ASKHQ: PEELING FROG

Q: My horses frog peeled off. Is this normal? He’s sound and doesn’t seem bothered, but the whole thing just suddenly seemed to lift up and come off?

A: The frog is crucial for overall hoof health, as its tough but elastic tissues absorb concussive forces and cushion the structures within the hoof. In order to perform its role the frog must be tough and healthy, and make contact with the ground at the back of the foot.

The appearance of the frog varies according to the environment. In wetter environments, the frog commonly appears chunkier and has a smoother surface. Whereas in dryer climates, the frog tends to have a rough, dry-looking surface and is less ‘full’ looking.

Regardless of the climate, the peeling of the frog, as you describe in your question, is in fact totally normal. It is entirely natural for the frog to ‘exfoliate’ excess material at certain points during the year. Some horses can do, as you describe, and shed large amounts of frog in a very short period, while others will exfoliate the frog in strips, or the frog may just peel off in layers. Whilst this may look alarming, it is actually nothing to worry about, and is just an adaptation to allow for new frog tissue to grow into its place. Your farrier will likely just want to remove any loose shreds or peeling pieces of dead frog, so they don’t trap any moisture or dirt into the frog tissue, which could lead to thrush, but otherwise this is nothing to be concerned about.