Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Message

Toe callous is on the sole at the front of the hoof. Have you seen your farrier take a rasp to that part of the hoof after he nips off the excess wall? That is what you don't do with a barefoot horse, as that callous provides protection. OTOH, the long toe is removed by rasping (or sometimes nipping) the front of the hoof at the bottom of the hoof wall, but not on the sole. You can remove the excess toe very easily by placing the hoof on a stand and rasping off the overgrowth, usually between 10 & two (if the front is 12 on a clock) on the hoof, so you are not removing the periople up on the wall. Most owner/maintenance don't need to own nippers, and the rasping of excess toe usually takes only a minute.

 

Kathy

 

pulling shoes now OLDER horse - Elizabeth Walker

So, then - question.  What is a "toe callus"?  I've heard people say that you should never take off the toe callus of a barefoot horse, but - if you are rasping the foot every couple of weeks (and keeping the toe short), how does that work?