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Serious question, has anyone else been over-trimming the frog?
I was working on a big draft horse last month, a Percheron named Gus, and his owner pointed out he was still a bit tender after my last visit. She said, 'He walks better when you leave more of that middle part alone.' I realized I'd been trimming his frog way down, thinking I was preventing thrush, but I was actually taking off too much of the natural cushion. It clicked that I was making the foot less comfortable, not more. How do you all judge how much frog to take off on a heavy horse?
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hugo_ellis12d ago
You know, that's a common mistake with the big guys. On a heavy horse, I only trim the frog if it's ragged or has loose flaps hanging off. The goal is to tidy it, not reduce its thickness. That central cushion is vital for shock absorption, so if it's healthy and firm, I just clean out the grooves and leave the body of it completely alone.
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