Damage to Coronet Band!

[sharris]

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone has been through what I’m going through and how their horse is doing now.

My horse got trapped in barbed wire and managed to damage his coronet band below his heel bulb quite badly. He’s been left with a scare was ok to start riding as he was sound a few months after, but then a horizontal and vertical crack appeared with accompanying lameness, which got progressively worse to point where he was hopping lame so more box rest (I really don’t know how we got through last winter but we did) Have also touch wood survived the dreaded turnout for the first time and now he is going out on his own for a few hours a day and enjoying the spring grass – still far from sound though but not as bad and is on a sachet of bute a day.

I’ve had xrays done and they showed nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t come sound again, just takes time I suppose – he has good days and bad days but would like to hear of anyone else who has gone through the same thing.

All this happened in Aug last year, another few months and the crack will have grown out, he’s got a shoe on that goes all the way round and supports his frog. Farrier thinks it would be a good idea to turn him away for the summer without shoes so he can pull the toes right back and trim them every 4 weeks as the spring grass will help his hoof grow quicker. Vet thinks that this is an option but will take 2 months for the feet to readjust to not having shoes on and will crumble away at the bottom until they adjust, so might be a good idea to find somewhere with ample turnout but leave the shoes on.

Not sure what to do also have the worry that if he overreaches with this type of shoe on, the whole bottom of his hoof could come off with it!

 

[firstponyMinto]

personally, I'd take the advice of the farrier

 

[bordermare]

My pony had a coronet band injury not quite the same she stood on herself in the trailer and injured the top of the hoof. She initially was on 6 weeks box rest and was slightly lame during that time. The big problem came as the hoof grew out and there was a big bump which took nearly a year to grow out.

My farrier had quite a job getting her shoes to stay on as both he and the vet felt that the shoe was needed to keep the hoof from breaking up. Thankfully thanks to the farrier's skill, she never lost a shoe during that time despite the fact that at one point he had to use some sort of resin to build the hoof up and keep the shoe on as he couldn't get enough nails in.

10 years on she's never had a problem with that foot since. These injuries take time and good remedial shoeing made a difference in my pony's case.

 

[sharris]

Thanks for your replies.

The same thing happened to my boy, his lameness started once the crack appeared, so he was fine, but then went lame again, at one point hopping round his stable - such a long recovery period for him and I feel so sorry for him and helpless myself – I’d pick him up and carry him if I could lol!!

So far the shoe’s not come off – but the crack is quite far down, there’s also a vertical crack, but that appears to have come together at the top (fingers crossed) so glad to hear that your pony didn’t have any problems long term.

Was your pony lame the whole time? How long did the recovery take before she was sound enough to ride again? Farrier is going to assess the field and see about what to do shoe wise, I think the next lot of shoeing is going to be a problem as the horizontal crack is going to be where the nails need to go in so he might suggest using resin if he thinks the shoes should stay on.

 

[Maesfen]

I'd go with your farrier, he will have been trained far more intesively and for far longer than any vet does before qualifying plus he is dealing with feet and lamenesses every day so he should have far more experience too. If you're not already, I would strongly advise feeding Formula4Feet as it was a huge help for my mare who had 'finger' feet in very poor condition when I bought her. My farrier hadn't seen feet as bad as hers for a very long time and he was amazed at the difference in a very short time so could be the best money you could spend too. Good luck, feet are always so slow to show improvement and growth, it seems you're waiting for ever and a watched kettle never boils!

 

[bordermare]

Thanks for your replies.

Was your pony lame the whole time? How long did the recovery take before she was sound enough to ride again? Farrier is going to assess the field and see about what to do shoe wise, I think the next lot of shoeing is going to be a problem as the horizontal crack is going to be where the nails need to go in so he might suggest using resin if he thinks the shoes should stay on.

No Pippa was absolutely sound after a couple of months but the injury was nowhere near the heel which I think was better for her. Also the farrier didn't have problems until the deformed bit got to the bottom of the hoof.