Hot/warm hooves?

E

elsiex

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 November 2010
Messages
216
Visit site
My wb x tb mare has gone from having just winter turnout (little to no grazing) to being turned out in our lush summer fields 2 weeks ago. I have increased the time from just an hour at first, to her going out 9-5 yesterday and today 8-6.

This morning when picking out her feet, I noticed that her hooves (all 4) were warm to the touch, with the nearside fore being the warmest. I felt the horse next door which were normal temp.

She had been stabled from approx 5.30pm last night til when I got there this morning, could that have something to do with it? She also wears rubber overreach boots on the front almost constantly.

She doesn't seem lame or in any pain and quite happily cantered down the field this morning.

Any ideas???
 
Hooves can change temperature for all sorts of reasons, and on its own may not necessarily be anything to worry about. If you are concerned about laminitis check for raised digital pulses. It's a good idea to know what they feel like (or don't feel like) normally anyway. Also, check how she is wlaking on hard or stony ground is she footsore at all or is she walking more heel down first, all of these could be early warning signs of laminitis. If she has no other signs, just warm feet then you are probably ok.
 
If you've got a bounding horse and not a bounding digital pulse you should be ok. But I know what you mean I'm always checking hooves when I switch from winter to summer grazing:)
 
I have only had her a month, she came from a pro event yard and was very very lean, I have struggled to put weight on her so far, so I was looking forward to her going out in the summer fields. She has a very TB like build, one that I wouldn't have thought was prone to laminitis. She doesn't seem footsore or lame in any way, I trotted her up on a hard surface this morning?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top