Bar Growth around the Frog

[striderrider]

One of my horses has been getting these crazy bars growing around the frogs in the hind feet (he is barefoot behind). It's really a lot of excessive growth, I have never seen the bars grow right around the tip of the frog. Any idea of why this is happening or what I should do about it?

[peppysan]

Have you changed him to more limited turn out lately? It takes a lot of movement for a horse to properly shape their own bars so if he is not moving the same amount and wearing them down, that might cause this new growth you are seeing. You simply need to remove the excess bar growth and stay on top of it. If you don't, the horse will feel extra pressure on the bars and it could make him sore. You can do it yourself with small nippers or a hoof knife or just get the farrier to do it. If you do it yourself take note that the bars should stay close to or very slightly above the level of the sole alongside the frog, meeting the heels at ground level at the rear of the hoof.