Should you carve the horse's FROG? (Will it make your horse sensitive?)

[@skidaddle32]

I love these videos. What used to look like the surface of the moon to me (talking about the underside of my horses feet) is now familiar - and it’s so less scary and perplexing. When I know better, I can do better for my horse. Thank you!

[@WhereDoesMyHorseHurt]

Excellent information, Lindsay. Well presented. :)

[@lindsaysetchell]

Glad it was helpful! 👍

[@pattyann2108]

Great information! Nature gave the horse a frog as it is the blood pump for the health of their hoof and legs, heart and more. Please let your horses have access to being outside so they can walk 24/7. Inside stalls with no paddock make me cry; it's so UNhealthy for the horse. Thank you Lindsey for your great info!

[@lindsaysetchell]

Thank you 🙏

[@andreainfinnland]

Thank you, that answered all my questions about trimming the frog. I love how clear and concise your videos are.

[@lindsaysetchell]

Glad I could help you :)

[@ConnieGrippin1955]

I've been taught as a barefoot trimmer of my own horse to put the v in the frog on the sides as well as clean out the contraction of the central sulcus with a knife. It's not working for me. And this goes against everything I've been taught but I am going to do this and see where this gets my horse. I really appreciate the videos and the thought you put into them and the educational material. Going to leave the frog alone. Thank you.

[@lindsaysetchell]

That's so good to hear that you will make that change, let us know how you get on! 👏

[@shondalahpinny9077]

How did the change go for you?

[@kleineportugiesin9784]

Wonderful, 27 minutes about the miracle of the hoof frog (Juhuuuh). With an enthusiasm that I, as someone interested in hoofs, more than like. Here in Germany, in thirty years with horses, I have unfortunately seen so many people who prefer to feed them powder and herbs and buy new things, but who have no interest in the topic of hoofs. Many people even consider the rot to be normal in winter. And you could easily do something to ensure that the frog stays healthy. Ein Pferd ist immer nur so gut wie sein schlechtester Huf

[@lindsaysetchell]

Thank you for your kind words! 🥰

[@BonnyCurless]

Awesome video! Love learning some great things from you!

[@lindsaysetchell]

Awesome, thank you! 🙏

[@valeriefergusson269]

Brilliant xx

[@lindsaysetchell]

Thank you 🙏

[@ethanheyne]

The digital cushion can be assessed by looking at the back of the foot, above the hairline. If there's a deep dent which feels hard when you press, the cushion is atrophied for sure. If there's a slight dent and it's a bit squishy when you push on it, it's probably in good shape. It depends less on the horse's age and much more on how much it moves around. Even an old horse can regenerate healthy cushion there if it gets more exercise on comfortable feet. For those whose hoof-care specialist removes too much frog, don't criticize their technique or training. Perhaps tell them you want to run an experiment and describe how little you want taken off and for how many trims. Take before-during-after photos of the foot, especially the back as it's on the ground, and the underside. Get video of its gait ditto. Then share the results! I've noticed a pattern in our horses, that I'll see white, powdery stuff (fungus) in their frog, and that is later followed by the black, smelly goo (bacteria). Occasionally they co-exist, but the white always comes first. If the fungus is treated as soon as it's seen, does that keep the bacteria from moving in? Also, when the infection is in the callus of the frog, should it be exposed (by trimming) so it can be treated? Lindsay, what about pro-biotics to treat thrush? I know that treating candida with probiotics (kombucha, topical and eaten yogurt) is very effective. I once ran across a reference to a specific Japanese probiotic meant to be added to houseplant soil, which someone used on their horses with near-permanent thrush problems and on the turnout area, and they claimed it cured the problem within a couple weeks, and they reapply whenever a horse shows signs of thrush again.

[@lindsaysetchell]

I think you should give it a try and let us know what happens 👍

[@marybrinker1333]

Great advice , I am trying to get my boy's heels down but with so much contraction it makes it hard to know how far to go,

[@lindsaysetchell]

Yes compaction and contraction is not easy to deal with, but keeping the trim every 2-3 weeks and down to the HSP, leaving the toes alone if there is no wall on the ground yet, is the way forward.

[@Rebecca-ks7ui]

Very interesting thank you. I’ve just started trimming my own two and this has helped 😊 My ott has those flaps on the widest part of frog so I’m keen to trim those off, knowing that’s ok.

[@susannenies1505]

Super explanation 👍

[@lindsaysetchell]

Glad you liked it

[@shmeeden]

A bit of frog trimming has completely eliminated the thrush my horse was dealing with before. But it's knowing what to trim, where, and how much. I just keep her central sulcus divot from getting blocked up with shedding tissue, and now it self-cleans.

[@lindsaysetchell]

You are talking about careful trimming of thrushy material - not carving the frog to make it look pretty ;)

[@blueshawll]

I was wondering about a recommendation for the type of antiseptic cream to use along with the thrush cream. Thank you.

[@lindsaysetchell]

Any generic cream will do. We like to keep things as naturally as possible, but there are times that we need mixture like this to quickly get into those very sore areas. 👍

[@tracyharris]

My cob has so much frog that it hard to rasp the wall without catching the frog. His frog is at least 1cm past the hoof wall, is that normal?

[@lindsaysetchell]

Cobs often have big wide frogs which can easily overgrow so when you trim they are proud. They should settle down quite quickly and always make sure you keep to a 6 week trim cycle 👍

[@cagey1415]

No personal preference trimming - the frog: it depends

[@lindsaysetchell]

Little flaps and being overgrown, but no carving just for the sake of making it look ‘pretty’.