Barefoot Ponies - Sudden sensitive feet

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Pixie88

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Hi All,

I have had my boy since July and he has had rock hard feet and very rarely footy unless on very stony ground. In the last 2 weeks (since the ground has been saturated with rain) I have noticed he has been getting footy on his front legs - to the point he looked lame coming up from the field. This is a stony path, but he is 100% out on the road and as soon as we are off the stony track.

He is out during the day and comes in at night. He literally only has a handful of molasses free happy hoof and a few supplements added to it.

Farrier has been out and has said his feet/frog has softened a bit compared to his last visit, but just to hold out as his feet have always been so good and should improve. Any advise on supplements or what I can do to help would be great.

I have never had a barefoot horse before and I don't rally want shoes and my farrier is reluctant to put them on unless he doesn't improve.

Thanks
 
Does he get any dry out time? what are his supplements. I agree with your farrier it is probably environmental and will resolve with the ground.
Any signs of thrush/does he have deep frog clefts?
 
Not in the fields, but he does have his stable from 4pm until about 6am. I then take him for a walk or ride in the evening on dry ground so that he isn't stuck in the stable.
He only has garlic and a joint supplement.

No thrush, I don't think they are particularly deep I will have to look this evening when I go up after work.
 
Ah yes that is what I meant, stable time.

Garlic is not really a good idea for horses, it disrupts the gut microflora.

You could consider putting him on a good low iron vitamin/mineral supplement.
 
I was worried about my lot last year in terms of their feet being wet by day, and then they were in at night like yours. Even though I picked their feet out, they were still quite soft. My farrier suggested a good wire brush, and to really get into all the nooks and crannies. I was amazed at what a difference it makes. x
 
I have the same problem at the moment with my boy, he has always been able to stomp over anything but this last month he's been quite slow and ouchy coming in from the field. Fine on school surface so hoping it is just the wet ground!! Hope it starts to dry up soon!!
 
Pixie88 said:
Hi All,

I have had my boy since July and he has had rock hard feet and very rarely footy unless on very stony ground. In the last 2 weeks (since the ground has been saturated with rain) I have noticed he has been getting footy on his front legs - to the point he looked lame coming up from the field. This is a stony path, but he is 100% out on the road and as soon as we are off the stony track.

He is out during the day and comes in at night. He literally only has a handful of molasses free happy hoof and a few supplements added to it.

Farrier has been out and has said his feet/frog has softened a bit compared to his last visit, but just to hold out as his feet have always been so good and should improve. Any advise on supplements or what I can do to help would be great.

I have never had a barefoot horse before and I don't rally want shoes and my farrier is reluctant to put them on unless he doesn't improve.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Can you feel a digital pulse?
http://www.thelaminitissite.org/digital-pulse.html
 
Not to sure what happened there ... Spent 10mins replying on my phoneand it didnt post! Sorry for any spelling mistakes or if i miss anything. I am on my phone.

I have now started using a hard brush once i have picked his feet out. Last night was the first time so fingers crossed i will see some improvement.

He is fine in the school, out hacking on the road and on soft ground. It is as soon as he is on stony ground that he is footy.

I checked tonight for his digital pulse and i could hardly feel it whixh is normal. One of the girls with a lami prone pony also checked and thought it felt normal. She just commented on his warm feet, but he naturally has warm feet and all 4 are always warm.

Farrier was out yesterday. It is just unusual for him, but i also havent had him through a winter before.
 
I'm glad to see this thread it makes me feel a little better. My horse is transitioning to barefoot after a trailer accident ripped a shoe off and has been on box rest then limited turnout. She's been out in the main fields for two weeks and I had begun riding in boots, short round the block type hacks. A few days a go she went lame on one of her fronts, then she'd be fine in the morning, cycle repeats after a day in the field quite lame, come the morning fine again. I have applied keratex to her soles and am treating her frogs since she does seems to have minor thrush in one of the fronts.

She has no pulses and as I say intermittently lame, it's quite depressing after her long period of injury and box rest, back In the saddle and now this. Vet thinks it's the ground, I'm going to call the barefoot trimmer out again I think as I want all things covered.

Any other thoughts? I'm considering getting shoes back in as a I can't see myself getting her in a good rehab routine if this can happen so easily in differing ground, maybe try again when the weather is better?
 
I have been speaking to so many people about this. Currently speaking to my instructor who has said alot of horses seem to be the same at the minute and she has had multiple lessons cancelled because of sensitive/foot horses. Also spoke to my neighbor who has had the same problem. So hopefully it is just a time will heal situation.

In regards to putting shoes on only you know your horse. I plan to sit tight and see this through, unless he gets really bad. I personally would take advice from the experts and go from there. The other thing that could be playing a part js the frosty grass so high sugar levels.
 
Thanks, I guess if I had just chosen to try barefoot under normal circumstances I would be well prepared to give it longer . My mare had a very nasty accident in the trailer end of November and to see her back to being in pain after having the all clear is gut wrenching. I know im being impatient but I hate to think she's sore, I also realise I'm expecting a lot to be fully happy having had the injury, the box rest, this ground (1 day wet next rock hard), just back out all day with her buddies, first ridden after 8 weeks etc etc.

in fact, yes you've convinced me I'm being ridiculous I need to give her more time!
 
I hate seeing him like this, but i guess i know he is sound barefoot.

She will come through and be ok its just been a really bad winter. :( For my boy I am starting to think he has been talking to my dog and has learn to fake it! He os footy down the path and if i take him for a walk when he has come in early, but as soon as I turn back to the stable he is marching just fine.
Sure the dog has shown him this trick as he 'limps' when we are watching but as soon as we turn away he is fine!

Keep me updated! Hopefully everything will pick up soon.
 
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