Barefoot, chunck of wall has come off.

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For a while my pony has had what looked like a superficial slice in his hoof wall (near fore on outside not medial). This morning I have cone up to ride to find a chunck of wall 2in long by an inch high (where the slice was) has come away and I can see the laminae underneath so several mm deep. Never had this so not sure what to do, if it will heal itself. Our fields are frozen but a muddy bog when the sun comes out. Do I keep him out of mud, not ride and see what farrier says. Is it a bad problem? He doesn't seem lame but have only walked him around yard. Help!
 
It's will be hard to help without a photo but based on your description, it sounds as i there is a thick sole if there is no blood. The chunk will not have gone up higher than the inside of the sole. Very rarely wil a hoof expose laminae further up than this. Sounds as if the hoof was "ready" to come off, it was probably weak and the hoof would have been "preparing" for it to come off as there will have been excessive movement there way before it came off.

Have you a pair of boots? Use these until it grows out.

I often found my boy had "chunks" missing when he was due a trim... thats when I bought my own rasp to stop the wall growing too long in between professional visits. I hazard a guess that that the same has happened with yours. The hoof wall was a bit too long and it needed to be removed!
 
Yes, that's exactly what it looks like (his is closer to heel). I will try to sort photos now. He hasn't taken a lame step since Nov when he had cellulitis, so if he has had an abcess he is a tough little chap.
 
KatPT said:
Yes, that's exactly what it looks like (his is closer to heel). I will try to sort photos now. He hasn't taken a lame step since Nov when he had cellulitis, so if he has had an abcess he is a tough little chap.
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The horse in the blog post stayed sound throughout and the hole grew out naturally without any special intervention.

Pictures would be great.
 
I don't have any of the slice before it broke off but it appeared to be angled slightly downwards into his foot. Apologies, these aren't the best quality!
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I appreciate any advice. I do have a pair of renegade hoof boots. I have to head into work now (im so late!!!) but i'll keep checking on my phone throughout the day. I'll have a good look at that website too.

Thank you!
 
It sounds like it was a abscess growing out. He'll have had the abscess at the time the split was at the coronet several months ago. They can often get one without being lame on it if it bursts without too much pressure inside the hoof. Carry on as normal and don't worry about it too much it will grow the rest of the way out in time.

... just seen the pictures. 100% that was an abscess. It's a fair chunk missing but it will grow out okay.
 
Id also be using something like Silbetrasol and or Field Paste in it to help keep the nasty bugs from getting a hold in there - mine had an abscess feb 12 and its just gone off the bottom of her hoof in the last month - no probs despite it being a rather large hole!
 
It's an abscess exit wound, it will grow out absolutely fine. He has heel on the floor, or almost by the looks of it. So he isn't a lot different now that the many horses that like the quarters of the foot ground passive. If he is sound just keep it clean with sudocreme or some other gunk and carry on.

Tiger Tail - 13 months to grow out a foot? That's slooooow even for a shod one????
 
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Thanks for the reassurance. Should I boot him when I ride or just go as normal? Farrier is out in a week so will get his advice then too. Poor chap, having an abcess and me not even noticing, I feel like a rubbish owner now!
 
Defintely abscess - I've had one grow out at exactly that part of the hoof. The hoof is pretty forgiving (and the bit exposed will have long since been sealed off from the inside, so bugs shouldn't manage to cause any damage.

I would ride as normal - don't forget it's been like this for ages (i.e. that part of the wall will have been detached), just that you couldn't see underneath it ;)
 
KatPT said:
Thanks for the reassurance. Should I boot him when I ride or just go as normal? Farrier is out in a week so will get his advice then too. Poor chap, having an abcess and me not even noticing, I feel like a rubbish owner now!
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No, you're not rubbish :) They often aren't lame and people don't notice.

Just ride as normal unless he feels wrong on it. My guess is it's already developed enough new heel to hold him fine, but if not it will only take a week or so to get there.
 
Thanks. As brightbay said, the damage has already been done and the wall was just waiting to come off. Hes been sound the whole time so I shall carry on as normal with him and see how he feels.
 
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