new to horses. a bad hoof?

[quin4mee]

I know that my 7 yr old NSH has one club foot that isn't an issue according to my vet. However when I pick his feet out, they seem bumpy and not very pretty. At the barn they are telling me that the farrier can cut some of the bumpiness out...is this the case? The farrier should be out in the next couple of weeks. I'm just hoping I didn't drop a ton of money on a problem horse! His feet don't seem to hurt, and he past all the flex tests with the vet. I guess because he's my first horse I'm a tad bit nervous.... :confused:

[Gary Hill]

Get a second Vet's opinion! Club feet are a pain to deal with and can damper your additude as a new owner. Good Luck! Gary

[Donnie Walker]

Do consider the recommendation of a second opinion, and, if funds permit, radiograph the suspect hoof to determine if an internal problem exists, especially in the navicular area. Hoof pair asymmetry, where one foot is smaller and has a higher heel length, was seen in 60% of horses with navicular area pain in one controlled study (Robin Dabareiner, DVM, PhD, G. Kent Carter, DVM, Ms).

Don't get discouraged though at this moment. I shoe several competitive horses, and personally own one, that have this feature, but radiograph clean, and demonstrate no problem whatsoever. Best of luck to you.

[quin4mee]

Thanks for the reply Donnie and Gary. I will definitely look into having x-rays done. The vet said that 90% of Saddlebred horses have a club foot. And since Quin is 1/2 Saddlebred and 1/2 Arabian, the vet said she wasn't surprised. She said that if the ferrier tried to shoe his feet and make them look even that it could cause problems with his coffin bone. But what about the bumps? I thought they were rocks but they definitely are not. Is this something that the ferrier can fix?

[Phil Armitage]

The bumbs are probably exfoliating sole. Normaly will get trimmed out every shoeing, the sole grows constantly and exfoliates and can get bumpy. Be there the next time your Farrier is there observe and ask questions, tell your farrier you just want to learn more. What are you going to do with this horse? I have seen a lot of club footed horses never take a lame step. However it is a conformational fault and I would not make this horse compete in things that would obviously strain his limp and cause injury. For example, jumping and eventing, riening, barrell raceing etc. Horses have to be built right for the job there doing. Not all horses are athelets as not all people are not athelets. But he might make a good low level dressage horse, flat classes (walk trot canter) and trail rideing that you and him can enjoy for a very long time. The value of a horse is not always there competative ability, it all depends on what you want to do and how you and the horse get along. I would pay more for a safe club footed horse than the perfect athelete with no brain any day. Bottom line what are your plans and your level of rideing and horemenship skills, all of this need to be considered here.

[quin4mee]

I only plan on using him to trail ride and love! I might learn how to ride dressage on him. He's supposed to be show quality, and has won numerous ribbons at the halter level but I'm not a competitive person and don't have an interest in showing. The people who had him before I got him wanted to use him as a roping horse but it didn't work out. So now I have him and I only plan on using him as a pleasure horse. I will be there when the farrier shows up and ask him about the bumps. Thanks a lot!

[Phil Armitage]

Interesting, he does good in flat work (halter class) not good in strenous work ropeing. So there you go, stay within his limitations and he should be fine. Sounds like he is a sound healthy horse with a good brain. All you have to do is keep him that way. Many people make the mistake of trying to do more than there horse can handle and that is where the trouble starts, I would not jump him and if your interested in Dressage, that is good, Dressage is Training to achieve collection and subleness however at higher levels, it is very demanding work the tests become very difficult and practiceing to get there is alot of repetitive work so I recommend that you stick to lower levels, training level. Good luck and enjoy keep it fun. If it is not fun then your doing someting wrong.

[quin4mee]

Thank you, thank you! It is a blast. I enjoy just being with him. I don't ride him every single time I go to see him. There is just something that relaxes me when I'm around the horse! I feel like I lucked out in getting him. He's a good boy! :)

[Gary Hill]

Old saying,"The outside of a Horse is good for the inside of a man" (or woman)! Good Luck! Gary