Barefoot & started getting grit in white line...recommendations?

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Lego

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Hi everyone,

Apologies if this has been done to death, but I can't find my stash of articles re white line, and some fresh advice would be appreciated :)

My cob has been barefoot behind for around 14 months now, and was doing really well, so I braved taking the fronts off 9 weeks ago. He has been transitioning well, and after around 6/7 weeks was back to walk/trot/canter on hacks, and had stopped mincing and picking his way over any stony bits of track.

He was picking up a bit of grit in poor white line when the fronts first came off - but had crumbly feet round the nail holes. The crumbly wall is only a mm or so from growing out completely now, but he's started picking up grit in the last week or so, and has also started picking up a little grit in his hinds.

He's on Pro Balance, extra MagOx, 2/3 mug linseed, with a handful of graze-on, 1/2 scoop soaked speedibeet and a handful of hi-fi nuts, split between 2 feeds.

So...change minerals? Add something extra? Or wait it out? Not really causing problems at the moment, but want to nip it in the bud before it does!


Thanks :)
 
I'm having the same problem due to stretched white lines/long toes. When I get back from a hack I pick out the grit and fill any holes with keratex hoof Putty. Some people would say not to do that though as it could trap dirt in the hole.

You could change his minerals but mines on forage plus hoof health balancer with added minerals on top and I still have the problem.

Hopefully someone else will share their experience.
 
Glad I'm not the only one!

I expected poor white line when the fronts came off but it was fine, and has actually gotten worse in the last week or so! Don't think his feet are too long - esp at the front as growth is still lagging a bit compared to the backs.

I've been picking out the grit and squirting a bit of the keratex hoof disinfectant in the holes, but was wary of filling them in case I got something icky trapped in there. And the holes are only tiny so not sure if any putty etc would stick in there very well.

The only thing I've changed recently is putting a bit more magnesium in with his supplements - but thought that would improve feet if anything?
 
I have found that getting the diet right really does tighten the white line, but it only affects the new growth just under the coronet band. So you have to wait approx 9 months for a whole new hoof capsule, with a tighter white line to grow down. Feeding a new supplement will have no effect on the old horn, so patience is needed.
 
We havea very gritty/stony lane outside our gate that is our only access to the big wide world beyond. All 3 of mine are barefoot and the farrier recommended spraying the white line with Hoofmaster purple spray (not the cheapy iodine based purple sprays they're not good for this job) before we go out. That way any grit that gets in the white like pushes the 'disinfectant' into the hole ahead of it so they in effect self-disinfect. He also said that once back in, get any grit out and re-spray before turning back out in the field - just as a precaution.
 
A mare TB mare who came to me for backing had this issue and if it was kept 'on top of' caused her no issue. She was with me for 8 months and was never lame due to it. She couldn't however cope with being barefoot on stony ground, but also couldn't keep shoes on. If she was mine I would have looked into it further so am following for this reason.
 
Fides said:
A mare TB mare who came to me for backing had this issue and if it was kept 'on top of' caused her no issue. She was with me for 8 months and was never lame due to it. She couldn't however cope with being barefoot on stony ground, but also couldn't keep shoes on. If she was mine I would have looked into it further so am following for this reason.
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My TB will never be completely barefoot but not a problem to use boots when going on known stone terrain or longer distance tarmac rides. Still better to have boots on occasionally than to be shod constantly.

How often is everyone rasping? Possibly try a light rasp around more frequently?
 
3OldPonies said:
We havea very gritty/stony lane outside our gate that is our only access to the big wide world beyond. All 3 of mine are barefoot and the farrier recommended spraying the white line with Hoofmaster purple spray (not the cheapy iodine based purple sprays they're not good for this job) before we go out. That way any grit that gets in the white like pushes the 'disinfectant' into the hole ahead of it so they in effect self-disinfect. He also said that once back in, get any grit out and re-spray before turning back out in the field - just as a precaution.
Click to expand...
I have this problem too horrible gritand tiny stones grrrr so thank you for the tip. My mares feet were great over winter but the last couple of weeks she has started with the grit problems again so next project is grazing restriction
 
Regular trimming dont let feet get long as the line will stretch more, a trimmed foot is a tight white line, do remove grit with hoof pick.
 
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