3 months on barefoot photos

[ktj1891]

My thoroughbred has been barefoot since April now. I took his shoes off as his feet were under run and he had bull nosing and was being investigated with toe drag. He still toe drags. The first three weeks he was great on Tarmac and over stones. Now he can still be short on Tarmac but not lame as such and can be very sensitive over stones.

I had vet out other day who said I would need to harden his feet up she recommended naf rock hard? Or to put his shoes back on so now i am a little worried! See below what you think of his feet now and what else can I do to harden up his feet to the ground, I am currently using keratex hoof hardener. Would appreciate lots of advise.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CBFan]

What is he fed on? include quality of grass and amount of hay / haylage.

It is still very early days but he doesn't appear to have much new growth (assuming the event line 1.5cm from coronet is from the barefoot transition) for the time period.

The footiness could just be due to doing too much too soon but it could also be dietary. i.e. too much sugar. We had a very late spring this year which would tie in with him being more footy now than he was in april.

Do you have boots for him? May be worth it on the fronts for any riden work off a soft surface for the time being.

How often is he seen by your hoof specialist? Farrier or trimmer? there are some balance and flairing issues going on there with his feet which can be corrected though good trimming and diet but they will take time.

DON'T paint anything on his feet. it isn't a long term solution.

The toe dragging is likely to be due to a problem higher up. Hock, stifle or even back / poor saddle fit or he could just be being lazy so look at your schooling, perhaps try some pole work and make sure he is working through from behind.

 

[ester]

IME and those of others when mine hit the 8-12 week mark (about June last year) he was more footy than he had been previously. Some think that this is caused by the foot sort of 'waking up' as the blood supply increases. Mine had also worn down the excess hoof wall but still had flat soles so had reason to be sensitive.

Essentially I then booted in front for hacking for the rest of the summer (mostly only walking) unless only popping up the road 10 mins to reach our grass hacking (he did that bare occasionally) and then slowly started working him without boots on the road more frequently- they also re did our roads so had lots of grit about for a bit which didn't help either.

He's been pretty fine on all tracks since.

ditto rock hard is pointless, they need time really as tough soles don't grow that quick IME, particularly if not great to start with . Been worth the wait this end though!

 

[ktj1891]

He is fed on pure condition and just out on grass ATM and Some haylage when he comes in to be ridden I don't know the quality of forage. He's not barefoot in front just behind. He doesn't do too much road work he may go for 10-20 min walk down road occasionally after school work and one hack a week may be 1 hr to 1.30hr a week. Just don't know what to do to help improve it. Pics taken yesterday and he was re shod by farrier about 2 weeks ago.

 

[ktj1891]

Oh he is also on glucosamine, linseed, milk thistle and general supp. He has had regular physio and he is doing lots of pole work. We are also going to do some Kenesio tape sessions too

 

[ester]

I don't know enough about feeding barefooters who need condition to comment on that really. Mine has been low sugar/limited grass etc since day 1 (round cob!) and we have supplemented to match forage analysis.

I would perhaps say that you perhaps need to manage the conditioning of his feet to road work more carefully rather than doing the odd walk down the road and then an hour hack. I was perhaps over strict (as mine also had lameness) but we did 10 mins road work every day and say increased that by 5 minutes every week.

 

[cptrayes]

In my experience he needs more work and less grass. Mine would both be footy out full time and getting that little foot conditioning work.

 

[ktj1891]

So would you recommend having him in during the day. Only thing is he windsucks loads when in hence I prefer him to stay out.

 

[cptrayes]

So would you recommend having him in during the day. Only thing is he windsucks loads when in hence I prefer him to stay out.

You're between a rock and a hard place, sorry. Boots might be your only viable option. Like you I wouldn't want a heavy windsucker inside.

 

[ktj1891]

Yeah boots sound like a good option only prob is sorting the right type and fitting them correctly sounds very confusing!

 

[ktj1891]

Anyone else?

 

[Miss L Toe]

Yeah boots sound like a good option only prob is sorting the right type and fitting them correctly sounds very confusing!

Cavallo boots may be the best ones to start with, being cheaper and they seem to fit ok, make sure you get the correct ones for the hind feet, probably Sports not Simple, measure after the farrier has been and if in doubt go for the smaller size rather than larger size.
Make sure you dont damage them when trying on [se a light poly bag, if they can swivel they are too big. If you can 't get them on they are too small!
Some farriers stock and fit them , this would be ideal.
You can also research a supplier who stocks different makes, and who will advise and who will accept returns.
Do you add magnesium to the diet, this may be the single most important mineral.
I feed Fast Fibre in summer or Non molassed s/beet, and non molassed Dengie chaff and micronised linseed and 25-35gms of minerals, the amount of magnesium should be 10gms per day.
Yo can purchase minerals from Pro Earth

 

[deicinmerlyn]

I use Cavallos (simples) on my TB, they're great. Something like Pro Hoof would be a better option than painting stuff on the hooves, which really is totally ineffective.

 

[canteron]

To manage my horribly laminitic retired horse who is out at grass 24/7 I have a very small field (with a field shelter) within a bigger field where he is restricted to overnight, during the day I open it up and let him out.

If I can I give him a slice of hay (soaked if necessary) before putting him out so he isn't too hungry and doesn't scoff the grass in an over hungry manner.

Seems to work as a balance of keeping a horse out 24/7 whilst limited the grass/quality of life.

(Sometimes I swop it and have him in during the day and free overnight depending on the quality of the grass.)

Hope this helps as a way of keeping his stress levels lower, limiting grass but still letting him have 24/7 freedom.

 

[littlemissmuddypaws]

I am also in the process of transitioning a TB, slow process! I don't like having him in so I have him on a small patch of turnout daytime then his whole track at night.

I have struggled to find boots that fit his feet and can cope with his twisting action behind, I am going to Lucy Priory's booting clinic on 18th August in Stow on the Wold, if you are close enough would definitely be worth it, I have spent a fortune trying to get boots that fit and failing! They will have all the different makes there and experts to fit testers to your horse so you can try them all.

I would agree with the others about exercise to stimulate hoof growth, and I use pro hoof supplement as many others do I know. But don't give up, it will take a loooong time!