Barefoot problem possibly solved

[Mule]

As some of you know, I spent 5 months trying barefoot with the beast last year. I gave up because he was sore and boots didnt fit due to his odd hoof shape.

Anyway he lost his right front shoe a few days ago and is absolutely fine! He's marching across gravel, and I'm even able to ride him. I believe his problem may only be with the left fore.
Previous x-rays showed a very thin right sole and an almost non existent left sole.

I'm very pleased as this means he's not a complete cripple after all

I know some/ a lot of this may be because he's just lost the shoe so he's not fully feeling his feet yet, but still. If it's just one dodgy hoof out of four we aren't too bad.

 

[Mule]

Now, if only I could somehow make his left sole thicker ?

 

[paddy555]

looking forward to seeing how you get on.Any chance of linking the earlier thread onto here? thanks

 

[Mule]

looking forward to seeing how you get on.Any chance of linking the earlier thread onto here? thanks

Yes, I will go find it.

 

[Mule]

This is one of the threads with that shows our barefoot trials and tribulations. You can see some photos of his horrible hooves when his shoes first came off There is also another thread with his x-rays. That thread documents the whole five months. I'll try to find it.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/trouble-with-finding-hoof-boots.782447/

 

[Mule]

Here's the thread that documents the whole thing.
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/barefoot-transition-thread-journal.782641/

 

[Mule]

These are the x-rays of the two fore hooves. (The bottom x-ray is the very thin soled one). There is almost no sole there. That one is also unshod in the x-rays. Both hooves are on top of a wooden block for the x-ray. That's what the bulky thing under the hooves is.

 

[ycbm]

It's very odd Mule, and might suggest that he isn't loading the feet equally even though he isn't noticeably lame. After all, it can hardly be eating more sugar than the other three feet, can it ? ?

 

[paddy555]

After all, it can hardly be eating more sugar than the other three feet, can it ? ?

presumably you are talking about laminitis? If so then yes silly as it sounds.
I have had 2 horses that did. Both fronts. One a cushings horse who always seemed to have LGL in one front only and the other who was clearly EMS and every spring he would start with one front only. Always the same and always the signal to do something. It was very grass/sugar related. Remove from grass (or zero graze) and no problem.

Funnily enough his feet (the EMS one) were very similar to the last pic of post 7 and the first of post 8 on the link in post 5 above.

Mule this is just a reply to YCBM in passing, not about your horse in any way.

 

[Mule]

Just to show how much difference being barefoot made to him; I've attached a photo from 3.5 months in to the rehab. Obviously they were better again after 5 months but those photos aren't very clear.

 

[ycbm]

presumably you are talking about laminitis? If so then yes silly as it sounds.
I have had 2 horses that did. Both fronts. One a cushings horse who always seemed to have LGL in one front only and the other who was clearly EMS and every spring he would start with one front only. Always the same and always the signal to do something. It was very grass/sugar related. Remove from grass (or zero graze) and no problem.

Funnily enough his feet (the EMS one) were very similar to the last pic of post 7 and the first of post 8 on the link in post 5 above.

Mule this is just a reply to YCBM in passing, not about your horse in any way.

No I'm not talking about laminitis. In laminitis a "signature foot" that goes first is well known. I'm talking about insulin, not toxin, related problems affecting the thickness of the sole, though of course it's always possible that the same issue causing the thin sole also affects attachment of the laminae.

 

[Mule]

A photo of a not very clean hoof, 4.5 months in to the rehab.

 

[Mule]

And last but not least, a really misshapen hind hoof pre- rehab

 

[Mule]

I'm getting the beast's shoes off tomorrow for his winter hoof break. I had being planning to do it next month but his heels have become uneven again. (nothing as bad as his crazy ones in the above picture)

The last few times I rode him I noticed him becoming less supple. I have to make an effort to prevent him from falling in on corners and circles. I rode him yesterday and thought 'agh the pre barefoot mule has returned'?

I'm better prepared this time. I have hoof armour and boots and will be keeping him off the bog that is currently masquerading as his field.

I can try riding him in boots but he is so unpleasant to ride in anything but straight lines when his feet get like this, I'm not sure if I will. He'll be happy with a holiday anyway?