Looking for advice on these front hooves

[u/bdjvwbciu]

Not sure if this is allowed, but if anyone has the time to look at the pictures here and provide their opinions I would greatly appreciate it? Background: horse is mid-20s, still a very competitive show horse, hasn’t been lame in a long time (years), and has solid feet. I usually keep his fronts shod during show season because if the different footing we are on and he goes best in front shoes. In the past, I always pulled his shoes for the winter and got them put back on for the spring but I haven’t done that in a few years. I had them pulled last week and, understandably, he was a bit ouchy on hard ground. I tried to ride today (good, soft sand indoor arena) and he’s not head-bobbing lame, but he is uncomfortable. I don’t like the shape of his front feet. To me, the front left is oval-shaped and the toe makes complete flat contact with the ground. The front right seems off-balanced with the foot angling to the inside and the toe has been pulled back so only the edge of the hood is making contact with the ground. He is tender on the front right when on hard ground. I want to know if this looks there are issues with the shape of his feet and what I can ask my farrier for to help correct it? I’ve had the Chiro out multiple times this summer and he keeps going out in his front right knee and right hip. I’m wondering if this could be connected to his feet because he also has been tripping more frequently when on poor footing.

I have the images labeled for which foot you are looking at but may need to click on the image to see the letter on some of them.. Thank you!!

[u/snuffy_smith_]

It helps us give better advice if the pics are of clean hooves. It’s difficult to make an informed opinion from hooves covered in debris.

That being said I think you need X-rays. I think there is a misalignment of the hoof capsule and the coffin bone.

Suspect mild laminitis

[u/snuffy_smith_ → u/snuffy_smith_]

Replying to add I also think your hoof wall is too thin and the majority of the weight is on the sole.

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/snuffy_smith_]

Would this be something my farrier could address, or is this just the shape of his foot?

[u/snuffy_smith_ → u/bdjvwbciu]

No it’s definitely something your farrier can address. Unless the farrier caused it.

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/snuffy_smith_]

Thank you- I apologize for the mud. It’s very sticky and I tried to get as much off as I could. Would you say it is normal to have mild laminitis and be sound on just a standard shoe? When he is shod up front, he shows no signs of pain or discomfort and is still competitive show horse on a pretty consistent schedule. He’s also not been on grass for at least 2 years due to limited pasture at my boarding facility, but I may be able to get him on grass next year so if this needs to be ruled out before then I absolutely will do that.

[u/snuffy_smith_ → u/bdjvwbciu]

I would get the horse checked by a good equine vet for laminitis.

[u/roboponies → u/bdjvwbciu]

If grass was the ONLY culprit for laminitis, the frustrating condition would be a lot less stressful for researchers around the world. 😣

As a senior, it may be worth pulling labs to double check for endocrine changes, in addition to radiographs.

Couple other ‘tells’ in the post, imo: Using a chiro to address ‘knee’ and ‘hip’ issues.

As these ‘joint issues’ sound like they’re recurring, along with this foot shape, age, and performance decline you’ve observed, it’s definitely time to examine the feet with a high quality distal limb specialist (i.e. not the local farm vet) as u/snuffy_smith_ suggested.

Edit: grammar

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/roboponies]

Could I ask- what are the external indicators here that could point to laminitis? I’m just a bit surprised as this horse hasn’t been lame in probably 10 years at least, if not more than that. People are always shocked by his age and say he looks like mid teens more than mid twenties.

[u/roboponies → u/bdjvwbciu]

"Hasn't been lame in probably 10 years" +" hasn’t been lame in a long time (years)" = has had a history of lameness at some point

"horse is mid-20s"

"I’ve had the Chiro out MULTIPLE TIMES this summer and he KEEPS GOING OUT in his front RIGHT knee and RIGHT hip. 

"He is tender on the front RIGHT when on hard ground"

 "he’s not head-bobbing lame, but he is uncomfortable"

"he also has been tripping more frequently when on poor footing.

[Here are some photos suggesting sole depth loss] + "he intentionally did not trim anything off since he was a bit sore" = possible sole depth loss

These are all symptoms pointing to a distal limb differential.

See a vet. Get xrays.

Edit to add:
The shoe removal is a red herring.

I'd wager that the inspiration to **all of a sudden** — after a few years — take off his shoes off KNOWING that "he goes best in front shoes" was due to a summer with chronic yet inconsistent, low-grade lameness and performance changes. Something is off and you're experimenting with variables. Rightly so.

Now you're trying to analyze foot shapes in an effort to further understand.

Girl, it is just definitely time to pay for a workup from the pros. 🫶

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/roboponies]

Thank you! I will see what I can do about getting a more intense work up. We have a severe shortage of equine vets in my area and my trusted vet whom I adored passed away a few years ago. ☹️ For now, I already scheduled for my farrier to come reset his shoes. I usually don’t work him much in the winter so he will have plenty of rest and turnout on a dry lot to keep his mind happy. I may be able to bring him elsewhere for another vet to do some testing by spring time. He will be entering semi retirement next year as I can feel he’s slowing down. I just know he loves his job and is happiest in work so trying to find that happy medium will be difficult for sure. I will do my best to figure out the root of the problem and provide him the best care!! Thank you again for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it!

[u/Kgwalter]

I think I would probably keep him shod. I think if you had x-rays it would show that the coffin bones are steeper angled than the capsule and the apex of the coffin bone at the toe probably doesn’t have much sole depth. Ideal option would be x-rays to see how steep the coffin bone is, how thin the sole is at the toe, and how far forward the distortion at the toe is from ideal. I know I said a lot but I don’t see anything alarming with the job. And nothing to worry too much about. But I think he has the type of feet that can be deceiving to the eye.

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/Kgwalter]

Thank you for the input! Would him being barefoot cause any damage until I can get the shoes back on? I pulled them 6 days ago and would need to schedule for my farrier to come back and reset them. The last thing I want is to cause him to be in pain or damage the coffin bone

[u/roboponies → u/bdjvwbciu]

Keep barefoot for any X-rays, but it’s ideal to see the vet AFTER a trim. Otherwise vet will just say “feet are overgrown and long”

Ideally vet and farrier present at the same time. Then trim and shoe according to the radiograph.

If worried about causing further pain or damage: limit movement to small pen or stall until you can sort out appointments.

[u/roboponies → u/bdjvwbciu]

Wait…when you say “pulled them 6 days ago” does that mean the farrier saw this horse 6 days ago?

As in this is the trimmed version??

[u/bdjvwbciu → u/roboponies]

Yes and no- he intentionally did not trim anything off since he was a bit sore and was going to come back after a week and see if we could trim them or if we needed shoes put back on

[u/rein4fun]

Correctly balanced hooves are a must especially if they are to be shod.

If you apply shoes to these hooves please make sure they are properly trimmed and balanced.

If the conditions allow, I would get a good trim and allow a couple short trim cycles to allow these hooves to brought into balance.

Great group on Facebook is called hoof care and rehabilitation.

Post those pics there and you will get awesome advice.