Horse goes footy when ground goes soft

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Jellymoon

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Took one of our horses shoes off a few months ago as now semi-retired, hacking only. He’s doing well, got some boots for hacking, absolutely great when the ground is hard and dry, but after a bit of rain when field gets a bit muddy, he looks uncomfortable. His feet get clogged up with mud and stones and obv once picked out they do look better, but I’m surprised it’s making him that sore. Once in his hoof boots and out hacking, he feels ok.
He doesn’t have laminitis and is a good weight. On a low cal diet. Out at night, in during the day. Rubbish grazing!
I am checking for thrush and he is a bit prone to this in the winter, so it could be that lurking.
Looking at Red Horse products and wondering if the field paste might help?
Anything else? Or is it just time as he’s newly barefoot ?
 
My pony was similar. It could be that his soles are softening after rain, it could be that he's had very low grade laminitis, or he just has thin soles. Of course x-rays would be the best way to find out, but in the absence of that, Field Paste helped mine greatly.
 
The ground softens due to moisture, and moisture will soften his hooves as well. You are still in early days, and there is every possibility that the internal hoof structures are still straightening themselves out and building up to full strength. Keep on doing what you are doing! Field paste is good for thrush, and when I ran out, I used zinc and castor oil baby cream mixed with honey and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Keep an eye open for signs of hoof abscess too. They seem to crop up when the weather is being unpredictable.
 
Field paste is excellent stuff and is well worth a try if you think it might be thrush related. I apply it twice a week, it smells great but is messy!

Do dig or floss out the central sulci and collateral grooves very well first to get rid of any crud. I use a loop hoof knife for this - my two PPID oldies are thrush prone, but are grand as long as I keep up the daily foot care. Thrush can make a horse very sore indeed.

Also trim back any excess flakey bits of frog which could be trapping infection underneath.

Good luck. The above won’t do any harm, and might well help.
 
Mine are rock crunching in how they feel, but I do notice that when it has been dry for a long time, and then it rains, they have to have the central sulcus trimmed to avoid a crack developing. Once trimmed, all is good again. Could there be a crack in the frog on yours?
 
He’s looking happier again today now it’s drying up out there again. It seems to be the days when it goes suddenly from dry to very wet and it seems like after 24-48 hrs, he gets used to it.
He has no signs of thrush and no deep grooves around his frogs.

I will get some field paste as I think it might just add some protection and maybe prevent the sharp little stones from digging in when the mud sticks to his soles.
 
Flowerofthefen said:
Could it not be his feet, could it be that once there is more movement in the ground he suffers with his muscles or joints hurting?
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Soft tissue issues are more likely to show, or cause discomfort, on soft ground or going.

It would be worth seeking your vet's opinion on this matter.
 
Ive noticed similar with mine. I suspect it is because he is a flat footed thin soled (no matter what) TB. The wet softens up the sole and makes him feel the ground more. I have found durasole to be very good at helping to manage.
 
NR88 said:
Soft tissue issues are more likely to show, or cause discomfort, on soft ground or going.

It would be worth seeking your vet's opinion on this matter.
Click to expand...
He had a full lameness work about 6m ago and nothing was found, but I get what you are saying, could be
lynz88 said:
Ive noticed similar with mine. I suspect it is because he is a flat footed thin soled (no matter what) TB. The wet softens up the sole and makes him feel the ground more. I have found durasole to be very good at helping to manage.
Click to expand...
He is flat footed. I’ll google durasole, thank you
 
Does your trimmer take the heel down to sole level? Ideally, a barefoot horse should have a shallow 'collar' of hoof wall left on from the heel buttress to approximately half way down the frog. This forms a triangle with the bars and helps to provide shock absorption for the heels. The online Cavallo batefoot trim video explains it better. Also worth checking to see if the frog is standing proud of the sole. Good luck, hopefully you will sort it out.
 
Highmileagecob said:
Does your trimmer take the heel down to sole level? Ideally, a barefoot horse should have a shallow 'collar' of hoof wall left on from the heel buttress to approximately half way down the frog. This forms a triangle with the bars and helps to provide shock absorption for the heels. The online Cavallo batefoot trim video explains it better. Also worth checking to see if the frog is standing proud of the sole. Good luck, hopefully you will sort it out.
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This is interesting, thank you. I think his sole and frog is sitting lower to the ground currently as he is newly barefoot and his hoof wall has broken away from where the nail holes have weakened it. Once they grow out and the hoof wall strengthens up, I think he will have a stronger weight bearing area.
 
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