hoof flare & lameness

[SEL]

My problematic (PSSM, ulcers, hocks arthritis) mare went 3 weeks over her trim date this month. A combination of events - we moved yards, then trimmer got kicked - but it meant that she grew a lot more hoof than I normally allow.

I wish I'd taken photos. On her fores she grew significant flares on the outside of the hoof. The same position each leg. Hind feet on the other hand the flare was on the inside and a lot less prominent than the forelegs.

There's been an article shared on my FB page about how hoof imbalance causes lameness. In my head I'm trying to work out whether it does actually cause lameness or whether the lameness is already there and leads to the hoof imbalance. S is definitely not sound. Insisted on her suspensories being scanned last week just to rule them out and finally got agreement with the vet to inject hocks. I suppose I'm now wondering whether that flare she grew is indicative of something else going on.

Sorry - that's a bit of a long post. Musing really. She's turning into a walking vet bill and they aren't being particularly helpful. Beginning to wonder if something like thermal imaging would help pinpoint if its a particular muscular issue playing up.

 

[ester]

It's flare v. adaptive support/deviation really.

I have generally considered F's to be the latter given that his white line is tight. The farrier doesn't always agree

 

[ycbm]

I am firmly in the camp that if the white line is tight then the hoof shape is reflective of imbalance somewhere else. Fix the 'somewhere else' and the hoof comes back into symmetry.

If I had a horse I felt sure was not right somewhere, who grew asymmetric feet when overdue for a trim, I'd stop trimming, get hacking on the road, and see what I had at the end of three months.

 

[SEL]

White line good. In fact her feet have always been good - it's the rest of her that's a mess! Never been shod.

Ok. So hock injections scheduled for 2 weeks time & hopefully that'll make her more comfortable. What am I looking for with 3m road work ycbm? Since the yard move we've got a lovely quiet lane to ride down. I guess you're saying if she still grows odd feet then I've still got a problem!!

 

[ycbm]

You're looking for her to use the road to 'trim' her feet into a shape which exactly matches her movement. Which should make her more sound. Then you let her stay with wonky feet until she puts them straight again, if ever.

I had a barefoot horse with spavin. His feet would change incredibly quickly with however the disease was affecting him at the time. Generally, the groove down one side of his frog was massively deeper than the other when he was having most issues. When he was better, or on bute to restrict the pain, they evened up. It was fascinating. I have a picture that I will dig out for you.

 

[ycbm]

OK, the two lumps of tinfoil are moulds taken the collateral grooves of one hind foot of my horse with spavin. As he got worse, they got more different, as he got better, they evened up. It was his compensation for the arthritis in his hocks.

 

[SEL]

That's a massive difference! It'll be interesting to see if road work can keep on top of her hoof growth. Fast growing feet. I do think her flare is due to wonkiness but trying to explain that to the vet earlier in the week got me nowhere.

Just need to try and keep her in work for more than 6 weeks now....

 

[Nudibranch]

I had a big horse who had significant flare in both fronts but tight white lines and excellent hoof quality. He was a multi issue horse with very early onset arthritis (think as a 2yo) in various locations including neck, hocks and SI and we never got his feet right once his issues had started.

 

[DabDab]

Or maybe she needs the flare?

I don't think the hoof dictates the body very often, it's generally the other way round. The hoof is a horse's main mechanical compensation tool - it's just working out whether the compensation is to a defined degree, is consistent and allows the horse to then move straight and sound, or whether the compensation goes too far and puts too much force somewhere else and starts to cause problems in itself.

And since she's lame already, if I were in your shoes I would stop trimming, make sure she's getting plenty of movement and see what happens.

Ever x rayed her front legs and feet?

Fwiw the flair you describe is fairly classic (to a greater or lesser degree) for narrow chest, broader behind conformation.

 

[Leo Walker]

I knew when Leo wasnt right as he grew flare on the inside of one hind foot. The not rightness caused the flare, but then the unbalanced hoof made the not rightness worse.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I am firmly in the camp that if the white line is tight then the hoof shape is reflective of imbalance somewhere else. Fix the 'somewhere else' and the hoof comes back into symmetry.

If I had a horse I felt sure was not right somewhere, who grew asymmetric feet when overdue for a trim, I'd stop trimming, get hacking on the road, and see what I had at the end of three months.

This.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Have you got her diet right? Only asking to make sure you're maximizing her chances. Also, is she landing heel first?

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Always worth having a read of Rockley too when you need advice/reassurance on something http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2013/03/flare-deviation-and-does-it-really.html?m=1

 

[ycbm]

I knew when Leo wasnt right as he grew flare on the inside of one hind foot. The not rightness caused the flare, but then the unbalanced hoof made the not rightness worse.

But the hoof wasn't unbalanced,, was it? It was balanced to his not rightness.

Perhaps the not rightness was going to get worse before it got better anyway?

If the not rightness is something which can be quickly fixed, in days or hours, then the hoof probably needs to be put back symmetric by trimming, to aid the recovery. But otherwise, I've found over the years that if you remove it, and they need it, it simply comes back in double quick time.

 

[Gloi]

The flare will be coming from the way the horse moves, for example one of mine plaits in front and so as the hoof goes down the weight is taken on the outside of the hoof. Because of this the outside will grows more upright and he grows flare on the inside. If you take some video of your horse walking and trotting towards and away from you and watch his action carefully you will likely see the cause of the flare.

 

[Leo Walker]

But the hoof wasn't unbalanced,, was it? It was balanced to his not rightness.

Perhaps the not rightness was going to get worse before it got better anyway?

If the not rightness is something which can be quickly fixed, in days or hours, then the hoof probably needs to be put back symmetric by trimming, to aid the recovery. But otherwise, I've found over the years that if you remove it, and they need it, it simply comes back in double quick time.

It was in his case. He had a reoccuring problem with the ligament that runs from the SI down the front of the right hind leg. When he was having issues it altered the flight path of that leg. That caused the hoof to change shape, which in turn altered the flight path even more. Osteo treatment and trimming and it went away, until he did it again a few months later. Its not reoccured since but I watched it as it was usually the first sign of trouble.

Other than that I left his feet alone. The farrier ran a rasp round if they looked tatty but he pretty much self trimmed with all the road work.

 

[SEL]

Have you got her diet right? Only asking to make sure you're maximizing her chances. Also, is she landing heel first?

She's got PSSM so its focussed on managing that really. I work on the basis that if her muscles are feeling OK then I've got a fighting chance that everything else will fall into place. Watching her this morning she is definitely landing heel first on all 4 feet, but is short striding marginally on left fore and is tight behind with some toe drag. It'll be interesting to see whether that all loosens up after we get some steroids into those hocks... and given views above it'll also be interesting to see whether the flare vanishes / changes then.

Need to get my camera out and see if I can get some decent shots.

Thanks all