Barefoot advice

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usbaldings

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This is a follow up to a previous thread about my mare, Baby, she is a very shovel footed TB ex racer with rotation in both front pedal bones. She has had imprints on and care by Andrew Poynton who I think saved her life as she really was in a bad way. I had some fab advice but can't seem to find my way back to thread ( technophobe)! I have removed imprints now as she keeps loosing them and they really hurt her heels . I really wanted some advice from someone with experience of shallow footed TBs with this issue. At the mo I turn her out for about 6 hours a day in mac boots. I am getting some equine fushion ones to try. I know that ideally she needs to be turned out out bare foot but as its so wet I am worried it will soften her feet further and increase risk of prick from the gallons of flints in our soil or further rotation. She is on thick R matting and shavings in stable.
I am worried she will get thrush in the boots... What do you think.
She is pretty sound and looking a picture now😎
 
If her soles are very thin and the field has stones in it, then I'd persevere with the boots for a while longer if they're working for you. To guard against thrush you can dust the insides with athlete's foot powder, and make sure to dry the boots out whilst your horse is stabled. In the stable you can use sole paint to combat thrush.

Do the boots have pads in? If not I'd consider using some to increase stimulation to the soles; this is necessary to increase sole thickness. If she's comfortable out of boots, however, and her soles aren't paper thin, turn out barefoot is best. Red Horse field paste is good to protect against thrush in the field. Check out equine podiatry supplies online. Though it's a drag, walking in hand in boots and pads will help if you can do it religiously.

What's her diet like? This is a huge part of hoof health, so pays to get it right. Photos would also be helpful, if you have any.
 
Thank you very much for that. She is on Alfa a low sugar. Saracens super fibre pencils and speedy beet. I will go out and get athlete foot powder today, what a good idea.. Been using iodine:-/ I will get paint too. She has got pads but I took them out as I thought perhaps it was causing the thrush... Many thanks again. Will put some picks up when I get back home providing I can work out how to do it... Dur......
 
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