Following on from my shod horse with flared feet, pictures

[islandspirit]

Ok, they look so much worse in the pictures than in real life please be kind to me shoes have been in for 4 weeks and by a different farrier to normal.
Front right

Now the left foot

Hope the pictures work ok and forgot to mention that he is wearing over reach boots 24/7 as he has a tendency to tread on himself.

 

[cptrayes]

He's had a toe abscess which is absolutely typical of a laminitic episode.
That and flare usually have the same cause - failure to digest carbs properly.

Is the horse at all overweight? Has he been tested for Cushings.

 

[islandspirit]

Where is the toe abscess? He's completely sound and has been since last year. He's 17.2 and not overweight, no fat deposits, no crest and ribs can be felt and doesn't have any High sugar feed. He's turned out on a fairly bare paddock, 24/7 and doesn't have any hay bar 20 minutes worth when he's in for tacking up. I haven't tested for cushings though so it's a thought. The thread is a follow on from yesterday, I'm trying to work out why I have the flare which only appeared recently or became evident because new growth had come through at a better angle.

 

[cptrayes]

The line part way down his foot dead centre to the toe is a classic abscess exit wound. Horses are not always lame with abscesses, sometimes the exit wound is the only giveaway.

 

[Queenbee]

I'm no expert, but you say he has been shod for four weeks, there is a recent event line that could tie in with that, if you look at the side shots of the hoof, the more recent growth of the hoof is more vertical, that in my opinion is a positive, whoever fitted your most recent shoes, i would stick with, the heels are also under shot, your farrier needs to address this.

 

[amandap]

I think there are dietary problems, excess sugars and possibly mineral imbalance.


I agree with CPT the horizontal crack is typical of an abscess exit hole. Usually the exit was at the coronary band and the slit then grows down as the wall grows down. Abscessing is also often linked to dietary problems.

 

[islandspirit]

When the crack first appeared I asked my farrier what it was and he said not to worry it was a knock to the coronary band. I say crack but its more like a line like the top layer of hoof is missing but there is hoof undeneath, dont know if that makes sense My horse is checked thoroughly everyday from top to toe due to him being an injury magnet surely I would have noticed a burst abscess, or could one pop and you not know? Would there not also be an associated event line if it was dietary? After much reading, I'm trying to work out if the flare is mechanical or diet related but can't find any info to differentiate the two. Feed wise he's on top spec comprehensive, Alfa a mollases free, micronised linseed, magnesium and salt. Forage was analysed last year which highlighted a deficiency in both the salt and magnesium. Do you think this is too high a sugar content? I really want to get to the bottom of this and get it right but at the same time I'm worried that I could make things worse

 

[islandspirit]

Queenbee thank you, the new growth started before the change of farrier. It highlighted the flare which is why I made the move. It's interesting to see that the new nail holes haven't cracked though as previously by the 4 week mark they would have done. The new growth changed around the time I started to add salt to his diet but also he was on topspec super conditioning flakes for about 8 weeks as he came out of winter looking very poor and we had devon county coming up. I know that's higher in sugar content but it was only used for 2 months from march to may.

 

[amandap]

The hoof wall is for impact protection mainly (as well as some support lol) so to crack it by impact is very unlikely unless extremely severe or the hoof wall is very, very weak. Abscess holes heal on the inside and hoof wall is produced to some extent most of the way down the wall so the hole will have closed/repaired underneath. Yes abscesses can brew and burst without you noticing.

I think sugars may be a big part of it as the hoof is flared and would look much more flared if the outer wall hadn't been heavily rasped by the look of it. The rasping also removes event lines. Unfortunately grass and even hay can contain high levels.

Have you thought of getting some diet advice? I suggest Sarah Braithwaite at Forage Plus or I believe Oberon has a sheet she shares if you pm her.

 

[islandspirit]

Thanks amandap, I will give forage plus a call and pm Oberon

 

[TwoStroke]

Mechanical flare can't happen without a weakness in the laminae to allow the stretch - healthy laminae are too strong. Laminae stretch because of too much sugar/starch and/or mineral imbalances.

Also, a horse of mine was on topspec super conditioning flakes for 10 days... I've struggled with extreme flare ever since. He was never particularly starch sensitive, either (he is now, as a result) so I regard that product with extreme suspicion.

 

[islandspirit]

Thank you two stroke. That's very worrying!! Can I ask how you know how your horse is now starch sensitive? Does it show as being footy? And what do you do to control it? How are you tackling your flaring issue? So many questions and so grateful for answers

 

[TwoStroke]

His feet now flare at the drop of a hat and he gets loads of event lines - until TopSpecGate (as I call it!) he never had an event line .

I now feed him the highest spec mineral supplement out there (ForagePlus Hoof Health Balancer) which helps a lot, but the only thing that busts flare altogether is work. Road work is the best. Not sure if that would have the same effect in a shod horse, though.

 

[islandspirit]

Thanks twostroke, I've just left a message with forage plus so hopefully I will get a call back soon you made me laugh with topspecgate) what do you use instead when you need to add in calories? My boy is fine in summer weight wise but really struggles in the winter.

 

[TwoStroke]

Mine's a poor doer in winter too - I use unmolassed beet, micronised linseed, full fat soya, protexin pro biotic. When he's working he also gets crushed oats and equijewel, which he can cope with if working, but not otherwise.

This in addition to ad lib haylage keeps him looking good.