What colour is my mini...........

[Girrawheen]

Thanks Jane! I am going to have to be very diplomatic about this as he is a good friend of the breeder! I did ring a few farriers before I actually tried him and I was really put off by what I found! I found most of them to be downright arrogant and one said he did not differentiate between big horses and mini's, and wanted to charge me $60 AUD! That is outrageous!

O.k. so this is the entire story..........I got Cobalt at just under 1 month old (I have his mum here also until he weans). The breeder I purchased him from was going to come and trim his feet (and her Mare's) but as she had a few personal issues going on, I decided to go ahead and get the farrier to come out instead (I am a newbie but even I knew they were getting too long). I got the farrier out to Cobalt and the breeder's mare, just over one month ago. Cobalt's feet were done for the first time (to my knowledge).

Would the current situation with Cobalt's feet be from that one farrier visit? I know you say it can be rectified, but I do not like to have to hear that I have any issues with my horse, when I am trying so hard to do all the right things (so frustrating). Not a dig at anyone here, I am venting to myself lol!

Should I be trying to get another farrier out before Thursday?

So sorry and thanks for the help (once again).

 

[Jill]

If the farrier only has done him one time, then it's not the farrier's "fault". I would just show him "look how steep these feet are, how long the heel -- everyone is telling me more needs to come off the heel because he looks contracted". The farrier will know what to do, and he may have you rasp / file the heel yourself inbetween his visits as mine had me do with a filly I used to have. Don't worry, he can greatly improve the foot and make it not be a problem but you just need to show him what you're upset about. He will see it immediately anyway, but point out that you know the foot shouldn't be shaped that way. He will be fine with some work from the farrier and maybe inbetweens from you

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[rabbitsfizz]

No there really is no need to panic and I also think that some farriers are just not too clued in to what is required.

If he has just been left to get on with it by the breeder and never had his work questioned then he cannot be blamed for doing what he considers is right.

You need to explain what you want the foot to look like- nothing radical should be done at this age but the heels do need to be reduced and opened out in order for the foot to grow in the correct way- he will not drop dead from having feet as mildly "wrong" as this.

I would also go and take a good look at the rest of this breeders horses feet and see if you would be satisfied with the way they look if they were yours!!

$AU 60.00 is going it some, to say the least- but they do get it and if that farrier only needed to come half as often as he did such a good job, it would also even out in the end- are any of these people remedial farriers??

A remedial would be more likely to teach you to do it yourself, I think.

 

[Girrawheen]

Thanks Jill and Jane

rabbitsfizz Posted Today, 10:00 PM
I would also go and take a good look at the rest of this breeders horses feet and see if you would be satisfied with the way they look if they were yours!!

I have the breeder's mare with me at the moment (and I am definately no expert) but they look pretty good to me

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This is where I get frustrated! I do not know enough at this point, to know good vs bad but am willing to learn everything I can !

I do not feel it is the breeder's fault, or the farrier's fault

. Is it possible that his feet have grown super fast in a four week period, or would this problem have been evident to the farrier when he came last month?

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Thank you.

 

[Jill]

Yes, it is possible. I'm not smart enough to know what season it is there, however, many or most of my horses grow faster in the spring and summer. Also, if the ground is different at the breeders than at your place, he may have been naturally wearing his feet down at the breeders more so than at your place. So a combination of these two factors could be the answer. I agree it's not time to "blame" anyone and I do think this is very fixable

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Yes absolutely and the change in diet as he is weaned will also affect his feet.

If you are happy with the rest of the horses feet that he does it may just be that you need to gently point out your grievances with Cobalts feet and your worries- the last thing you need to do is alienate a good farrier but there is no reason why you should blindly accept what they do, either.

Just be tactful but firm.

 

[Girrawheen]

Thanks Jill

Well it is technically Autumn (Fall) here now but we had 30 degrees here today. We are also in the midst of the worst drought in history!

I did notice after three weeeks of the farrier visiting, Cobalt's feet looked really long! I was shocked that they looked so long after such a short amount of time. The mare I had trimmed at the exact same time does not look like she needs to be trimmed at all (probably because she is older?). I thought I would hold out until at least 4 weeks but I think I may have made a judgement error right there!

I am so glad that it should be easily rectified (I have a bad throat infection at the moment probably due to being quite run down, and would have hated any additional stress).

Thanks Jill & Jane :bgrin

 

[maplegum]

Cobalt will be fine. Like everyone has said, he will not go lame from this overnight.

I'm so glad that you are asking for advice. It's the only way to learn. I've had horses for a large part of my life and now with miniatures, I feel as if I have to learn all over again!

This may be a kind of 'blessing in disguise' as now you know what to look out for! You know what doesn't look right with his feet. You are a good horse Mummy... little Cobalt is lucky to have someone like you who only wants the best for him.

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Lots of good advice already given.

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The "caramel" colt may well be Silver- (Taffy) what colour were his mane and tail??

Sabino does not give blue eyes but a lot of foals do have a blue tinge to their eyes for some time- he would not appear to have bright blue eyes??

The caramel colt had and still does have a white mane and tail with streaks of black. His dam is a Black and white pinto (mostly black with white splashes, blue eyes) and his sire is all black (he is also Baileys sire). This little caramel colt(now black colt) has one blue eye too. I'll try to post photos to show you the transformation.

 

[Girrawheen]

Thanks Maplegum for your lovely comments.

Thank you Jane also. I was posting at the same time as you and did not see your post until today.

I washed Cobalt yesterday (not his head) and guess what.........I found a little BLACK mini! He was soooooo dusty! he he!

Here he is after his bath (hubby is holding him).......

 

[Jill]

He is a really nice looking colt

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[Sue_C.]

I thought I saw an appy scelara in his eye on the first photo...and now I KNOW IT.

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So, I stand firm by my first remark, that I wouldn't be surprised if he appy-roans eventually, as I feel he already carries two obvious appy characteristics from his sire, and possibly his dam, from her discription.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Well I have had eyes like that on foals with no Appy breeding at all- guess we will just have to wait and see.

I would not be holding my breathe, though.

 

[Sue_C.]

I'm willing to wait...BETCHA!!!

: :lol: :lol:

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Right, you're on!!!

Michelle, you will have to let us know!!

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[midnight star stables]

Go Jane and Sue :lol: :bgrin

Going by what you have said, I believe he is a black going to have appy characteristics. How ever it could be sabino, but I'll stick with appy.

Also Joy's feet were like that but others have already told you how to correct that.

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[rabbitsfizz]

Yes, minimal Sabino- very minimal is my guess too.

 

[Sue_C.]

Right, you're on!!!Michelle, you will have to let us know!!

:risa8: :risa8:

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[Girrawheen]

Thanks Jill for the lovely comment!

Now Jane and Sue..........I am cracking up over you two but PLEASE tell me what you are talking about..........I am a NEWBIE remember and I have NO IDEA :stupid: what you are talking about :new_rofl: :new_rofl:

Sue why are you more convinced now? What are you seeing? :new_multi: :new_multi: :new_multi:

I will definately keep you up to date.

Thank you all :bgrin

 

[Sue_C.]

I would expect to see some appy-triats, just from the fact that both his sire and dam, could carry the appy gene.

One appy characteristic I see is, although he is not a silver black, he has a striped hoof on a solid black foot. The other noticeable characteristic I see, is the white scelara of his eyes. Not just a "wild-eye", but a real white scelara'd eye, similar to that in a human.

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[Girrawheen]

Sue it is funny you say that about his eye. I have noticed the white from day one and always thought it was him just being scared! He still has it today and I read that it is a sign of a stubborn horse ????

Did you mean black stripe on white hoof?

Do you think he may develop more white on his body somewhere?

I can take more photos if it would help.

Thanks for your help.