Barefoot Questions

J

JHC

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So, my mare has been barefoot for almost two weeks.

She's fine on soft ground and can cope with short hacks on tarmac which I'm really pleased about.

I've changed her feet to Speedibeet, Spillers High Fibre cubes,chopped straw, Biotin, Micronised Linseed and Brewers yeast. (Got these three supplements until I can get the pro-hoof balancer). However my mare simply won't eat it, even if I reduce the supplements. Anything else I can add to make it more tasty?

Also, one of her front hooves is really crumbly and she is pointing it when standing so I no there is an issue. She is more sensitive on that hoof as well. Should I be worried or is this normal while transitioning?

The white line is very stretched but not jumping to any conclusions until the barefoot specialist I have contacted can come and see the hooves herself. In retrospect I should have taken photos of her other front hoof as it looks completely different.

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And finally a photo of her back in September before all the issues arose (she was also barefoot then)

Snapshot109-09-201219-37_zpsd0995f0e.png
 
will she eat it without the brewers yeast?

Mine won't touch the stuff even after the addition of mint/cider vinegar and other tasties

After some slow convincing he will eat yea sacc instead.
 
definitely the first thing I would try. It did take a while to bring mine down off his molassed chaff and eating fastfibre and his supplements but we got there in the end (as long as we use yea sacc and don't add any salt in!) he's a right fussy pony!
 
try dried or fresh mint/spearmint it didn't work for me but it has for others. Also a shallow bowl is supposed to be good as it disperses the chemically smell of the supplements
 
Go gradually and introduce things slowly. Half doses first etc.

I've mixed things in different buckets for mine to pinpoint exactly what is "yucky" before now.
 
I've never had a horse who didn't relish the Polish brewers yeast currently being supplied by Charnwood Milling. But all mine hated the Czech brewers yeast I once got. The Polish stuff is a very, very fine powder that smells a bit like Marmite. The Czech stuff is more like a fine bran and smells sour.
 
Agree, change over slowly and all mine love brewers yeast too. I think you might need to look at reducing sugars in forage as well as the bucket feed looking at the ripples. So restricting grazing and soaked hay might be wise.
Good luck and hopefully your hoof person will advise. I would either use boots in front for hard surfaces or keep to soft ones until she is seen and assessed.
 
Mine all did the same thing when faced with chopped straw instead of their normal Readigrass. It took a few weeks but they all now eat it happily.

Have you tried damping the nuts and mixing the supplements into them? I found my very fussy boy will eat more if there's linseed mixed through.
 
Even my very good doer pony threw a tantrum when I changed his mollassed chaff for plain oat straw and fast fibre. I got him to eat it by adding dried mint and fenugreek. Now his palate has adjusted he licks his bowl out :)
 
dalidaydream said:
Even my very good doer pony threw a tantrum when I changed his mollassed chaff for plain oat straw and fast fibre. I got him to eat it by adding dried mint and fenugreek. Now his palate has adjusted he licks his bowl out :)
Click to expand...
Lol! Yes, the change can take a bit of time for some horses it seems. This where it's important not to give up, they do adjust in time.
 
I have two sugars in my coffee :eek:.

My husband is diabetic and has stevia in his coffee.

I would like to stop taking sugar and have no sweetener or stevia.

But without the sugar my coffee is yucky.

So I have started using maple syrup instead.

It's not 100% better - but it's a lateral move away from sugar. Eventually my taste buds will move away from sugar completely......but it will take some time to adjust.
 
Lol Oberon,drink tea. :D I used to take sugar years ago then one day just stopped. Don't know why really. Wish I could just stop all my other vices. :cool:
 
You do have a very good point there, she's gone from eating loads of sweeties to eating a salad!

I will see reduce the supplements, and re-introduce one by one so I can narrow it down to which one she doesn't like - or if she's just being fussy!

Any comment on the hoof that seems to be falling apart?
 
With the pointing and if you look at the coronary band shape where it now dips at the toe, I think something might be going on in that hoof. That's why I suggested keeping to soft ground (or boots) until seen by the trimmer for assessment.
 
JHC said:
The one in the opening post of her sole and from side on of her off fore, I then posted two photos of it a week previous.

She almost constantly pointing it when standing on hard ground
Click to expand...

It's not falling apart and I don't believe it will fall apart ;).

She has too much hoof right now and she will start shedding what she doesn't need now she has the ability to do so. Just respect that the hoof isn't healthy at the moment and adjust accordingly - if she is uncomfortable on hard ground, then take it easy on hard ground.

Have a look at these pics to get some perspective :eek:

Jan 2012 - long standing crack

Archieshoecracksjan201223.jpg


A couple of months later, with diet changes and the shoes removed

archiemaynocrack.jpg
 
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