he needed more weight on him you could then add Dengie Alfa Pellets.
Hay or haylage is up to you - if the haylage has been analysed and under 10% sugar and quite dry I think it would be ok. You could always soak it like you would hay too.
Personally I do not like pelleted balancers - they are a lot of money for not a lot of ingredients and I also steer clear of Alfalfa with added oil, herbs etc
I was advised to feed Pro Feet by my farrier for our late horse Pasha. I did then, however, I would chose the Equiminns over all else now! Happy to do a comparison for you in excel if you'd like and email it to you. |
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kimzi
Gold Member
865 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 3:56:04 PM
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| Sorry to hear your boy has cushings, it is always rather like being on the knife edge with it. It can also affect the horn quality at times. Its sad that your yard owner has limited knowledge of it too (or she would let you manage the grazing your way). I can only speak from personal experiance but we found that our old chap always did better with straight hay than haylage and when he was on shavings his hooves dried out terribly and we went through experimenting with lots of different beddings before finding something that worked all round (17 hands of excessive urination is no joke). What i did find that created some amazing results (coat, hooves and condition)was chaste tree berry powder added to his feed, we used to get it from feedmark but know there are other suppliers. |
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Cinnypony
Gold Member
1160 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 5:22:54 PM
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"He does have lots of ring round his hoof's - we have excellent grass and haylage"
A-ha: the rings "event lines" will be diet linked and would agree with pasha re the speedibeet and micronised linseed. Rings are caused by incorrect diet, wormers, etc - if you can figure out the rate of growth you can work the event that caused them.
And it also might be linked to the "excellent grass and haylage", which depends on your definition of excellent. My definition of excellent would be old low sugar fibrey meadow grass. If your excellent grass and haylage are ryegrass and sugary, then it will not be excellent for your horses hooves.
Re changing farrier - I recently changed trimmers. I got my new one word of mouth from someone who I knew and I'd sen his work on her horses hooves. Once he'd been and trimmed all 3 of my girls, I sent a polite message to my old trimmer explaining as diplomatically as I could why I was changing.
Good luck |
    
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 5:47:51 PM
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Oh yes, some farriers do just like to 'try something' without telling you and causing problems. In that case I would look to get shot asap.
With regard to feeding, I would avoid anything with alfalfa as it can be detrimental to feet, too much grass and 'good haylage' will also be a problem and the rings are a sign of inconsistent hoof growth for whatever reason.
Navicular is not just an old age thing, if the toes are long then the tendon is stretched over the navicular bone - so short toes removes the stress and the best relief will be a good barefoot trim, but it will not happen overnight you could be looking 12 or more months down the line. |
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Silver
Silver Member
279 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 5:59:57 PM
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| Try sugar free polos to take his tablets with,I feed my cushings boy plain chop with Topspec Fibre Plus nuts they don't contain any molasses and if he needs more condition Top Spec cool condition cubes plus vit supplement. |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 8:23:50 PM
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Whereabouts are you, Impy??
I'm in West Yorkshire too.
My mare's barefoot, has been for years, but my farrier is happy with whatever I want ( I know some who don't like barefoot horses! ), and he was really good after my mare had a bout of laminitis, even arguing with the vet for me because she recommended shoeing, which neither he nor I thought necessary.
I hasten to add that I'm not saying to go the barefoot route, just mean that my farrier is prepared to listen to his customers concerns whatever choice they make.
I've used him for years - prior to that I was using someone who nearly ruined her feet, and would ask me "who's the qualified farrier here" when I expressed concerns.
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2012 : 9:12:24 PM
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who's the qualified farrier here....
What a blooming cheek!!!
Our farriers is desperate to shoe ours.... holding him at bay |
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How to change farrier?
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)