Barefoot - Help!

[Dixie2468]

Recently moved to a new yard which is on clay. My barefoot boy used to be fine at my old yard, hacking out with no issues, not even hoof boots! But since moving yard and being on clay, I’ve found him foot sore (even with hoof boots on his fronts), and I’m constantly picking out tiny stones from his white line which I never used to have to.
I can’t shoe him due to a previous injury / vets advice a few years back.
I’m going to keep him off work for a while and let his feet recover.
Our current hoof care routine is picking out in the morning before turn out & then in the afternoon when bringing in, I wash his hoofs and pick out again. When dry, I spray with the red horse hoof hardener. I have been recommended the red horse Artimud by a friend too but yet to use.
He is on fast fibre mash with pro hoof supplement and has been for the few months I’ve had him.
Any advice welcome!

 

[fidleyspromise]

Artimud is great for plugging holes to stop further stones/mud getting up in them.
If hes sore with boots I don't think shoes would make a difference.

Where is he picking the stones up from? Is it out hacking or is it when walking from field to stable? I knew a horse that had to wear boots to get to the stable and back to the field as the track was very stony.

 

[Dixie2468]

Artimud is great for plugging holes to stop further stones/mud getting up in them.
If hes sore with boots I don't think shoes would make a difference.

Where is he picking the stones up from? Is it out hacking or is it when walking from field to stable? I knew a horse that had to wear boots to get to the stable and back to the field as the track was very stony.

I have ordered some Artimud and going to give it a go!
Last time I hacked him and he was footy with his boots on, I did pick out two whopping stones from his back feet which couldn’t have been helping.
He’s mainly picking up stones from hacking, but we also have very stoned tracks up to our paddocks which is also not doing him any favours

 

[Dixie2468]

I have ordered some Artimud and going to give it a go!
Last time I hacked him and he was footy with his boots on, I did pick out two whopping stones from his back feet which couldn’t have been helping.
He’s mainly picking up stones from hacking, but we also have very stoned tracks up to our paddocks which is also not doing him any favours

Where we were before there was lots of stoney tracks we would often be riding on. But only since moving have we started having issues. Is it safe to assume the clay fields are are now on are not helping?

 

[PurBee]

Perhaps try pro hoof platinum for the extra magnesium? The clay soil grass will give more calcium intake in the diet, and winter hay has high calcium and potassium - so increasing magnesium and phosphorus could help the electrolyte balance.

 

[Dixie2468]

Perhaps try pro hoof platinum for the extra magnesium? The clay soil grass will give more calcium intake in the diet, and winter hay has high calcium and potassium - so increasing magnesium and phosphorus could help the electrolyte balance.

I was considering trying the platinum. So I’ll give it a go. Thank you!

 

[PurBee]

..

 

[Boulty]

If you’ve only had him a few months the foot that’s in contact with the ground now will be from before you got him. Does he have any obvious rings growing out? Could be that you’ve got some crappy quality foot from before you had him that’s just reached the bottom.

I’m presuming when you’ve moved yards that the forage you’re feeding (ie the hay & grass) has also changed? Has your hard feed also changed?

If any of these changes have taken place suddenly it could have subtly upset his gut, the inflammation of which could then potentially show up in the feet so may be worth feeding something to support his gut for a few months whilst he adjusts. (Of course it could be that the hay / grass where you are now is higher energy / higher sugar & starch than where you were before, which is a whole other issue)

Did your new yard want him worming on arrival by any chance? I’ve definitely had issues with footiness and white line separation post worming in a couple of different horses. (Again some extra gut support may be beneficial)

Oooor it could be as simple as it’s wet, clay likes to turn into a bottomless, disgusting bog and if your previous grazing was drier then his feet may not be enjoying the increased wetness.

Artimud will definitely help with packing the white line (possibly combined with hoof stuff if deep, narrow holes to pack)

Would also have a discussion with whoever your hoofcare provider is as obviously they can assess in person and can possibly tweak his trim to assist / suggest other things to try.

 

[Gloi]

Hoof Armour will keep stones out of the white line.

 

[Catbird]

We're on clay too and mine was foot sore for alot of our first winter (it was the awful winter a few years ago which we try to forget!). I tried hoof armour, red horse sprays and keratex, but the thing that's worked was changing his bedding to wood pellets as seems to dry his feet out when he comes in.
I haven't had to put anything on his feet since changing over, so could be worth a try

 

[j1ffy]

If you’ve only had him a few months the foot that’s in contact with the ground now will be from before you got him. Does he have any obvious rings growing out? Could be that you’ve got some crappy quality foot from before you had him that’s just reached the bottom.

I’m presuming when you’ve moved yards that the forage you’re feeding (ie the hay & grass) has also changed? Has your hard feed also changed?

If any of these changes have taken place suddenly it could have subtly upset his gut, the inflammation of which could then potentially show up in the feet so may be worth feeding something to support his gut for a few months whilst he adjusts. (Of course it could be that the hay / grass where you are now is higher energy / higher sugar & starch than where you were before, which is a whole other issue)

Did your new yard want him worming on arrival by any chance? I’ve definitely had issues with footiness and white line separation post worming in a couple of different horses. (Again some extra gut support may be beneficial)

Oooor it could be as simple as it’s wet, clay likes to turn into a bottomless, disgusting bog and if your previous grazing was drier then his feet may not be enjoying the increased wetness.

Artimud will definitely help with packing the white line (possibly combined with hoof stuff if deep, narrow holes to pack)

Would also have a discussion with whoever your hoofcare provider is as obviously they can assess in person and can possibly tweak his trim to assist / suggest other things to try.

All of the above!

I found that my horses all improved when we moved from a yard on clay soil to a yard on limestone. While they were fine on the clay, I had to be more careful with their diet in particular whereas it feels like we have a larger tolerance now. I suspect it's a combination of the mud and the minerals in the grass.

Re the white line, I would definitely try upping the magnesium - it's cheap to buy some MagOx and try adding it if you don't want to fiddle around with the Pro Hoof. You may also need to add salt to balance it (I had one who would go even more nutty if I upped Mg without upping salt!).