Hoppa
Well-Known Member
Just thought I'd post an update after asking for advice earlier in the year.
I rescued a horse who had the most unbelievable front feet. X-rays showed he had severe side bone which had caused the heels to contract and the hoof to grow upwards, the right front was really a bad club foot, it looked like the tendon had contracted and he couldn't put weight on it at all.
Clearly he hadn't been trimmed for a very long time and someone had nailed shoes on the bottom!
From the x-rays my farrier removed the shoes and then about 2 inches of false sole and a load of smelly black pus came out.
One frog was so contracted you could push a hoof pick head right into the crevice. It was a nightmare to clean and keep the infection out of. I eventually discovered hoof putty by red horse, which seemed to help. As the months went on the better hoof on the left collapsed from taking all the weight and the infected hoof continued to grow upright. I tried bute and no bute etc to encourage him to put weight on it.
Eventually we had some summer! and the ground was hard and dry, so i turned him away for a few months. His hooves were wearing down on their own, so i decided to leave them without trims (eventually it turned into 10 weeks whilst i was looking for a new farrier oops!) I gave him plenty of feed and supplements to get him feeling healthy and living out meant he had to move around more. He gradually got stronger and started to run about with the others.
Anyway hes just had lameness check from vet and needed a chiropractor as he was lopsided in the pelvis.. but now been given the all clear! and hes had a light trim and his feet look almost normal
Its taken 10 months so far...
I rescued a horse who had the most unbelievable front feet. X-rays showed he had severe side bone which had caused the heels to contract and the hoof to grow upwards, the right front was really a bad club foot, it looked like the tendon had contracted and he couldn't put weight on it at all.
Clearly he hadn't been trimmed for a very long time and someone had nailed shoes on the bottom!
From the x-rays my farrier removed the shoes and then about 2 inches of false sole and a load of smelly black pus came out.
One frog was so contracted you could push a hoof pick head right into the crevice. It was a nightmare to clean and keep the infection out of. I eventually discovered hoof putty by red horse, which seemed to help. As the months went on the better hoof on the left collapsed from taking all the weight and the infected hoof continued to grow upright. I tried bute and no bute etc to encourage him to put weight on it.
Eventually we had some summer! and the ground was hard and dry, so i turned him away for a few months. His hooves were wearing down on their own, so i decided to leave them without trims (eventually it turned into 10 weeks whilst i was looking for a new farrier oops!) I gave him plenty of feed and supplements to get him feeling healthy and living out meant he had to move around more. He gradually got stronger and started to run about with the others.
Anyway hes just had lameness check from vet and needed a chiropractor as he was lopsided in the pelvis.. but now been given the all clear! and hes had a light trim and his feet look almost normal
Its taken 10 months so far...
