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?

4 comments

4 Comments

adams.river22d 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.

ray64322d 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.

mila_murphy22d ago

Yeah, and a sudden change like that could point to something like laminitis messing with the internal structures, not just outside wear.

theacooper22d 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.