desperate for any last ditch ideas- close to the end

[cptrayes]

All the blood tests done came back normal. But they were just standard tests. Why haven't the vets suggested things like emps or another form of tying up?

The odd feet can actually result from EPMS/EMS too, CFK. The inability to digest sugars correctly often causes weak feet with poor horn growth which corrupt easily. Your hopping gait also begins to sound a bit like mild 4 footed lameness, which can also result from those syndromes.

Vets just often aren't really clued up about these metabolic issues. EMS has only recently been acknowledged and some vets still don't even believe that it exists.

 

[LucyPriory]

I've just taken on a horse that has had problems for over 10 years. Yes ten.

Out of shoes he is coming right, and quite quickly too. This guy had been diagnosed with just about everything.

His biggest problem was nail bind and too much sugar.

 

[clairefeekerry1]

Hi. Have put pic of his feet on a new thread lucy. Horse does not wear shoes

 

[snopuma]

Not sure it would help, but it worked for me, you don't say if he is shod or not but I would get the shoes of and get some cavallo boots in his size just for the fronts and turn him out tfor 3 months, you will not need to use the boots all the time, the feet will need to toughen up at some point, but you need to read up about barefoot! I am not a treehugger I am a dressage rider and when I got to my wits end with vets and farriers I tried this and it worked, so its worth a go, bear in mind that a shoe retricts the foot that may need to change to adapt to the way a horse is changing if the foot can't change then everything above will stay the same! My horse actually whickers when he sees his boots coming! you'd think he was about to be fed, he then stomps off across the field like he always did intsead of pottering along!

Worth a go! I wish you all the luck in the world I have been there and its a rubbish place to be!

xxx

 

[clairefeekerry1]

Not sure it would help, but it worked for me, you don't say if he is shod or not but I would get the shoes of and get some cavallo boots in his size just for the fronts and turn him out tfor 3 months, you will not need to use the boots all the time, the feet will need to toughen up at some point, but you need to read up about barefoot! I am not a treehugger I am a dressage rider and when I got to my wits end with vets and farriers I tried this and it worked, so its worth a go, bear in mind that a shoe retricts the foot that may need to change to adapt to the way a horse is changing if the foot can't change then everything above will stay the same! My horse actually whickers when he sees his boots coming! you'd think he was about to be fed, he then stomps off across the field like he always did intsead of pottering along!

Worth a go! I wish you all the luck in the world I have been there and its a rubbish place to be!

xxx

thank you, he is not shod at the mo and hasnt been for quite some time now. he was turned out without shoes for 6 months. hasnt had shoes on for about 9 months. pics of his feet on another thread here. ta

 

[Tiffany]

Really sorry to read about the ongoing lameness problem you're having with your horse. I'm in a similar position although it's not been going on so long.

Vets couldn't find a reason for intermittant 1/10th lameness so, I went down the thermal imaging route. Clare from the innerpicture didn't ask for any details of my mare and just told me her findings afterwards. There was a lot of heat in her front right foot, mainly her heel. At last I had a starting point for vets. Nothing conclusive yet although nerve blocking that foot made massive improvement so we now know where the problem is. All we need to find out now is what is causing it.

Might be worth considering if you aren't yet sure where pain is.

This is who I used www.theinnerpicture.com

 

[YasandCrystal]

Yep those are his front feet. The angle isn't great but yes they do turn quite alot. They actually turn in more than out. Black one is worse. They never used to look that bad hence why i'm getting a specialist farrier out. They dont sit flush with the floor if you seen what I mean. You could slide a ruler underneath them.

You say you have spent £5000 on vet fees but have any of the vets xrayed the front feet?
Hubby (farrier) has read with interest and says that the odd front feet are of interest. Has the black foot always been so boxy and upright or has it got worse since the rabbit hole incident? There is normally a reason why one foot is boxy and one flat, even if this is a confirmational abnormality from birth.

 

[clairefeekerry1]

Thank you. Have had the inner picture out already. Nothing showed and clare thought he looked like one of the best horses she'd seen recently thermography wise! I have put further pic of his feet on a new post. Get your hubby to have a look if he could. Its fair to say that particular pic on this thread is prob not representive of the other ones. His feet have def got worse recently tho I think thats down to my farrier just giving a quick trim as he was turned away rather than giving them his full attention.

 

[clairefeekerry1]

Sorrow forgot to say both front feet were x rayed with no abnormalities. At the time of dont x rays they said the foot balance could be a little better but have seen alot worse.

 

[now_loves_mares]

I'm sorry to hear you are going through all this. It certainly seems like you have given this everything you have.

Completely off the wall suggestion, but other than your horses obviously dodgy feet, nobody has found any mechanical/physical signs or causes of lameness (from what I've read). Is he actually "lame" or is it just the hopping when you ask for trot? Just wondering if Ulcers are a possibility? Also, you might be able to get that investigated under a separate insurance claim, if your policy allows it? A long shot, but you did say you were looking for last ditch ideas!

How much do we all wish our horses could talk....

Good luck, I really hope you get the answers you and your horse are looking for. They can really break your heart sometimes, can't they

 

[Booboos]

I was in a similar position to you and in desperation tried a treeless saddle. Was a total success for my horse, which of course I can't promise for yours, but it's another idea to try.

 

[kinglouis]

NOOOOOOOO I can't believe it last I heard he was going brilliantly on the lunge & you were about to get on board. I am sooo sorry:-( I though it was all going to be fixed with the saddle etc... No further suggestions on treatment - know you have tried everything & been to the best vets in the country. If he is to be retired maybe find him a new home so you are not to be left with 2? I would have had him a year ago to keep my old horse company so I am sure there will be loads of people out there looking for something similar. I don't know if my mare is fixed yet, we are walking & trotting (with the odd rodeo!) and the vet looks at her next week - I am so nervous. Massive Squishy Hugs. x

 

[popstar]

Oh wow, what a horrible time you've had!

Just a question or two (sorry if I missed the answers to them before in the thread)
Were his feet so unbalanced before the rabbit hole incident??
Is it the near fore he is 'lame' on?

My thoughts on the thicker saddle cloth making a difference would be that there is something sore going on with the saddle and the thicker cloth only temporarily helps by changing the pressure. It's like if you wear an ill fitting pair of shoes. If you put on a thick pair of socks it feels nice temporarily but once you start hiking there will be a point at which the thicker socks almost make you more sore. Definitely try a few different options for saddles, and most importantly if he had a shoulder injury (which I reckon seems too much of a coincidence to be ignored) just be very sure that the saddles tree points don't put any pressure on the back of the shoulder blade (hard if your horse has a good deep shoulder as many do...)

I hope you find the solution and I'd love to hear what the communicator says. I've used one with a cat and a dog and it was eerily accurate on several things that she couldn't have guessed, so there's definitely something to it if you get a good one!

 

[onemoretime]

OK - as a total last ditch idea and as a final not too expensive resort, have you tried going completely off the wall and asking around for a local animal communicator/healer?

I've never used one, but I know of a few highly respected competitive riders who swear by them. I'm sure someone could recommend one?

It's probably all mumbo jumbo, but as a last resort it might be worth a try?

I can recommend Anne Towill and anne@energywhispers.co.uk