Barefoot rehabilitation for DDFT

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tanira

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My horse has been diagnosed with a small hole in his DDFT. I've been reading about barefoot rehabilitation having a better success rate than the traditional route. Has anyone had any experience with this? Can you tell me what it involves?
 
I am surprised you have had no replies as it is usually recommended by several people on here, you can find loads of info on the rockley site, link below, basically you need to get the diet correct so the horse grows a strong healthy hoof, balance the growth with an exercise regime to allow the hoof to strengthen and become self supporting rather than using shoes that give a false sense of support and restrict the heels, having a vet and farrier on side helps.

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.fr/
 
be positive said:
I am surprised you have had no replies as it is usually recommended by several people on here, you can find loads of info on the rockley site, link below, basically you need to get the diet correct so the horse grows a strong healthy hoof, balance the growth with an exercise regime to allow the hoof to strengthen and become self supporting rather than using shoes that give a false sense of support and restrict the heels, having a vet and farrier on side helps.

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.fr/
Click to expand...

This :)
 
Only just seen this :)

My boy has DDFT damage in both his front feet, with a focal lesion (hole?!) in the worst one. I thought he was lame on just one leg, til it was nerve blocked and it became apparent he was lame on both! No wonder the poor thing was walking so wonky. He currently has on eggbar shoes to relieve the immediate pressure, and as I understand give the DDFT chance to heal the holes in itself. He was diagnosed in Septmber and Rockley had no availability til Jan so these were a stop gap to see him through really. He is going to Rockley in January for 12 weeks (fingers crossed, depends on how much insurance will pay as now I'm stressing about costs!) Mine was barefoot before, but I did it myself, and maybe was a bit clueless with his movement and other things, and this is my chance to perhaps get him back sound again. Although mine is a bit of a sicknote, so depending on how robust he can be at Rockley will decide if I ride him again, and then if I do more than just pootling about.

So I will let you know how we get on, or keep an eye on the blog :)
 
i have one who was written off by vets, hole 3/4 way through the ddft near navicular bone. it was too bad for surgery and i was told i could keep him comfortable on bute and retire him to the field. i took his shoes off the next day. i did a very prolonged rehab starting with small pen turnout and in hand walking on the roads. within a month horse was completely sound. after 3 months i continued the rehab under saddle and 3 years on he is still sound and hacking out (hes elderly so doesnt do a lot but am happy to have a good canter and pop the odd small jump which is all we did pre injury)

there is hope, i got lots of good information from the rockley website. it takes hard work, dedication and time. i managed it whilst on a livery yard where the setup was not ideal, i addressed diet, trimming and mainly ensure he had sufficient controlled movement whilst the ddft was healing.

good luck
 
My horse was diagnosed with similar in 2012. I was given a very poor prognosis by the vet. I did a lot of research and decided to take him barefoot. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't easy and we had a few ups and downs on the way but he made a full recovery and was back in full work and jumping again. I also had additional issues with the hicks to contend with. Good luck, there is plenty of support out there and on here and in my experience a lot more people have had higher success without shoes than with.
 
Thanks everyone, sorry it took so long to reply, I didn't get a notification of any replies.

The shoes are off and I've started inhand walking. I took some videos of when the shoes were on and since they've been taken off. Interestingly there isn't a toe first landing like I thought there would be, so is it possible there is pain in the toe (as there seems to be an exaggerated heel flick before landing)....OR could the problem stem from behind? I know the back feet haven't been great with a previous diagnosis of a broken back axel...so, I was wondering if this has caused more pressure on the front, causing the DDFT and Inflammation???? Anyone got any ideas? I've included some videos of the walk below.

https://youtu.be/B9y9zTrIs4o - Link to a video of when the shoes were on
https://youtu.be/zmoPZyxSkeo - When the shoes come off.
 
There are some very very knowledgeable and experienced barefoot trimmers around that can help you. Just make sure they are EPAUK accredited as that is now the only recognised self regulated training body that is approved by LANTRA.
 
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