Hardening sole - horse has been given 50-50 chance of survival!

Goldenstar, as I said in an earlier post, mare did not cope with Imprints and slipped in them constantly. She really was not happy in them. My vet and the remedial farrier did liaise but when farrier took too much off her soles, exposing soft tissue in two feet, vet was furious. When he, at the next trimming/shoeing, did the same to a third foot......vet had stern words with him. Just want our girl back on track. She is currently plastered with sugar and iodine and OH, a homeopath, has concocted something for her.

Her diet, which I keep being asked about, consists of Happy Hoof, unmolassed sugar beet, high fibre cubes and my daughter has just ordered some Blue Chip Lami Light and Global Herbs Rebuilder.

Also forgot to add that she's on straw, unbelievably filthy (tried shavings and she was no better) and is a bit of a box walker. Not a "true" box walker but she does walk around quite a bit so bed always disgusting which doesn't help. We've now been recommended to use a deep bed of Comfy Bed which is, apparently, very absorbent and stays pretty dry. Vet wants her to be turned out in our well-drained arena (silica sand and rubber) but not turned out in wet paddocks. I'm posting in Tack Room for opinions of Comfy Bed.
 
One of the things I have learned is that exercise helps healing by increasing the blood circulation, which is impeded by having shoes nailed on. I would talk to the vet and farrier about boots and pads. That way the hooves and soles are protected and horse can be allowed out to increase the movement....Perhaps it would be possible to get a boot and some pads to show the vet and farrier what is possible nowadays....and diet is critical, no molasses and probably extra minerals and vitimins. The Phoenix chat site can help you there as I am in New Zealand and our feeds are different to yours. It's amazing how the body can heal itself given optimum conditions so don't lose hope! Good luck!
 
keeperscottage said:
Goldenstar, as I said in an earlier post, mare did not cope with Imprints and slipped in them constantly. She really was not happy in them. My vet and the remedial farrier did liaise but when farrier took too much off her soles, exposing soft tissue in two feet, vet was furious. When he, at the next trimming/shoeing, did the same to a third foot......vet had stern words with him. Just want our girl back on track. She is currently plastered with sugar and iodine and OH, a homeopath, has concocted something for her.

Her diet, which I keep being asked about, consists of Happy Hoof, unmolassed sugar beet, high fibre cubes and my daughter has just ordered some Blue Chip Lami Light and Global Herbs Rebuilder.

Also forgot to add that she's on straw, unbelievably filthy (tried shavings and she was no better) and is a bit of a box walker. Not a "true" box walker but she does walk around quite a bit so bed always disgusting which doesn't help. We've now been recommended to use a deep bed of Comfy Bed which is, apparently, very absorbent and stays pretty dry. Vet wants her to be turned out in our well-drained arena (silica sand and rubber) but not turned out in wet paddocks. I'm posting in Tack Room for opinions of Comfy Bed.
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For what it is worth, I used Comfy Bed which I mix with bedmax as the Comfy Bed is very "flat". It works for me.
 
Firstly, just to wish you the very best of luck with this - you sound as though you are doing your Mare proud, she is lucky to have you. As for sole paint, look at www.redhorseproducts.com I use the sole spray and lots of people rave about their products. The sole paint is meant to be very good at keeping the soles clean and free of thrush which I believe is where Leviathan is coming from, you may also want to have a look at their stronghorn - ask if anyone has used it and can recommend, it sounds as though it may be a useful tool for you.

Have all crossed your Mare improves - Good luck
 
I have used Keratex Hoof Hardner with very good results, it does contain formaldehyde and therefore not popular on here.

10% iodine, purchased from your vet or farm supply shop, is also extremely good for hardening soles and keeping them clean.
 
Please join the facebook group for EMS and PPID horses.If you post your xrays and blood results and photos on there I promise you that Andrea and Karen will be able to help you.
 
I have read your original post several times and it still totally baffles me.
I am a qualified farrier who finds it amazing that some farriers are allowed to get away with continuing to wreak horses and not being brought to account. You say: Quote: 1)Vet was furious! 2) her soles are soft and thin due to remedial farrier, and usual farrier has left her toes too long causing her pedal bones to rotate.
Can someone please tell me another profession that comes under the animal welfare act who would not have to answer for causing the problems that have been identified by a MRCVS
When it comes to what you do next:
1) Get a team around you that you can trust and that will present you with a prognosis you find acceptable.
2) Do not rule out all the methods, I now only treat my referrals with the barefoot method, I am not saying it is what should be done in your case as it would need the support of your team.
3) Do look at the diet, this is often one of the major causes of poor feet.
4) Shoeing will often blind lameness so make sure the team are aware that treatment must be ongoing if you are going to have a successful outcome.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope the farriers concerned are made fully aware of what they have done.
http://www.rockfoot.com/lameness.html
This might be of some help
 
Heelfirst, I will PM you tomorrow. Too tired now! Horse was turned out in arena for first time today (as advised by vet hospital) - she went out for about two hours and was completely sound, performing beautiful extended trot! We intend doing all we can to restore our mare's hooves!
 
Thank you, _HP_. However, one of my liveries has a totally crippled laminitic "pet" pony that refuses to eat this! Perhaps I'll ask my livery if I can try some of her stuff before I buy! We have today swapped the unmolassed sugar beet for Allen & Page Fast Fibre.
 
Sadly just because it is Laminitis Trust approved does not make it a good feed.......... it definitely has molasses in it. Vets are not always very clued up about feed. I personally steer clear of alfalfa as well for anything inclined to be a bit footy
 
Threads like this always make me think - just how can we bring these errant farriers to task? The farriers council was quick to jump on a non registered person who glued casts of an animal but so many farriers get away with laming horses and wrecking their feet without any comeback. Mine took months to recover from the damage caused by shoes which caused his feet to become very contracted and with long toes, and lots end up getting pts simply because the shoeing or other bad workmanship has caused lameness problems. There should be somewhere , not affiliated with the farriers governing body, that can investigate complaints.
 
ester said:
I'd certainly be questioning the farriers reasoning for wanting to use alu plates instead of something like imprints. Given that the previous farrier thinned the sole late 2012/early 2013 and that it keeps growing I can't fathom how that has been given as contributary to the current problem.
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Probably because you can glue the aluminium shoe on whereas gluing steel doesnt work so well

That and the difference in cost is quite a lot
 
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No ... my query was alu plates over imprints (plastic) - not compared to steel (I didn't mention steel shoes at all...)...... Which the OP has clarified with the mare's previous issues with imprints.


OP you can just feed the fast fibre without a chop - I do, and def start a high spec supplement.
 
I spoke to one of the directors of a company whose products are Laminitis Trust approved. Apparently, feeds can just get approval by paying the LT a large amount of money (around £60 k if I remember right).

The best feeds by far that I have found that are totally molasses free are Pure Feeds. You can order their feed direct from them online. I wouldn't feed anything else now.
 
Just another speedy response - my very good doer and 9th month as a bare footer, has been on Top Chop Lite for the last 2 or 3 years, no sugar in it, very palatable about £10 a bag from the usual feed merchants and I just mix in feedmarks benevit which is a multivitamin and a small handful of charnwood linseed great for coats, joints and feet - you probably already know this! but my horse looks great on it. Another thought is to investigate the herbs meadowsweet and yarrow, the former for general circulation, soft tissue/muscle/ligament health and the later is meant to be great for foot circulation, when I took my horses shoes off I put those and some Arnica oil in his feed and his feet are tough as old boots and have grown back speedily. Look at Naturally Animals or Natural Horse supplies on the internet for further info - they are cheap and certainly won't do any harm. Still have all crossed for you.
 
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