Advice needed, hoof bruising :-(

[Bouncer123]

**Advice needed, bruised soles**

Hi there just looking for some advice.
My boy went lame about 10 weeks ago. It started off very subtle and was quite hard to see. I gave him a couple of days off and he was right as rain. Put it down to him just being shawd and maybe something was niggling him from there. He was never lame when riding him, it seemed to be afterwards he was sore. This went on and off until it got gradually worse. He was noticeably lame on circle in lunge. Vet came out 5 weeks ago and diagnosed him lame in both fronts. Nerveblocks and full lameness work up carried out. Vet certain that he has deep bruising to both fronts due to him having thin soles and low heels. He is an tb x draught. He thinks it has been a build up, he is worked hard and competing regularly. It happened almost as soon as he went out for summer grazing, fields were rock hard and i think that he also been when the trauma has occurred. Farrier was out next day and on his white hoof we could actually see the purple bruises on his soles/heel area. Vet and farrier in agreement to put heart bar shoes on for a few cycles to try and lift his heels up and lessen the pain. There has definitely been an improvement with the bars but still not 100%.
Now 5 weeks in (due new set this week) horse only seems to be sore on front left now, looks sound on right. He is willing to Trot forward etc whereas before he wasn’t.
He appears sound in walk and drags me about lol.
Just looking if anyone has had any similar experiences? Is it normal to heal on one hoof before the other?
Vet said he wouldn’t expect him to be 100% until 2/3 shoeings, when all damaged tissue is trimmed away.
Just getting myself really worried that this issue is been going on too long.
Thank you !

 

[Bouncer123]

PS... vet recommended to feed corta vet powder. I don’t know if this has anything to do with it but his feet are so so long at the 5 weeks mark they needs done pronto. So hoping he’s going to feel even better once they are trimmed and not so long at toe!

 

[Pinkvboots]

One of my horses had the same and vet wanted heart bars on I won't use them horrible shoes for the long term as they prevent the back of the hoof from functioning properly, my horse also had broken up hoof walls on both fronts so don't think a shoe could have been nailed on, I just left mine barefoot and padded his feet with nappies plastic and tape and turned him out gradually, his now fine without them and the hoof wall is growing and his no longer sore.

In your situation I would get the shoes off there are other alternative shoes like a wide web shoe can work, or I would leave him bare foot pad them or buy hoof boots use them for turnout until his comfortable.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Don't let the farrier trim the sole back or you risk the same thing happening, I personally would try and keep the shoes off for a but as the sole with naturally get thicker, but with continual shoeing farriers cut the sole back to dress the foot for a shoe it's just a continuous cycle so the sole doesn't recover your just putting a shoe on to mask the issue.

 

[Bouncer123]

Thanks I will keep all this in mind!
How’s long did yours take to come sound ? X

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I had similar a few years ago on one Fuzzy, instead of heart bars I got Cytek shoes on for 3 x 5 week cycles, made a huge difference immediately. They are marmite tho, many detest them (I'm not a fan) but for this horse they did the job.

 

[Bouncer123]

Thank you great. How lame was yours ? X

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Thank you great. How lame was yours ? X

Paddling like a lami attack in front.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thanks I will keep all this in mind!
How’s long did yours take to come sound ? X

He was really lame on one front and he had a week on box rest and Bute and he trotted up sound, I padded his feet even in the stable on a very deep shavings bed up to the door, I then just put him out for short periods with the pads for about 3 days then took them off he went a little bit sore but I just reduced turnout until he was comfortable, that was about 4 weeks ago his out overnight now and looks fine and the hoof wall looks better.

There is a thing called an equicast it's a bandage they cast on the bottom of the feet to protect the sole and wall while it recovers, maybe have a look on line and speak to your farrier about it it might work for you.

 

[ester]

I think it's always easy to think about bruising happening from the outside with thin soles, I think the reality is that deep bruising is just as often the effects of concussion within a foot that has inadequate internal structure for protection - given that your description of his feet isn't really a good one, especially if they are trying to raise heels.

This means there are a couple of tasks, getting him more comfortable now and helping it not happen in the future.

It is also notable that you said this happened when he went out on summer grazing, it is entirely possible that he is grass sensitive rather than it being because the fields were hard.

Deep bruising can take a long time to all come out, it doesn't sound like they've put pads on at all? are the barshoes graduated to raise the heel or flat? I have experience of bar shoes making things look much better on the outside but usually no more functional on the inside. I'm a bit concerned you say he has a long toe already (I'm imagining these hooves in my head atm!)
A couple of products not yet mentioned and worth investigating - anecdotally a lot of people seem to rate magic cushion for bruising issues, and hoof armour seems to help soles a lot.
Analyse what you are feeding, feeding low low sugar/starch and a good no iron vit/mineral balancer (forageplus/prohoof (pro_earth)/equimins adv. complete/equivita is a good start.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think it's always easy to think about bruising happening from the outside with thin soles, I think the reality is that deep bruising is just as often the effects of concussion within a foot that has inadequate internal structure for protection - given that your description of his feet isn't really a good one, especially if they are trying to raise heels.

This means there are a couple of tasks, getting him more comfortable now and helping it not happen in the future.

It is also notable that you said this happened when he went out on summer grazing, it is entirely possible that he is grass sensitive rather than it being because the fields were hard.

Deep bruising can take a long time to all come out, it doesn't sound like they've put pads on at all? are the barshoes graduated to raise the heel or flat? I have experience of bar shoes making things look much better on the outside but usually no more functional on the inside. I'm a bit concerned you say he has a long toe already (I'm imagining these hooves in my head atm!)
A couple of products not yet mentioned and worth investigating - anecdotally a lot of people seem to rate magic cushion for bruising issues, and hoof armour seems to help soles a lot.
Analyse what you are feeding, feeding low low sugar/starch and a good no iron vit/mineral balancer (forageplus/prohoof (pro_earth)/equimins adv. complete/equivita is a good start.

Hi Ester do you know how I can get hold of the hoof amour in the UK please.

 

[ester]

I think Lucy Priory sells it hoof@barefoot-south.com

David (maker) gives this link (which is v. confusing to me!), = Emma Bailey, but fb says she is on hols currently https://www.hoofmanshipshop.com

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think Lucy Priory sells it hoof@barefoot-south.com

David (maker) gives this link (which is v. confusing to me!), = Emma Bailey, but fb says she is on hols currently https://www.hoofmanshipshop.com

Thank you