Cold feet/warmer feet - reasons??

Fiona

Fiona

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Does anyone have a sensible answer as to why my TB mare can have one hoof which is as cold as ice, and the other three are warmish. No thumping digital pulses or anything like that, and not lame either hacking or on 10m trot circles in the school. After riding - her feet seem all at the same temperature.

She is stabled on mats/shavings at night, out during the day. Soaked hay and small hard feeds. Can just see her ribs, so not a fat porker.

Is it just because of the way she is standing out in the field or something?

The last couple of days is has been her near fore which is the cold one, but before that it would vary really.

Is this really strange or is it usual??

Sorry if this sounds like such a stupid question.

Thanks

Fiona
 
I wouldnt worry about it. Hot feet are not a reliable symptom of laminitis anyway. And by hand you cant accurately compare temperature unless it is really different.
Maybe she has odd sized feet, which could mean different blood flow? Exercise obviously improves blood flow, hence the temp seems regulated afterwards.
 
It's one of the great mysteeries of horse ownership. I have lost count of the number of times I have picked out two feet and thought "ooops, hot foot, problem brewing"" only to pick out the next two and find it's one cold one, not one hot one.
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She has terribly bad circulation teddyt, has had numerous bouts of cellulitis caused by innocuous cuts. Though that is the lymph system rather than blood system I suppose.

Thats why I thought it wasn't too serious - that it all evens up after exercise.

Hot/cold feet can vary though, so don't think the diff sized feet theory would fit.

Thanks though for your thoughts.

Fiona
 
Thanks cptrayes.

She and her friend are in a v small field this week (about 1/3 of an acre) as their normal one is trying to dry out after all the rain. Maybe she isn't walking around as much as she normally would (she is a wanderer normally, whereas other mare could stand in the same spot all day stuffing her face.

Fiona
 
She has been back in the bigger field again this past two days, and her feet have been all the same temp when she comes in again.

Def pointing towards her circulation being a bit iff then (which I knew)

Fiona
 
I am so glad I have seen this, as my girl has frightened me with one definate hot hoof and the rest normal temperature. No lameness at either walk or trot. Temperature even in all hoofs after excercise. She does get filled legs though. I thought that she had heard that she had dressage on Sunday and was trying to find a way to wriggle out of it!
 
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