Constricted Frog

Before First Trim

While this photo has not been taken at the best angle, this left hind hoof is obviously overgrown. The bars and walls are overgrown and there is a tear in the wall in the medial quarters. You may be able to see how constricted the frog is because of the excess sole and bars. Additionally, the frog has what seemed to be a healed cut on the medial side, and the horse showed no sensitivity to it.

This horse was living in sand at this point.

After First Trim

This was a very conservative first trim. I shortened the walls and the bars, and brought the heels back. The toe could have been backed more. It is interesting to see in this photo just how pinched the frog is from the apex to about where the bar corium begins at the midpoint of the frog.

Thirteen Days After First Trim

At this trim, just about two weeks after the initial trim, I was shocked and pleased to see that the frog seemed to have freed itself from the confines of the sole-- even after the initial conservative trim. The horse is still growing out the white line stretching and separation at the toe.

Six Weeks After First Trim

The frog looks like it is disintegrating here. But, with hoof in hand, I could see and feel that the frog was regenerating itself underneath. So, I left it as-is so that the horse would still get as much stimulation as possible, through the frog, to increase the health of the interior structures of the hoof. I was not worried about thrush since the colloidal silver treatments seemed to have had a positive effect on his frogs by this point.

Additionally, the tear in the medial quarters wall has completely grown out and the separation at the toe has diminished.

Three Months After First Trim

The frog had regenerated nicely by this point. It is interesting to note that, by the time of this trim, the horse had been moved to a drier, firmer pasture, whereas he was on an irrigated pasture most of the time after about a month after the first trim. The frog, while still robust, is drier and more compact from being on the hard ground. You might also be able to see how the cut that was in the frog seems to be filling in.