Barefoot people - stones in the white lines

[mynutmeg]

My mare is barefoot and always has been, she's just coming back into work after almost a year out and we're doing a lot of road work as we're hacking more than schooling. I've been noticing that she's getting quite a lot of small bits of gravel stuck in the white line. Obviously I'm concerned that this may cause an abcess. I don't remember it being a problem with her previously.

Is there anything I can do to help prevent this (other than shoes or boots)?

Feed wise shes on apple chaff, top spec stud balancer, badminton fibre nuts and haylage - I would prefer hay but due to pneumonia a few months ago she has some scaring and can't do hay, even good quality stuff. She's never been laminetic or shown any tendancies towards that at all despite being a cob and a good doer.

Thanks

 

[Holly Hocks]

Applechaff - I think it has a high sugar content

I've never used Topspec but I do know that some barefoot horses can be affected by it.

As for the stones, I just get them out with the end of a hoofpick when I get back, but be careful you don't push them further in. the small gravel bits, I just use a stiff brush.

 

[Clava]

Anything sweet(molasses) in that feed might be making the white line not so tight and allowing small bits of gravel in.

 

[mynutmeg]

I forgot to say she's also 5 months pregnant

 

[Jericho]

Anything sweet(molasses) in that feed might be making the white line not so tight and allowing small bits of gravel in.

^^ I heard this too