Help going barefoot with box rested horse

[Michen]

I have just had the shoes taken off my young gelding, as he is going to be on a box rest rehab for 2-3 months. He had quite a long stint out of shoes last year and came out of them absolutely fine.

He is, however, surprisingly footy. I have not had them trimmed as my intention was he would do his 10 mins walking a day on concrete and could naturally self trim. He is too footy for that though, so he will have to do it in grassy field where he's comfy. Should I get them trimmed? He is naturally prone to long toes if allowed so I am worried no concrete walking will mean he won't shorten them naturally. I could short cut and try something like keratex?

I'm also worried his feet on box rest (Will be building up the walking 5/10 mins a week) will mean they aren't stimulated enough.

He's on a handful of pink mash, pro hoof, brewers yest and dry hay during day but soaked in eve.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I wouldn’t have him trimmed if he is sore. Either pop a pair of scoot boots or similar on him to walk out or get some Hoof Armour and apply to the soles. It protects them by creating a barrier rather than Keratex which dries the foot out. Not cheap but lasts about 6 weeks probably more if he is going to be on box rest.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I’ve just taken mine off pink mash as convinced made one mare footy and the other loopy. Only on 200g a day

 

[paddy555]

I don't see the conditions are going to allow you to produce a barefoot horse as such. More of a case of removing shoes (which can only be a good thing) and keeping him comfortable to do his regulation walking.
I would trim the feet to keep the toe back. Then keeping him comfy on grass or booting if you later want to walk on concrete or even very hard sun baked ground.

If he is footy have you checked the frogs and central sulchus. Are his heels of a length whereby he is landing on them or alternatively are they shorter (or long and running forward) and he is landing even partly on the frog which may be infected?

If you have just had the shoes off, as in today, I would give him a couple of days to see if there is improvement in the footiness.

 

[Michen]

I don't see the conditions are going to allow you to produce a barefoot horse as such. More of a case of removing shoes (which can only be a good thing) and keeping him comfortable to do his regulation walking.
I would trim the feet to keep the toe back. Then keeping him comfy on grass or booting if you later want to walk on concrete or even very hard sun baked ground.

If he is footy have you checked the frogs and central sulchus. Are his heels of a length whereby he is landing on them or alternatively are they shorter (or long and running forward) and he is landing even partly on the frog which may be infected?

If you have just had the shoes off, as in today, I would give him a couple of days to see if there is improvement in the footiness.

His feet are rubbish. I’m quite upset to be honest as they seemed deceptively improved in shoes and now they are out they so obviously aren’t. His frogs do need work yes. I haven’t looked at the landing because I would be amazed if it wasn’t the first given the footsore. I just expected him to walk out of shoes like before (he did get footy further down the line I never managed to nail the grass and diet with him even muzzling etc)

I am very glad to have the shoes off. Yes they literally came off today.

He will by week 6 be doing a total of 45 mins walking a day, so I’m hoping it will be enough to condition them a bit, even though it’s not ideal that he’s rested the rest of the time.

On the plus side, he won’t be on much grass so hopefully that’ll help the feet.

 

[Michen]

I’ve just taken mine off pink mash as convinced made one mare footy and the other loopy. Only on 200g a day

Thanks that’s something to consider. To be honest I may just put him on some straw chop for now if I can get him to eat his pro hoof.

 

[Michen]

I wouldn’t have him trimmed if he is sore. Either pop a pair of scoot boots or similar on him to walk out or get some Hoof Armour and apply to the soles. It protects them by creating a barrier rather than Keratex which dries the foot out. Not cheap but lasts about 6 weeks probably more if he is going to be on box rest.

I already have scoots, gloves and hoof armour but I was worried the hoof armour would stop him self trimming. The toes are long he’s at the end of the cycle so they do need to shorten up fairly pronto.

 

[planete]

I would trim and boot with some padding. The padding seems to make a huge difference. I was amazed how quickly my old horse's hooves improved when we did that, the frog seemed to expand nearly overnight.

 

[catembi]

I transitioned my ex racer in 2005 after he had kissing spines surgery as I wasn't sure he could hold his feet up long enough to be shod. He always hated being shod anyway. We did box rest followed by in-hand walking in the field. He used to be v lame every time he lost a shoe & was v pottery walking out to start with. By the time we'd done 4-6 weeks' in hand walking, he was a lot better barefoot. His feet looked horrific to start with as they split up to the nail holes, then they started growing out & became a lot stronger. I then started reading up on b/f & got really into it & now have 5 horses, all b/f.

The TB is now 17 & he soooooo much prefers b/f. We avoid the almighty stress of shoeing & sedative gel every 6 weeks, his feet are a lot stronger & look a lot better & it is physically impossible for him to lose shoes every other day which he used to do.

You have to get the diet right - low sugar, high fibre - and I also like my Red Horse products - sole cleanse & field paste. Also, treat for thrush if it looks as if there is any.

 

[Michen]

I would trim and boot with some padding. The padding seems to make a huge difference. I was amazed how quickly my old horse's hooves improved when we did that, the frog seemed to expand nearly overnight.

Boot with padding even though he’s comfy on the grass?

 

[planete]

Boot with padding even though he’s comfy on the grass?

Mine was not happy on the hard ground in his field at the time. I guess if yours is ok and landing heel first there is no need. With mine the fact he could land heel first with the pads, and the extra frog stimulation seemed to be the important factors.

 

[Michen]

Mine was not happy on the hard ground in his field at the time. I guess if yours is ok and landing heel first there is no need. With mine the fact he could land heel first with the pads, and the extra frog stimulation seemed to be the important factors.

Hmmm ok I’ll check his landing on the grass. He was less footy today already on concrete so that’s positive.

 

[GinaGeo]

Agree with everyone else.

Hoof boots and pads for the walking to start with. I’ve transitioned all of mine in the last year, and the pads make the biggest difference to landings and therefore in improving the caudal hoof. Especially when the feet are compromised.

If he’s on Box Rest you probably won’t get enough movement for Self trimming? I’d probably trim conservatively but regularly to back the toe up and help develop heel but to make the change gradually and not make him sore.

Mine made further improvement when I added additional MagOx, Copper and Zinc. Like yours they are on ProHoof. But it has lower levels of these than Forageplus has. I’m avoiding Linseed, else forageplus might actually have been the more economical option. This has cleared up a few issues I had ongoing with white line disease and thrush.

 

[Michen]

Agree with everyone else.

Hoof boots and pads for the walking to start with. I’ve transitioned all of mine in the last year, and the pads make the biggest difference to landings and therefore in improving the caudal hoof. Especially when the feet are compromised.

If he’s on Box Rest you probably won’t get enough movement for Self trimming? I’d probably trim conservatively but regularly to back the toe up and help develop heel but to make the change gradually and not make him sore.

Mine made further improvement when I added additional MagOx, Copper and Zinc. Like yours they are on ProHoof. But it has lower levels of these than Forageplus has. I’m avoiding Linseed, else forageplus might actually have been the more economical option. This has cleared up a few issues I had ongoing with white line disease and thrush.

Thanks. That’s helpful. I thought I’d get enough movement with the walking to trim if it was on Concrete, as it ramps up within about 3 more weeks to a total of 30 mins a day and add 5 mins a week from there. But obviously not if he is too sore to walk on that surface barefoot. I think I’ll leave the feet be for a week or two and then get them trimmed once he’s got a little more comfy. I am going to cleantrax them tomorrow.

Have never had much success getting them to eat forage plus on very little as a carrier but pro hoof seems more successful, but I could add additional mag ox, I have some somewhere.

 

[Marigold4]

I have just had the shoes taken off my young gelding, as he is going to be on a box rest rehab for 2-3 months. He had quite a long stint out of shoes last year and came out of them absolutely fine.

He is, however, surprisingly footy. I have not had them trimmed as my intention was he would do his 10 mins walking a day on concrete and could naturally self trim. He is too footy for that though, so he will have to do it in grassy field where he's comfy. Should I get them trimmed? He is naturally prone to long toes if allowed so I am worried no concrete walking will mean he won't shorten them naturally. I could short cut and try something like keratex?

I'm also worried his feet on box rest (Will be building up the walking 5/10 mins a week) will mean they aren't stimulated enough.

He's on a handful of pink mash, pro hoof, brewers yest and dry hay during day but soaked in eve.

Get some Equine Fusion boots and put memory foam pads in them? I have a spare pair you can try if you like that were used on a 15 hh connie so probably would fit. I could post.

 

[Michen]

Get some Equine Fusion boots and put memory foam pads in them? I have a spare pair you can try if you like that were used on a 15 hh connie so probably would fit. I could post.

Ah that's super kind thanks! I do have various boots around so should be ok as they will all be a little big for him. xx

 

[sport horse]

You may be quite glad if he is a bit footy doing in hand walking after 2 -3 months box rest!! You are braver than me if you consider doing it on grass! Personally I walk box rested horses at dusk, on concrete, within the confines of the yard buildings and even then I pray!!

Good luck.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not put hoof boots on a horse who is on box rest for an injury without advice from your vet .
Boots can adjust breakover this may be very undesirable depending on why the horse is lame .
I would not be attempting to get the horse to self trim in this situation I would get the farrier to minimally trim him several times close together .
This is expensive but it’s best , the farrier if he’s amenable may show how to take of minimal amounts between visits , it was in this situation that I learnt to trim myself .
When horse are on box rest we paint the soles of their feet with iodine twice a week this does help harden them and also keeps any thrush at day .
I think you do need to be thinking about why he is so sore has he a little thrush that’s hard to see it does not take much to make them sore .

 

[Red-1]

I would be worried if he is that sore, my go-to when I am worried about feet is to ask Fiona to visit, she is magical (qualified trimmer, but oh, so much more!).
https://www.fluidmovements.co.uk

I used to trim my own, but when I got Rigsby with recovering laminitis, I called Fiona. She has been instrumental in his progress, helping me trim better myself, I trim twice a week as a rule, she checks up an me and progresses him once every 8 weeks.

Are you sure he isn't a bit footy because of previous grass exposure (mild lami)? I would up salt and magnesium, make sure his bed is clean and deep, and also call Trinity Consultants for advice as, when mine was forty once, their L94 helped, I am sure.
https://trinity-consultants.com

Other than that, I would be scrubbing clean twice a day, Fiona would trim to minimise thrush, plus paint with a potion twice a day, I like the Ungala Naturalis products, to keep the foot protected.

http://equiworldlimited.co.uk/tackshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=139

Other than that, a barefoot friendly diet.

I think that self trim can work, but the foot has to be set up for it first. Weak feet need trimming help IME.

 

[Michen]

Yep so I definitely suspect thrush I can’t see. I’m going to cleantrax him today and I’ve already been using copper sulphate solution. Just waiting for some sole paint to be delivered.

He’s on a deep but fresh straw bed with wood pellet base but does love to poo exactly where he stands despite being in a huge open box (pic!).

He does seem to be improving on the footiness quickly.

I’ll look into Fiona- thanks. Happy to have however regular trims/however expensive. I just am mindful that my vet was really keen to have him self trimming if possible.

 

[Michen]

You may be quite glad if he is a bit footy doing in hand walking after 2 -3 months box rest!! You are braver than me if you consider doing it on grass! Personally I walk box rested horses at dusk, on concrete, within the confines of the yard buildings and even then I pray!!

Good luck.

He’s only a week in, and so far is behaving perfectly, so I’m hoping that by the time he is jolly he Can be walked on concrete. I had to do this last year at crack of dawn/late at night before any yard activity started with my other horse.

Am hoping this chap will be more sensible

 

[Michen]

I would not put hoof boots on a horse who is on box rest for an injury without advice from your vet .
Boots can adjust breakover this may be very undesirable depending on why the horse is lame .
I would not be attempting to get the horse to self trim in this situation I would get the farrier to minimally trim him several times close together .
This is expensive but it’s best , the farrier if he’s amenable may show how to take of minimal amounts between visits , it was in this situation that I learnt to trim myself .
When horse are on box rest we paint the soles of their feet with iodine twice a week this does help harden them and also keeps any thrush at day .
I think you do need to be thinking about why he is so sore has a little thrush that’s hard to see it does not take much to make them sore .

Yes agreed. Definitely treating for thrush.

I know my vet isn’t too keen on boots for that reason. His injury is a suspensory branch “bruise”, vet and his consultant surgeon thinks it looks like a whack/bang. It’s so minor but it has been super hard to diagnose and obviously anything in that area you want to be really careful with, hence taking it seriously with box rest and walking as he’s young and I want to ensure he comes totally right.

 

[Red-1]

Yep so I definitely suspect thrush I can’t see. I’m going to cleantrax him today and I’ve already been using copper sulphate solution. Just waiting for some sole paint to be delivered.

He’s on a deep but fresh straw bed with wood pellet base but does love to poo exactly where he stands despite being in a huge open box (pic!).

He does seem to be improving on the footiness quickly.

I’ll look into Fiona- thanks. Happy to have however regular trims/however expensive. I just am mindful that my vet was really keen to have him self trimming if possible.

View attachment 73510

The longer Rigsby has her, the less trimming she has to do. She really explains what she is doing, the angles she is using etc to wake the foot up to best function. It can't be done in one go, but Rigsby's feet have come on in leaps and bounds. His toe is back, his frog is developing...

Some people criticise trimming the frog, hence me not putting foot photos on when he is freshly trimmed, but she tells me why and when she has trimmed with the correct angles to allow him to naturally use and open the frog, it is like a flower opening.

She works pretty much nationwide, but you ask for an appointment, then she says when she can fit you in. I also have a cranio treatment at the same time, it is transformational in the way that they stand even. She found many, many awkward patterns in Rigsby from his ex-lami stance. Not cheap for both, but when you can actually see the gain, I am am spurred on to have the next treatment.

 

[Zuzan]

................. Have never had much success getting them to eat forage plus on very little as a carrier but pro hoof seems more successful, but I could add additional mag ox, I have some somewhere.

Progressive Earth do a really useful Zn Cu & Se bare bones supplement Pro 3 Trace ... means you can add in as much MagOx etc as necessary .. Pro 3 Trace seems to be very palatible and you only need a teaspoon of it so really good when only giving small hard feeds. It doesn't have any fillers etc.

 

[mavandkaz]

If you do end up getting Fiona out, let me know. I would be interested to see what she thinks of sham (and possibly belle)

 

[Goldenstar]

Have you considered therapeutic ultrasound or lasering the area , I don’t know which is best in the situation BTW.

 

[Michen]

Have you considered therapeutic ultrasound or lasering the area , I don’t know which is best in the situation BTW.

There’s a few options but I’m out of insurance, so I’m going to see how he is at a 6 week scan then decide whether it needs a couple of K chucking at it. Pretty much all the “therapies” seem wildly hit and miss with little scientific evidence to actually back them up. I would have done PRP but vet says not suitable for this. Stem cell is the only thing he thought “could” be worth doing if we don’t see healing as we expect in 6 weeks.

He did have the fetlock area medicated and it clearly travelled as he had an improvement in the lameness.

 

[Ceriann]

Mine had a hind branch injury and I rehabbed her feet at same time as rehab. It was spring which helped but I still needed to boot (and pad) for walks, fed pro hoof and treated soles with an antiseptic wash every day. She was very footy over rough ground but improved a lot and feet improved significantly too, with heels brought back. Her overall rehab felt v long - this is the first year of proper work and injury was diagnosed two years ago.
Vet told me no backing to the use of suspensory treatments on a branch injury so not to waste my money (not insured)!

 

[Michen]

Just thought I’d update this for those who spent the time replying! He’s sooo much better on concrete. I’d do the walking on it but to do a loop there’s an area which is uneven and has lots of small sharp stones with a totally firm concrete base and he’s footy over those (arguably the worst sort of surface for any barefoot horse!). I can’t let his toes get any longer so he’s being trimmed tomorrow. I’m going to try and switch some of the walking to out on the road, once the minutes have increased a bit (currently 2 x fifteen mins a day).

But I’m really pleased the footiness has got so much better so quickly, was pretty worried at the soreness levels post removal tbh.

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s a few options but I’m out of insurance, so I’m going to see how he is at a 6 week scan then decide whether it needs a couple of K chucking at it. Pretty much all the “therapies” seem wildly hit and miss with little scientific evidence to actually back them up. I would have done PRP but vet says not suitable for this. Stem cell is the only thing he thought “could” be worth doing if we don’t see healing as we expect in 6 weeks.

He did have the fetlock area medicated and it clearly travelled as he had an improvement in the lameness.

There’s loads of good evidence in human and horses that lasers and therapeutic ultra sound are highly effective when used appropriately.
An Acpat physio would advise you .