Barefoot Taliban Advice Please

C

catherine22

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 January 2006
Messages
1,075
Location
New forest
Visit site
My TB mare has a fractured pelvis which was diagnosed in May, as she has a year off chilling in the field I decided to take her shoes off and see what happened.
She is on restricted grazing, has pro hoof and micronised linseed in a handful of Pure Working.
We go for walks round the yard a couple of times a week where we meet tarmac and very fine gravel, she is fine on the tarmac but does struggle on the gravel.

Here is the link to all her pictures, any advice appreciated, Oberon thank you for all your help already :-)

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/CatherineFaulkner/Bounty Barefoot Transition/

Hopefully the link will work!
 
I am only BT camp follower but I would consider getting boots you probally will only need front ones and doing more leading in hand my Tb has been BF since April and I do a mixture of front feet booted and bare we are making steady but slow progress . Today I rode four miles BF on the road I would never have thought it possible.
You have a impressive angle change coming in those feet hopefully the BT proper will be along in a moment with lots of proper advice.
 
I have to keep her walking to a minimum, I've compromised with the vets whho wanted box rest to field rest so 10 mins about 3 or 4 times a week is the most I can get away with, which is a shame as I know her feet need to do more! Catch 22
 
She has quite frequent noticable event lines suggesting that she is quite sensitive to change. Are you able to pinpoint reasons for these? diet Changes? Changes in field? I think I can see improvements in the angle of hoof growth but if you are still not satisfie by this ina couple of months time I would recomend a forage analysis and diet plan by forage plus.

Her frogs look quite shrivelled. I would scrub these and all cracks and crevices for thrush using Dilute milton - 1 part to 3 parts water. Daily for at least a week then gradually reduce down to once a week. I have a feeling that thrushiness might be the cause of her footiness so treating this may improve her sensitivity issues.

I would also reccomed you employ a reputable equine podiatrist to help you with trimming and the general management of her feet :)
 
Her hard feed has stayed the same throughout, she was on a lot of medication for the first month of her sheos being off so that could explain some of them, but she hasnt had any medication for the last 2 months. Twice she got though the electric fence onto the proper grass, that was only for a couple of hours each time so that could account for a couple more of them.
Recently, for the last month, she hasnt escaped or had any changes, so maybe forage analysis will have to be the next way forward.
Will start with the Milton, I did buy some buy just havent got round to doing it so I will make a proper effort to start :-)
 
You can clearly see the change in diet from the shine on the hoof.

She's still throwing out those damn event lines :confused:.

Pure feeds do an oat straw chop. Might be worth substituting the Working for that for a while and seeing if that helps.

She's needing a trim now. Her lack of mobility due to the fracture means she hasn't any hope of self trimming and the walls are getting long enough to start causing problems to her structurally - which won't help with the ripples.

Find someone who is prepared to be sympathetic with a trim and just get rid of the excess wall without being too radical.
 
Just waiting to hear back from farrier about when he can trim her, hopefully it will be this week or the start of next week (hes aware I just want her tidied up)

Will have a look at the Oat straw chop and order some of that next time, if that doesnt help either what else would/could be causing the event lines?
 
Oberon said:
She's still throwing out those damn event lines :confused:.
Click to expand...

My TB is the same, atm. He's turned away, so out 24/7, and despite all other things being under control, he's obviously struggling with the grass, so throwing those event lines.

The only think I think will really stop that is to substitute grass for soaked hay, or dry haylage. Not an option for me currently, but maybe the OP can? I'm hoping winter will improve matters!
 
TwoStroke said:
My TB is the same, atm. He's turned away, so out 24/7, and despite all other things being under control, he's obviously struggling with the grass, so throwing those event lines.

The only think I think will really stop that is to substitute grass for soaked hay, or dry haylage. Not an option for me currently, but maybe the OP can? I'm hoping winter will improve matters!
Click to expand...

Bounty was throwing them out in the beginning, then Catherine22 changed her diet and I sat back and waited for the lovely hoof to grow.....and blow me but the damn hooves kept throwing the ripples out :D Stubborn thing :D.

Catherine22 - movement is a huge part of rehabing the hooves. There's nothing we can do to help with that because of her fracture and the vet's treatment plan.

So we'll just have to put up with extremely slow progress as far as her hooves go....but we can be happy in the fact that the basic structure and health will be there and ready for when she is capable of doing more :).

It's worth noting that the ripples MAY be getting better, but with the very slow growth she is getting because of the lack of stimulation from movement - it looks like they are continuous rather than historical.....
 
Firstly wow! the change in hoof is dramatic. I cant really add anything to the good advice you have been given already as i am just a follower too but you are definitely moving in the right direction and i guess the real improvement will show when she can start walking more but at least you have started the battle early!

I struggle with event lines in my mare, not to the same extent as yours but I can only think its due to changes in the grass as haven't really changed anything for last 5 months or so. Could event lines be due to hormonal changes in mares Oberon? Maybe due to seasons?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top