Feet Photos After Pedal Bone Rotation.

[Thunder]

Took a couple of picures today of my mare's hind feet around 6 months after pedal rotation in them. You can clearly see the scaring that's growning out down the hoof, and in the case of the near hind, the change in angulation of the hoof.

Off hind

Near hind

Friend pointing to band

From the front

Yes, they look a mess but she's as sound as a pound, mad as a box of frogs and in a year they should have grown out.

Just posted for people's information and interest really, not often (thank God) you see things like this... My farrier has been amazing and I owe most of her recovery to him.

 

[Jemayni]

wow, that is really interesting. Thankyou!

and..."mad as a box of frogs"

lol.

 

[dozzie]

really interesting,
Can you just tell me, am I right in thinking this cannot be changed, ie. pedal bone rotation? I thought it was pretty much the end!! (sorry if that sounds awful). Was it caused by laminitus? The only reason I ask is Ive had a few "scares".

Just interested as you seem fairly confident about mares recovery!

(This sounds sarcastic but honestly it is not meant in that way at all. I just couldnt find a better way to ask you)

 

[Thunder]

Hi Doziesmummy,

Yes, you're right that the new angle of the pedal bone cannot be changed. Remedial shoeing makes the angle of the hoof parallel to the new angle of the bone.

When it rotates the bone can either stay at the height it is, as literally spin round, or sink from the socket towards, and in some cases, through the sole. Speaking to my farrier, whilst these used to be fatal, nowadays even a protruding pedal bone doesn't mean the end, they're padded and packed out waiting for the sole to recover them.

Satin, my mare, is wearing heart bar shoes at the moment on her back feet, to give additional support, although the farrier is so pleased with her he's considering their removal soon.

Laminitus was the cause, although not from the usual suspects... She was chased by some dogs round and found the farm buildings, fast over rough ground getting herself thoroughly stressed and frightened I think it lasted about 20 minutes before anyone could get near her (Alas I was at work or it wouldn't have happened and there would be some ex dogs now) The following morning she couldn't move at all - took 2 of us to shift her...

Satin has very thick soles and the bone hasn't sunk at all which is good. She came sound in under 2 weeks, although was box rested for a lot longer. At the end of Jan I was allowed to get back on and start working her gently - due to work commitments I've not been on that much which is probably good. This weekend she had her first trot with me on and her first time let loose in 6 months

Here are two short videos of her at the mo, Jemayni - you'll see in the loose vid what I mean re mad as a box of frogs...

I will just add that she's an incredibly brave horse.

First trot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofnEjNLAIlw

Play time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkj600lb-K4

 

[Hannahbone]

Thats really really interesting thanks for sharing satins story with us

 

[serena2005]

i love her, i really like the way she moves!!!

will it affect the things you do with her now?

 

[Thunder]

Thank you Serena, is that her movement when troting, or jumping on me?!?! LOL

It'll take some time to build her back up to full work.

Speaking to the farrier today I'm ok to lunge her on a large circle or ride 3 times a week - which is more than I've time for this month.

He seems to think that eventually it'll be business as usual. I looked as he shod her today and can see the bruised laminae leaves. Her feet look different again after this shoeing - he's brought the toe back yet again. Her laminae leaves are now exposed at the very toe which he says isn't a problem just will look tatty for 5 weeks till she's shod again.

I'll not do any hard road work this year, and won't jump till the back end of the year (much to her disgust as she lives for jumping) I'll concentrate on getting her dressage something like and then perhaps next year do a few ODE.

Thank god she's only got 4 feet - she still thinks she's 4 years old!

 

[Horseymum]

She's looking really well, good luck with her continued recovery. I had a look at Satin's Story on YouTube too and it was lovely.

 

[Thunder]

Many thanks, Horseymum. I'll certainly do my very best for her.

 

[dozzie]

Thanks for that. So did she only get the rotation in the hinds? Did she have Laminitis in all four feet? Its just Id sort of assumed that they were more likely to get rotation in the front as the front feet bear so much of the horses weight.

Its amazing what a good farrier can do. You clearly have a very knowledgeable one!

I'm pleased your mare is doing so well. It must have been a really worrying time for you! Thanks for posting these pictures and for the info. I have a pony who has had Lammi in the past so like to try to keep myself informed.

 

[Thunder]

Yes, the rotation was only in the hinds - the front feet are just showing slight separation of the laminae at todays shoeing. but there was no movement in the pedal bone.

Interestingly she didn't have the fast thready distal pulse that laminitics typically have, and her hooves were not very hot to the touch.

My farrier had only seen 2 other cases in his lifetime (he's been shoing 20+ years) of it in the hind only, and those were caused by toxic laminitis, so as a precaution she was fed (and I got to wear) live yoghurt for several weeks after to rebalance her gut. Another farrier I spoke to was amazed and had never seen a case with hind rotation only. In a way I'm lucky as the hind feet carry 1/3 of the body weight so they're under less pressure than the front.

Her foot look so different again today if I get off work on time tomorrow or Thurday I'll get some more photos and add them to this thread. Certainly looking nicer now the hoof is more or less the same angle all the way down.

 

[Peanot]

Hi, really glad to see that everything is going ok.
Thanks for the pics. interesting.

 

[brighteyes]

Looks like you both had a very lucky escape. It's a long job but all the worry and sadness caused by laminitis is obliterated when they do that bucking and galloping off thing! Thanks for sharing Satin's story.

 

[Wooleysmum]

Mine was just like that! I owe Wooley's life to the farrier and the vet. Just been out on a hack, he had it in May 2004. I try to be SO careful now.