Coronet Band/Hoof wall Laceration

[maddielove]

Hopefully, the images attached work, I had trouble uploading them earlier.

Apologies for the off fore image, didn't realise until I got home how much bedding was on the foot, I took these in a bit of a rush last night.

I will get another set of images when she has been re-shod tomorrow. They do look quite long in these, especially the fronts but this is 6 weeks almost since she was last seen by the farrier.

 

[ycbm]

I'm really sorry, but I'd be very worried if that was my horse. If your vet and farrier have both accepted those without comment then i would be changing both of them.

 

[maddielove]

Thank you for your honesty, I hope I can get her on the right track as soon as is possible. Would you recommend that whichever farrier we switch to work to x-rays of the feet?

There are only two vets choose from in the area and it's a case of picking the best of a bad bunch. I left the last practice due to an issue with my old horse and haven't heard a lot of great stories about them recently, though they are a bigger outfit than current vets (so also more £)

I don't feel like they have really looked at the state of her feet overall just the coronet injury, nor have they passed any comment on their general state and probably warrants me addressing it as a separate issue which I would do for farrier x-rays. I like to think that this is more because they take more of an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" type of approach - and she usually is broken elsewhere (not usually mechanically, she prefers to hurt herself or others!)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree with the others I would definitely get another farrier the toes are far too long and heels under run, I would maybe not leave them 6 weeks between shoeing either at least for a while anyway to get them back into shape, some horses feet need doing every 4 to 5 weeks to keep them in balance.

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't think any decent farrier would need x rays to tell you what needs doing with those feet. The side view is very obvious. If they are unbalanced laterally (side to side) than I would imagine that it would be equally obvious from a front on view. I would personally be looking for a good farrier first, and then offering them x rays if they want them, otherwise leaving it to their professional judgement.

 

[maddielove]

Agree with the others I would definitely get another farrier the toes are far too long and heels under run, I would maybe not leave them 6 weeks between shoeing either at least for a while anyway to get them back into shape, some horses feet need doing every 4 to 5 weeks to keep them in balance.

Thank you for this - I asked the farrier if she would benefit from something like 5 weeks and he dismissed it. She used to go 7 weeks up until he thought they were too long in the summer of 2019. I can only imagine that this has contributed to her getting into this state

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you for this - I asked the farrier if she would benefit from something like 5 weeks and he dismissed it. She used to go 7 weeks up until he thought they were too long in the summer of 2019. I can only imagine that this has contributed to her getting into this state

Your farriers attitude would be enough to look elsewhere, and yes it would have definitely caused the problem as in they get long not enough is cut back then they end up like that, once you get a farrier that knows what to do and you get them done regularly you can correct it.

 

[Gloi]

Looking at those back feet it would be interesting to see pictures of the whole back leg to see if hock and pastern angles are contributing to it.

 

[maddielove]

Sorry to bump an older thread, I just wanted to give thanks to everyone who passed on advice to sack the farrier.

I switched in January to a new farrier and can't believe the change in her feet, movement and behaviour. Had a check-up on her soundness to the vet today and he is in agreement that she is also massively improved. Smiles all round.

See pic below of the change in the original injured foot, it now has a heel!
Really happy with how her fronts are now too, the other hind has a bit more improvement to make but it's well on the right track.

Previous farrier shoes about half the horses on the yard and I expected he would do a good job with that many clients. I can't believe how much benefit there has been from going against the grain, thanks again for all of your advice on this thread, I really appreciate it but most of all I think my mare does too!

 

[ycbm]

That's really great, was the farrier the only thing you changed? They've done a brilliant job.
.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I’ve not read the whole thread OP but well done you for sacking the farrier and listening to the advice on here. Her feet are looking much better (I’m quite horrified looking at the previous pictures and what your farrier had done!).

 

[maddielove]

Yes largely so, I have always struggled with her guts around springtime and tried her on an ulcer supplement/treatment (Relyne) and it's helped these issues a hugely so she is possibly getting better out of her diet now if there have been ulcers underlying. She's always been low sugar/starch diet with a balancer.

She also had an 8 week stint with no hind shoes on as well which i think really helped too! Wanted to try and go without permanently but she's much happier with them back on.

 

[Gloi]

Wow. That looks like a different horse. It will be doing her the world of good to have sorted out those underrun heels.

If you had stuck with the old farrier I bet he would have started suggesting bar shoes by now.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Gosh what a huge improvement! It it is so difficult to make change when there is an entrenched professional on a yard. What you’ve done for her is fantastic.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Your new farrier has done a cracking job! Well done for making the switch.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Wow, what a difference. Well done for sacking the first Farrier and finding a competent one.

 

[maddielove]

Wow, what a difference. Well done for sacking the first Farrier and finding a competent one.

Interestingly enough, the new farrier is fairly recently qualified, only 18 months or so. The previous one must have been at it for at least a couple of decades, just shows how tricky it is to make the right choice when picking a farrier!