Could I have some help from the Barefoot Taliban please...

sydney

sydney

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I’m after some advice about my horses hooves...

Horse is welsh cob, 15 years, ridden minimum 4x week (roadwork or ridden around farmers fields), history of laminitis.

Shoes removed on advice of my farrier around 1 ½ years ago following laminitis. Tbh I’m not fussed if they’re shod or not- whatever works for the horse- however I can use farmer fields more minus the shoes and I like the fact I can monitor his footiness/ potential lami legs easily. Sydney was shod for last 6 years plus before shoes removed.

Feed: formula4feet, fast fibre, mag ox, boswellia

He’s on a postage stamp through spring, summer and autumn with soaked hay and a field shelter. Out 24/7 unless its very cold or snow then he comes in at night.

I use Cavallos boots for hacking.

He is still footy on gravel tracks which are impossible to avoid as they connect the field entrances.

Had the vet out last week for something else and she checked all feet with pincers and watched him walk/trot and she was happy he is sound.

Are some horses always footy on stones? Or is there something blindingly obvious I have missed. I am very much a novice with all things hooves though I'm slowly getting there- please be gentle...


Photos if they help...


fronthoovescopy1.jpg


Fronthoof1.jpg


Fronthoof2.jpg


The photos are quite deceptive in that his white line looks tight- he has a stretched white line particularly round the toe. They were taken few days ago after last trim.
 
Don't suppose you have a lateral shot (side on at ground level), do you?

My first impression was that they look like feet struggling with sugars. As you seem to be restricting the grazing pretty well, and soaking the hay as well, it sounds like you've got a sensitive one. As he's 15 have you tested for IR and cushing's? It's worth doing for an older horse.

Does he get sounder over winter? Is he landing heel first? I think almost all horses have the potential to be rock crunching barefoot, but some are infititely more difficult to manage than others, and it's not always logistically possible, particularly if you're on livery, or you have metabolic issues to contend with.

You could try mineral balancing, or a more barefoot oriented supplement.
 
Thankyou for your reply TwoStroke! He has suffered with lami about 3-4 times- we've managed to catch it early and he's been back to work fairly quickly (always been seen by the vet). The last time was in May. He was then tested for cushings and another one (sorry) is it insulin levels? Both came back as normal levels.

I'll try and get a foot shot on the ground.

He is kept at home and we get our hay from a neighbours field so my next thought was sending hay and grass samples for testing.


Unfortunately we're having other medical issues at the moment so funds are very tight. If anyone can recommend a place to send hay and grass for analysis I'd be very grateful!
 
Good that he tested neg for IR and cushings, though it's always something to bear in mind as they get older.

Forage plus is good for mineral balancing, but lachlanandmarcus is right, it's not cheap as chips. You could try something like Pro Balance + first, and monitor for improvement.

Other than that, are you able to put a track around your paddock to increase movement? Some people find it really helps with their sensitive horses.
 
The final part of getting my laminitic pony back to full soundness was when his frogs improved and started to do their job correctly, with your pony his frogs are still not fully in contact with the ground, they need to expand and he should then become more comfy. He probably has some heel pain and is not landing heel first, with my pony I did a fair amount of walking in the sand arena this helped stimulate the frogs, I scrubbed them daily and over time they have gradually got bigger and stronger.
 
Yes, my first observation would be the size of the frog. I think perhaps the hoof wall could be thicker / tougher and a bit more heel too...

Forage plus are brilliant for forage analysis and feeding plans but mine has just cost £128 for one analysis and feed plan. wrth it's weight in gold though having seen the improvement in my boy since my last one (have moved yards and forage supplier since). Given that yours is fed mainly hay, I'd sugest that a hay analysis is all that you will need to get a pretty balanced feed plan writen.
 
Thankyou so much for replies!!!

Foot on floor type shots:
Front hoof
Fronthoof.jpg


Back hoof
Hindhoof.jpg


Certainly agree his frogs do seem rather small. He's just getting over horsey hayfever (cough) but intend to increase his work to stimulate frogs as much as poss.

Bepositive- possible stupid question but did you scrub them with anything in particular?

I think forage plus is going to be the way forward as soon as I can afford it. Sounds like it's worth it.

TwoStroke- I'm working on the track idea- currently field looks like spaghetti junction with reels of electric fencing allover the place!


Thanks again everyone!
 
I used either salt water or diluted hydrogen peroxide, I now use the hydrogen peroxide, about 50/50 with water, once or twice a week just to keep them free of any thrushy bugs that may try to invade.
 
There's lots to like about the feet imo. I think if you can get the back of the foot engaging he'll have fab feet in no time.

You can see the flare, particularaly in the fronts, quite well on the lateral shots. Minerals and more excercise should help this, as well as tackling any thrush :).
 
TwoStroke said:
There's lots to like about the feet imo. I think if you can get the back of the foot engaging he'll have fab feet in no time.

You can see the flare, particularaly in the fronts, quite well on the lateral shots. Minerals and more excercise should help this, as well as tackling any thrush :).
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your input TwoStroke! :)
 
Sydney I don't know how I missed this posting but I'm here now. Your horse has growth rings which your farrier has rasped flat quite some way up his feet. Coupled with that his feet look, from the photos which can be very deceptive, almost completley flat. That is very unusual for a cob with feet like yours.

Given how you control his diet, I would have him tested for Cushings and Insulin Resistance, both of which can produce footiness with no other symptoms, and both of which have drugs available that can help.

If that produces no result, then I would feed him a supplement that has no additional iron or manganese but does contain high levels of copper and zinc. I don't use on myself but you might PM Oberon for her recommendation.


PS you live not far from me, can I please come and hug your Alpacas :D ?
 
Thankyou cptrayes- info gratefully recieved! Oberon has also kindly suggested a suitable supplement to try.


You are always welcome to come and cuddle an alpaca. In the meantime have a kiss...

IMGP0279.jpg
 
Not sure how i missed this one too! Think CPtrayes and Oberon have you covered - just wanted to add Id not be using hydrogen peroxide - far too aggressive will damage the healthy tissue. I use silvetrasol, NT Dry Thrush Powder or field paste from Red Horse Products :)
 
sydney said:
Thankyou cptrayes- info gratefully recieved! Oberon has also kindly suggested a suitable supplement to try.


You are always welcome to come and cuddle an alpaca. In the meantime have a kiss...

IMGP0279.jpg
Click to expand...

Awwwww. I'm not going to wash for a week now.

I love them. I'm thinking of having a pair if anyone ever sets up an Alpaca rescue and I wouldn't have to buy them. I think they are such lovely creatures!



ps I use hydrogen peroxide at 3% by the bucketload, including washing out raw wounds with it and I have never had any issue with wounds healing, abscesses clearing up or thrush treatment removing good tissue. It is sold by Boots with instructions how to use it to disinfect wounds on children. I believe the idea that it is necrotising to any damaging extent is a myth.
 
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I am a chronic mouth biter and when I was younger would get huge ulcers.

I gargled with hydrogen peroxide to cure the ulcers and it was also known as an old treatment for throat infections.

Properly diluted, it is quite safe.
 
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