Handling footsore youngster

[Echo24]

I've worked really hard with my 2 year old with handling his feet regularly and we made great progress and he stands brilliantly to have his feet picked out. Unfortunately with the wet weather he's developed thrush in his front feet and where it must be sore, he's started flattening his ears when I go to handle his feet, snatching his foot out of my hand and occasionally turning to bite me. His frogs have started shedding where it's been wet and it doesn't help he trashes his stable and is very wet and messy in it. I am currently picking feet out twice a day and applying red horse sole paint twice a day as well but wondered what I can do to prevent a negative association with having his feet handled? I remain firm and calm with handling him, doing the best I can to stop him snatching his foot, only releasing it gently when he's standing calmly, and being quick with picking out his feet to avoid too much discomfort for him and keeping it all short and sweet.

Thanks.

 

[ladyt25]

I would just continue as you are to be honest. They are young, they don't understand. To them it just hurts. Mine was similar when he got a sort of mud fever the first winter I had him (something to do with changing diet and introducing hay). You couldn't so much as look as his legs let alone touch them. The vet told us to essentially leave alone but try hose the scabs off where we could (he was fine being hosed).

He was very paranoid about his legs after that but now he is fine and doesn't have any issue - he's getting a lot braver and maybe understands a bit more now that, if something's hurting, we are actually trying to help!

 

[Echo24]

Thanks for that. He is a lovely boy and the biting is very out of character for him and it must mean his feet are sore. Some days he can be fine which makes me think they're getting better but with these sudden downpours it's hard to keep on top of it. I am tempted to avoid over handling him too much but I can't risk the thrush not clearing up. I mix and match where and when he has his feet picked up so hopefully he never associates a particular spot on the yard where he expects me to hurt him! I will persevere with patience and hopefully when the ground freezes and the thrush finally clears up he'll be a happier boy!