[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1077.0. "underhooves and peeling frog, current topic 1321" by JUPITR::PARTAIN (KA1MWP) Tue Oct 03 1989 14:12

    
     I looked thru a lot of notes concerning Hooves. I didn't find what
    I was looking for. I ended up asking a friend here and she answered what
    I wanted to hear but now curiosity has gotten to me and I wanted
    some more info and don't wanna keep being a pain either..so I will
    continue the conversation in here.
                                                      
     (First horse I have owned)..
    
    Anyway, I was picking his hooves and noticed that his frog is peeling
    and all the rest of the underneath looks really powdered and was
    wondering what he may have gotten into. Come to find out I understand
    now this is dead material. I started to pick at it a bit to see
    what was going on. Now I wonder if I do not have the farrier comming
    out to clean him up, is there something I can do? Should I just
    leave it? I am thinking this is the best move to do nothing but
    need that bit of reassurance. He doesn't seem to be bothered by
    it. I also understand that this happens a few times a year. I have
    been giving him Biotin for brittle hooves for about a month now
    and its helping quite a bit.
    
    Thanks for any info.
    
    
    Chuck
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1077.1Just another taleTOOK::SCHLENERTue Oct 03 1989 14:576
    My horse lost part of his frog a couple of years ago. It basically
    looked like a big scab. Every day or so, I could see that it was
    more detached from the "living" part of the frog. Finally, it just fell
    off.
    		Cindy
    
1077.2DYO780::AXTELLDragon LadyTue Oct 03 1989 15:569
    What you describe sounds like pretty normal hoof growth. Some horses
    will shed part of their frogs like that.  I have one horse who shed
    his whole frog in the spring. That scared the living dickens out
    of me the first time. 
    
    It won't hurt to clean up the detached part- just be careful not to 
    cut into the living frog. Just let the white stuff alone until your 
    farrier comes.  Do look out for a really bad smell, though.  That's 
    a sign of thrush (essentially hoof rot).
1077.3Can shed frogs...THRSHR::DINGEEThis isn't a rehearsal, you know.Wed Oct 04 1989 12:1315
    
    Ray shed his frogs this spring. The farrier caught one just
    hanging and cut it the rest of the way off. He says it's
    pretty common.
    
    If the frog starts to look like 'lace', though - little bits chewed
    away here and there, holes in it - that's also a sign of thrush.
    Horses can have smelly feet, which stink enough, but when you smell
    thrush, you'll know it! It's much worse. 
    
    But the way, my little terrier found that frog, and gnawed on it for
    days...outside, of course - it STANK!
    
    -j
    
1077.4frogs do croak.....DEMON::DIROCCOThu Oct 05 1989 10:2520
It's quite normal for horses to shed frogs at certain times of the year,
most commonly in the spring or fall. Of course you must keep a close eye
on your horses feet at all times, to watch for nasties like thrush...or
hoof rot.

I guess it's just natures way of revamping the shock or cushion that the
frog provides to the horses feet and legs.

Always remember to pick those hooves! I have a good friend who's horse 
was turned out in a muddy paddock during late winter/early spring and 
his feet were not properly looked after. Well, his frogs in 3 feet have 
not grown back properly and the vet says that they might never grow back. 
This could prove disasterous to the horse, so your are right to be cautious
about any changes in your horses feet. 

Read up on hoof care, I find reading the most I can on such subjects is a
great help combined with asking lots of questions!

good luck
Deb
1077.5Maybe too dry?PTOMV6::PETHMy kids are horsesThu Oct 05 1989 12:067
    According to my farrier some horses shed their frogs twice a year,
    once in the spring and again in the fall. I would not be too concerned
    about that, but the white powder is a sign of dry feet and it can
    be helped by using a good dressing once or twice a week. I have
    1 horse out of three that does just what you discribed every fall.
    Sandy