Hoof issues

[stangs]

Horse (been barefoot for years) saw farrier last week. Farrier’s opinion was that the few cracks he had on his feet were nothing to worry about. This is the one of the hinds today (apologises - not a great photo) - the other feet are fine, but also have some small cracks. Horse lives out so, excluding some hard-standing by the field shelters, I’m worried that the only thing that could have made the crack so bad is the hacking (we do around 30min of compulsory roadwork per hack, maybe 40s of trot in that; the rest is all off-road). Still waiting on hoof boots to arrive though horse is currently sound.

What would people advise, both to clean out between the bits between the hoof wall and to supplement/apply to the hoof wall? Horse currently receives no hard feed.

Also - as you’ll see, one of the fores has had bruising since being trimmed. I had a look today and I’m sure the bruise has gotten slightly longer - could that be the fault of the hacking? Panicking as horse will let you pick out the foot, but doesn’t like it being held for long.

Spoiler: hind crack

Spoiler: fore with bruise

 

[JackFrost]

I've had a couple of conversations with farriers lately, saying that this has been the worst year they have ever known for cracking, they have dealt with so many, and I know that one of mine with fab feet had a few small cracks for the first time. The very dry summer is said to be the reason (so not your hacking routine ).

 

[ycbm]

The crack looks like a fungal infection and probably isn't anything like a serious as it looks. It should resolve with some decent disinfection.

The bruise is actually common in all feet from time to time,ime, it just shows in white ones but not in black ones.

The feet look as if they could have a weak line dating from about 6 months ago. The bruise and the split are exactly the same height and place. Did anything happen then? Are you supplementing any minerals?
.

 

[Gloi]

In my opinion you are allowing the wall to grow too long and the cracks are being formed from stresses on the bottom of the wall. Trimming them more often and putting a roll on the walls would probably help. I have found Hoof Armour really good for stopping the white line getting damaged by gravel or fungal infection and weakening the bottom of the wall.
A good trim and most of that damage should be gone .
Ps. Stop panicking.

 

[stangs]

Thanks all x

I've had a couple of conversations with farriers lately, saying that this has been the worst year they have ever known for cracking, they have dealt with so many, and I know that one of mine with fab feet had a few small cracks for the first time. The very dry summer is said to be the reason (so not your hacking routine )

See, I figured the dry summer would have caused the initial cracks but the fact that the cracks have gotten worse despite being on wet pasture with lots of dew is what worries me.

The crack looks like a fungal infection and probably isn't anything like a serious as it looks. It should resolve with some decent disinfection.

The bruise is actually common in all feet from time to time,ime, it just shows in white ones but not in black ones.

The feet look as if they could have a weak line dating from about 6 months ago. The bruise and the split are exactly the same height and place. Did anything happen then? Are you supplementing any minerals?
.

I didn’t own him 6 months ago, but I believe he was sent to a new home at that time, hence the nutritional changes and the growth lines.

Not supplementing anything. I was hoping to get a nutritionist in to consult and advise an feed plan but yet to receive a reply from them.

Disinfection wise, what would you recommend?

In my opinion you are allowing the wall to grow too long and the cracks are being formed from stresses on the bottom of the wall. Trimming them more often and putting a roll on the walls would probably help. I have found Hoof Armour really good for stopping the white line getting damaged by gravel or fungal infection and weakening the bottom of the wall.
A good trim and most of that damage should be gone .

This was his first farrier appointment with me, and about 5 weeks after his last appointment. Will try get a trimmer sooner, and try hoof armour.

 

[stangs]

Ps. Stop panicking.

If only I could! I dream most nights that I’ve turned up at the yard and he’s dead. Now I’m paranoid about everything.

 

[Gloi]

This was his first farrier appointment with me, and about 5 weeks after his last appointment. Will try get a trimmer sooner, and try hoof armour.

I have been using Hoof Armor on mine all this year very successfully. It has allowed me to hack on roads without boots and without too much hoof wear I was getting previously and it has been great for keeping stones from white line. That said the supplies are a bit intermittent, unfortunately.

 

[ycbm]

I didn’t own him 6 months ago, but I believe he was sent to a new home at that time, hence the nutritional changes and the growth lines.

The stress of that caused this, is my guess.

Disinfection wise, what would you recommend?

Air to start with, all the stuff that isn't attached properly needs to come off, because the bugs that cause this are shy and won't reproduce in the presence of oxygen. Then I'd deliver more oxygen daily in the form of hydrogen peroxide, and if that doesn't show quick results, I'd contact Red Horse and ask which of their products they think will be best.
.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My Connie has had terrible cracks this year and while it worries me my lovely Farrier is very relaxed about them. His advice has been to clean out with a wire brush, then cleanse and pack with Red Horse paste. I emailed them and asked what to use and they recommended Sole Cleanse and Artimud and they are looking much healthier. His other advice was that on a restricted diet, low sugar, low starch he was lacking protein so I got 5kg of pea protein from Rowen Barbary which again has worked very quickly.

 

[stangs]

My Connie has had terrible cracks this year and while it worries me my lovely Farrier is very relaxed about them. His advice has been to clean out with a wire brush, then cleanse and pack with Red Horse paste. I emailed them and asked what to use and they recommended Sole Cleanse and Artimud and they are looking much healthier. His other advice was that on a restricted diet, low sugar, low starch he was lacking protein so I got 5kg of pea protein from Rowen Barbary which again has worked very quickly.

Thank you - how often do you apply to sole cleanse and artimud?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Every 4/5 days because the Artimud has stayed in the crevices even in mud and while it’s in there it is working and there’s no point removing it to put more in. He hasn’t had hinds on since the summer after he pulled a huge chunk off one foot but I kept the front Duplos on until last week to try and help the cracks but to be honest his rear feet have recovered quicker. If you want to send the photos to Red Horse they are really helpful and once ordered the stuff arrives very quickly.

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

Take a look at Cavello's Barefoot Trim video online. It gives a masterclass barefoot trim, explained step by step how and why each step is taken, and shows how to put a roll on the edge of the hoof wall. I tend to agree that the hoof wall/toe is on the long side - a barefoot hoof will break and wear until all surplus is worn back to the white line. Is your farrier doing a barefoot trim or a pasture trim?

 

[stangs]

Take a look at Cavello's Barefoot Trim video online. It gives a masterclass barefoot trim, explained step by step how and why each step is taken, and shows how to put a roll on the edge of the hoof wall. I tend to agree that the hoof wall/toe is on the long side - a barefoot hoof will break and wear until all surplus is worn back to the white line. Is your farrier doing a barefoot trim or a pasture trim?

Will check it out, thank you. My farrier's (specifically, the only farrier that had an availability at short notice, as was doing other livery's feet) expertise is very much shoeing, so I doubt it was a barefoot trim.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Will check it out, thank you. My farrier's (specifically, the only farrier that had an availability at short notice, as was doing other livery's feet) expertise is very much shoeing, so I doubt it was a barefoot trim.

The hooves will always be worse after a very dry period then when they start to get moisture again that's when they crack and break, it's because the wall and foot expands with the wet so the bottom of the wall chips off so does the sole and frog quite often.

I bought a riders rasp for in between trims then my farrier kindly gave me one of his old rasps it's not easiest job in the world but it's doable, the riders rasp is really easy as you only use one hand rather than to two with a big regular one.

 

[Landcruiser]

Red Horse Sole Cleanse spray is really good for soaking into cracks. Great for frogs too, as is their new hoof paint. I agree that putting a roll on these feet would really help. I trim 2 of mine myself and tend to trim about every 2-3 weeks to keep them in shape. There's usually not much wall to take off, but I just roll the edges and check the balance and tidy any raggy bits off the frogs. Can't remember the last time either of them had cracks. In fact, youngster never has

 

[stangs]

Luckily, it's mostly all broken off on its own. I had ordered the various Red Horse products in the morning, went to the yard afterwards and hoof looked so normal that my first thought was that I'd been hallucinating. At least his frogs could probably do with the sole cleanse spray so it's not all wasted money.

I think I'll get a trimmer out, as, upon closer inspection, a couple of the hooves are overly asymmetric, and I don't like his foot fall either. Then will see whether they think me doing a roll would be a good idea. If they do, the Riders Rasp looks very handy.

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

Good supplements for hoof health are Forageplus or Progressive Earth. You can also have your grass and hay analysed, and feed bespoke minerals (Forageplus).