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TIL a horse's foot can change shape faster than you think
I was trimming a quarter horse named Dusty in Boulder last Tuesday, same as I have every eight weeks for a year. This time, his left front hoof was way more upright than before, almost like he'd been standing on a hill. His owner said they'd just moved him to a new pasture with a steep slope. It made me see how much the ground they stand on all day really shapes the foot, not just my work. Has anyone else had a horse's feet change that fast from a new living space?
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adams.river6mo ago
I used to believe the hoof shape was mostly set by the trim. Then I saw a mustang mare's feet go from long and sloped to short and boxy in just a few months after she moved from a sandy wash to rocky ground. The wear pattern totally overrode my trimming schedule. It taught me how powerful constant ground contact really is.
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ray6436mo ago
That "way more upright" shape in eight weeks is pretty extreme. I'd be looking at a possible founder or abscess changing the hoof angle, not just the pasture slope. The ground influences wear, but bone alignment sets that basic shape.
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mila_murphy6mo ago
Yeah, and a sudden change like that could point to something like laminitis messing with the internal structures, not just outside wear.
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theacooper6mo ago
Reminds me of a friend's dog that started walking funny. Turned out they'd redone their floors and the dog was just adjusting to the new slippery surface.
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