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  Discussion on Chestnut removal
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Member:
boots

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2011 - 9:22 pm:

My gelding has chestnuts about 2 inches long on his front legs and slightly shorter on the back. I put vaseline on them tonight, as I read that this will help soften them. I also read that I can cut them off with a razor blade just above the skin level. I need to be sure that this is really OK before I attempt it. Dr.O - can you advise me please.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2011 - 10:34 pm:

Hello boots,
Mostly, chestnuts do not need any attention at all but I have seen ones that get very long as you describe. Though long, why do you feel a need to cut them?

Assuming you want to pursue this I suggest you use a tool like shrub limb pruners rather than a razor blade to cut them back. Leave about a half inch and you might be safe but if I could examine the situation I might be more aggressive.
DrO
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2011 - 11:45 pm:

A lot of older horses especially get long chestnuts. Our farrier trims them off when he comes to trim feet and shoe. Otherwise, imo, the best time to remove them is right after a bath when they are nice and soft. They will just peel off. I do like to keep them from getting too long; probably all the time I've spent in the show ring affects my way of thinking.
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2011 - 7:16 am:

I've seen a horse that tore of it's too long chestnut playing around in the pasture. It was a bloody mess. After that, I keep an eye on my mare's to make sure they don't get too long. I've read baby oil, as well as vaseline will help soften them up. Usually, there is just enough of a crack somewhere on one, that you can get a finger nail under it and gently peel it back. It might take a few tries to get all the layers off.
Member:
boots

Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2011 - 10:16 am:

Dr.O - My concern with the long chestnuts is that he is out all day in a mountain pasture with brush and long grass and rocks. He is 17 and does frisk around. He is with a herd. The farrier is due soon, so I will keep the vaseline going until he can take a look. Also he is due his spring vet check and shots. Hope he stays out of the brush until then. Thank you.
Thank you Sara and Fran C as well.
Member:
cometrdr

Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2011 - 10:42 am:

i keep mine off all the time - yes when they are soft i just scratch at them with my fingernail and they come right off ALL time. i don;t like the look of them if they get over 1/2 inch out so off they go - part of my overall grooming routine. i do it about every 3 weeks or so. they don;t seem to take notice anymore either - i also can scratch them off dry. mine just flake off - if i feel resistance in it I stop and begin the Moisturizer techniques to do it. but otherwise I just fingernail them off! easy. and looks good
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2011 - 4:58 pm:

Considering Fran's experience above that seems reasonable boots. Boy y'all have some easy ones, usually I have removed some very hard "horns" using my hoof nippers.
DrO
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2011 - 6:02 pm:

Just in my own and very limited personal experience, the longer the chestnuts get, the harder they are to remove...maybe that's just the case with my mare. I can't say for sure as I've only ever dealt with it in the 2 horses I've owned. In the case of the first horse, I had a friend who loved to pick at things, so the gelding's chestnuts never got very large as the friend was always picking away. With my mare, because she gets so hairy from fall thru spring, I do occassionally forget until they poke out of all the fuzz. That's when they seem toughest to remove.
Member:
boots

Posted on Friday, Mar 4, 2011 - 12:32 pm:

Thank you, DR.O and y'all !!! Sense of humor noted. I will report after the farrier visit.
Member:
boots

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011 - 9:01 am:

My farrier came yesterday and was happy to cut the chestnuts off on two legs and pare down the others. I will keep them peeled off from now on, now that I know what to do. Thank you Dr.O, Sara,Fran and Muffi.This horse had his heel bulb cut almost to the bone a few years ago, had surgery at Va. Tech (great care ) and is fully OK except for one nerve that does not affect anything. I want him comfortable in his legs and feet with no more pain.
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