White hooves are weaker

Duckie0370 · 06-30-2008, 12:05 PM

Am I correct in saying that the old assumption of white hooves being weaker than dark/black hooves is complete bull? I've been hearing a lot of nonsense about it lately, even to where someone said "well, my farrier says white hooves are weaker so it MUST be true." The only thing I can come up with is that people perhaps assume white hooves are weaker because you can more obviously see cracks and other damages to a white hoof as opposed to a black one. Opinions?

lovemyTB · 06-30-2008, 12:09 PM

my farrier says horse with white hooves have a more tender foot.

Horse poor · 06-30-2008, 12:10 PM

My horses with white hooves have had way better hooves than the black ones. They don't break as much and I have never had to put shoes one my horses with white hooves. The black hooves have needed shoes from time to time because of chipping and cracking. It depends more on genetics and then nutrition than color of the hoof.

Duckie0370 · 06-30-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovemyTB

my farrier says horse with white hooves have a more tender foot.

Nakai has all white hooves and his are like stones - nothing bothers them. I don't necessarily believe the color of the hoof has anything to do with it - I'm far more inclined to believe genetics, conformation, etc are contributing factors, but not the color itself.

Freedomnchrist · 06-30-2008, 12:11 PM

My mare has both....white and black...and even one that is two tone!

My farrier saws she has the best feet all around than any horse he shoes!

Mav2007 · 06-30-2008, 12:12 PM

I think it's a myth. Isn't there some old saying, "see a horse with one white hoof, buy him. See a horse with two white hooves, don't even try him. See a horse with three white hooves...and there's probably not a fourth."

raidergirl · 06-30-2008, 12:21 PM

The mare I used to own had 4 black hooves and she had the WORST feet in the world! My farrier used to say she had TB feet, even though she was full QH! Needed shoes and pads on the front or she would abcess.. The palomino I have now has 3 white feet and they are just fine. I'm loving the farrier bill for just a trim!

Awesome Paints · 06-30-2008, 12:25 PM

Huge myth, the color of the hoof does not determine the strength.

Mav2007 · 06-30-2008, 12:28 PM

Okay, here's the real saying about white horse hooves,

"One white foot, buy him.
Two white feet, try him.
Three white feet, be on the sly.
Four white feet, pass him by."

And here's another that contradicts that one

"One white foot, keep him not a day,
Two white feet, send him far away,
Three white feet, sell him to a friend,
Four white feet, keep him to the end."

Sassy · 06-30-2008, 12:29 PM

Old wives tale for sure! My mare has white feet and they are as hard as rock! My past mare had black feet and they were always cracking... Yet hubbys mare has black feet and they are really good to! I think it all depends on environment, health, and care of the feet. Plus individuals some have good feet some have bad...

cameo05 · 06-30-2008, 01:25 PM

Definatly old wives tails. My hubby's gelding had 4 black hooves and he is so tender it isn't funny. My 30 yo quarter/arab has 4 white feet, never had issues.

Sunlei · 06-30-2008, 01:31 PM

Some of the horses that have gone through natural selection for many generations seem to have hoofs of steel. Like icelantics and mustangs.

breburtch · 06-30-2008, 02:51 PM

white hooves have been know to be weaker and alot of people say they are but in my experiance it's more a matter of breed,genetics, and size of hoof, and type of hoof care the horse has recieved as well as the feed a horse is getting and if the horse is getting all the nutiriants etc they need. Also the type of ground they are on all the time effects hoof strength etc

Saelym · 06-30-2008, 03:03 PM

I don't think that it is true... it depends on the individual horse. If they are going to have crappy feet, they'll have them no matter what colour the hoof!

DoBeSassy · 06-30-2008, 03:35 PM

It's an old wives tale.

knpaints · 06-30-2008, 03:43 PM

Its an old wives tales..
Tom has white feet and has awesome feet..never tender, they dont crack or chip.
right now the only horse i have with dark feet is Keno and guess whos feet are chipping lol

mickeyblueeyes · 06-30-2008, 03:47 PM

Complete myth. I have had horses with terrible all black feet. I have had horses with terrible all white feet. I have had the opposite of that. Right now I have one with 3 white and 1 black. The front right is the worst and even though it is white, the bad hoof is because of founder, not because of color. I don't think founder has a preferance in colour.

Bandit · 06-30-2008, 03:49 PM

With white hooves it is easier to see any bruising and what not that may be happening, which creates an illusion that they aren't as strong. Black feet can have the same thing, its just harder to see because of the pigment.

My best feet here are the ones that are white or stripped. But then again, they are on my haflinger and mustang. The worst feet here are my paint's and they are a combination of all black and stripped. I think it more depends on breed and build. My paint has the smallest feet of all of my horse's.

Duckie0370 · 06-30-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit

With white hooves it is easier to see any bruising and what not that may be happening, which creates an illusion that they aren't as strong. Black feet can have the same thing, its just harder to see because of the pigment.

That's what I kept reiterating, but I kept getting the "no, no, my farrier says white hooves are weaker... so they are!"

Bandit · 06-30-2008, 04:22 PM

Some people feel that they know what they know and there is no changing that. If you push the issue with them it will only tick them off more and tune you out. Its really not a belief that is going to harm anything, so it really is not worth putting much energy into. Present your side and then let them either decide to look into it more or believe their farrier.

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06-30-2008, 12:05 PM
Duckie0370 Halter broke Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 198	White hooves are weaker Am I correct in saying that the old assumption of white hooves being weaker than dark/black hooves is complete bull? I've been hearing a lot of nonsense about it lately, even to where someone said "well, my farrier says white hooves are weaker so it MUST be true." The only thing I can come up with is that people perhaps assume white hooves are weaker because you can more obviously see cracks and other damages to a white hoof as opposed to a black one. Opinions?

06-30-2008, 12:09 PM
lovemyTB Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 54	my farrier says horse with white hooves have a more tender foot.

06-30-2008, 12:10 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	My horses with white hooves have had way better hooves than the black ones. They don't break as much and I have never had to put shoes one my horses with white hooves. The black hooves have needed shoes from time to time because of chipping and cracking. It depends more on genetics and then nutrition than color of the hoof. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

06-30-2008, 12:11 PM
Freedomnchrist Greenbroke Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,312	My mare has both....white and black...and even one that is two tone! My farrier saws she has the best feet all around than any horse he shoes!

06-30-2008, 12:12 PM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,449	I think it's a myth. Isn't there some old saying, "see a horse with one white hoof, buy him. See a horse with two white hooves, don't even try him. See a horse with three white hooves...and there's probably not a fourth."

06-30-2008, 12:21 PM
raidergirl Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 277	The mare I used to own had 4 black hooves and she had the WORST feet in the world! My farrier used to say she had TB feet, even though she was full QH! Needed shoes and pads on the front or she would abcess.. The palomino I have now has 3 white feet and they are just fine. I'm loving the farrier bill for just a trim!

06-30-2008, 12:25 PM
Awesome Paints Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,327	Huge myth, the color of the hoof does not determine the strength. __________________ "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Will Rogers Kelli

06-30-2008, 12:28 PM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,449	a poem about hooves Okay, here's the real saying about white horse hooves, "One white foot, buy him. Two white feet, try him. Three white feet, be on the sly. Four white feet, pass him by." And here's another that contradicts that one "One white foot, keep him not a day, Two white feet, send him far away, Three white feet, sell him to a friend, Four white feet, keep him to the end."

06-30-2008, 12:29 PM
Sassy Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,331	Old wives tale for sure! My mare has white feet and they are as hard as rock! My past mare had black feet and they were always cracking... Yet hubbys mare has black feet and they are really good to! I think it all depends on environment, health, and care of the feet. Plus individuals some have good feet some have bad... __________________ A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment. ~ DUKE OF ENDINBURGH ~

06-30-2008, 01:25 PM
cameo05 Bombproof Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 8,694	Definatly old wives tails. My hubby's gelding had 4 black hooves and he is so tender it isn't funny. My 30 yo quarter/arab has 4 white feet, never had issues. __________________

06-30-2008, 01:31 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	Some of the horses that have gone through natural selection for many generations seem to have hoofs of steel. Like icelantics and mustangs.

06-30-2008, 02:51 PM
breburtch Coming two Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 1,863	white hooves have been know to be weaker and alot of people say they are but in my experiance it's more a matter of breed,genetics, and size of hoof, and type of hoof care the horse has recieved as well as the feed a horse is getting and if the horse is getting all the nutiriants etc they need. Also the type of ground they are on all the time effects hoof strength etc

06-30-2008, 03:03 PM
Saelym Started Join Date: May 2007 Location: Courtenay, B.C. Posts: 2,188	I don't think that it is true... it depends on the individual horse. If they are going to have crappy feet, they'll have them no matter what colour the hoof! __________________ Forever in my heart. Miss Achievement-- May 10th, 1993 - November 7th, 2008.

06-30-2008, 03:35 PM
DoBeSassy Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 4,927	It's an old wives tale. __________________ There is none so blind as she who will not see

06-30-2008, 03:43 PM
knpaints Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 941	Its an old wives tales.. Tom has white feet and has awesome feet..never tender, they dont crack or chip. right now the only horse i have with dark feet is Keno and guess whos feet are chipping lol __________________ Kris~

06-30-2008, 03:47 PM
mickeyblueeyes Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 25	Complete myth. I have had horses with terrible all black feet. I have had horses with terrible all white feet. I have had the opposite of that. Right now I have one with 3 white and 1 black. The front right is the worst and even though it is white, the bad hoof is because of founder, not because of color. I don't think founder has a preferance in colour.

06-30-2008, 03:49 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	With white hooves it is easier to see any bruising and what not that may be happening, which creates an illusion that they aren't as strong. Black feet can have the same thing, its just harder to see because of the pigment. My best feet here are the ones that are white or stripped. But then again, they are on my haflinger and mustang. The worst feet here are my paint's and they are a combination of all black and stripped. I think it more depends on breed and build. My paint has the smallest feet of all of my horse's. __________________

06-30-2008, 04:22 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	Some people feel that they know what they know and there is no changing that. If you push the issue with them it will only tick them off more and tune you out. Its really not a belief that is going to harm anything, so it really is not worth putting much energy into. Present your side and then let them either decide to look into it more or believe their farrier. __________________