BF one week on, think we are looking promising...?

[dressagelove]

He had a Cleantrax application on his hind feet a few days ago, and some treatment all round, and his feet are looking loads cleaner.
First few days, he was a bit footy, but not bad on soft. Tried to walk him out on tarmac and he could hardly walk! So been riding in the arena, and walking out in hand on the road.
But today, I managed to hack him all the way up the lane, and down the road for 100yards and back again, sound! A few stumbles, but nothing major was soo chuffed.

We ran out of formula for feet so had abandoned that, and got some pro hoof from ebay, so he's now on that, as well as his other stuff. All in all, it is all looking quite promising!

Now for some pics, what do u think?

This next one is the one with his crack on the outside. If you look on the left side of the hoof, you can see how it bulges out a bit? that's where the crack is, should I be worried that it is pushing outwards like that? He is completely sound on it though:

 

[dressagelove]

bump, they not looking any different? hehe, maybe I should wait a bit longer to post...

 

[Rouletterose]

I wouldn't be taking him on any roads/tarmac/tracks of any sort for a few weeks, he looks very bruised and sore still on his frogs. I can tell from what you're applying that you are doing your best, but these things take time and quite a bit longer that you are allowing.

 

[Oberon]

Walls look shorter already - esp on The Crack, so there will be less levering forces on the laminae at the toe.

You can see the new growth in the first 2 inches from the coronet and that it ever so slightly flares out further down. Hopefully (with the Pro Hoof on board and the shorter walls) he will maintain the tighter wall connection all the way down.

At the moment you will still get flaring anywhere considering the current, compromised wall connection and also while we have the cracks. Just don't look at them

I think you are extremely brave to have removed the shoes.

The hooves aren't pretty, but you can see from that 2 inches of new growth that he is trying his best to grow the hoof he needs - you've unlocked him from the shoes and you're trusting him to fix the problems, which is wonderful.

The stimulation you are providing will set his growth into overdrive and he'll get better much faster but I would echo caution still - don't get carried away even if he feels happy. Those hooves are poorly, so find a balance .

 

[dressagelove]

Why am I brave for taking them off, I should have done right?? Lol
Yes Im prepared for them not looking pretty for a while, but they should come right in time? Worried, I should have taken them off yeah?

 

[Oberon]

Why am I brave for taking them off, I should have done right?? Lol
Yes Im prepared for them not looking pretty for a while, but they should come right in time? Worried, I should have taken them off yeah?

Easy now. It's a compliment, not a snark

Most people would be convinced the hooves would explode apart without a shoe to 'hold them together' and wouldn't be able to understand that it's the 'holding them together' that's causing the stress on the wall in the first place.

I never make promises where horses are concerned, but I have every faith in the both of you

and I look forward to watching his progress and learning from it.

 

[cptrayes]

I wouldn't be taking him on any roads/tarmac/tracks of any sort for a few weeks, he looks very bruised and sore still on his frogs. I can tell from what you're applying that you are doing your best, but these things take time and quite a bit longer that you are allowing.

I agree that the photos appear to show sore frogs, but the horse is saying that they are not sore. Of course any owner needs to know the difference between "equally sore in all four feet" and completely sound.

Provided he is not sore, then I believe that tarmac is one of the best conditioning surfaces the horse can have, as it will allow him to trim his own feet to the right shape.

 

[muff747]

Maybe he hasn't got full feeling back in his feet yet at this early stage so take it easy so you don't cause bruising which might end up as abcesses, be gentle with him, not too much too soon.

Brush his feet ultra clean and take pics but not too often. I did them once a month for the first 2 years and then you can really see a difference each month. You will notice his feet changing shape in another week and those horrendous cracks with eventually grow out.
Are you treating the thrush in his frogs? You will get faster progress once that is gone as it will make him tender. Firstly, ask your trimmer if the flaps should be cut off, just so's the oxygene can get to the thrush, this will kill it off but possibly they are being left on for another few weeks until his feet become more accustomed to being FREEEEEeeeeeee Well done you

 

[TigerTail]

Wooohooo go you

Did you get some silvetrasol to spray with daily? Well done on the cleantrax.

Tbh id do lots of short long lining to begin with, tis something different for you both, and still gets him the stimulation to the feet without worrying about your weight too. Build up from 15 mins every other day to 20/25/30 etc

I cant wait to see them in a months time

 

[dressagelove]

Thanks guys!
So we have slightly conflicting advice on whether to take him on tarmac at the moment? I have only been doing about 5 minutes on tarmac, and took him for a walk in hand today and he seemed stronger again from yesterday. But I will watch him carefully, I don't want to do too much, too soon

Yes, Tigertail well I got the redhorse thrush spray which I have been putting on. The red soreness looks slightly better from the first set of pics didn't they.

Long lining sounds like a great idea, TT, thanks I will try that.