Kellys Heroes
Well-Known Member
Sorry for the long post for a start!! 
I can't remember the exact time frames either so this is a rough guess!
My share mare has been having problems on and off for the last 2/3 years.
She started with laminitis in summer of 2010 and had her feet padded, taped up, box rest, bute etc.
Slowly, she recovered well from this but almost the minute we started riding, came down with it again badly and became quite depressed. Vet advised PTS, but we decided to give her a chance - within 2 weeks, she had started to improve - she got her fire and spirit back, she started to become more mobile etc and eventually we got back to riding her. Vet recommended remedial farrier who put heart bars on her and she is still in these.
In winter, it happened again. At this point, I must mention she is (and always has been) treated as a strict laminitic - muzzled when turned out (only turned out for 2-4 hours every other day), soaked hay and, when fed, Happy Hoof or something similar. She's not overweight and ridden daily when fit etc. This particular time, she couldn't even walk. Vet again advised PTS and again, we gave her a chance.
After 2 weeks, the farrier said he wouldn't be at all surprised if she had Cushings (right age, 17) so we pushed for blood tests. Vet took a LOT of persuading and eventually he did bloods and then, we pushed for Cushings meds (blood tests took 6 weeks to return!!!! And we wanted to try the meds to see if it worked) - eventually, he gave us the meds. Within 2 weeks, she was bucking round her stable, whinnying, her spirit was back and we were so pleased. It took a lot of time to be able to ride her again - walking her out, in hand grazing, small paddock turn out etc you get the idea.
To cut a long story short, she was doing brilliantly hacking round. This year, we'd even just started trotting on the straight in the sand school and on the bridle path (she didn't want to stick to trotting on the bridlepath though!) Every time she's been shod however she's been quite sore. She had her shoes done 2 weeks ago (I think this was the trigger) and she became very footsore and has been ever since really, on and off. We were walking her to the estate (over the stones) and getting on on the road where it was flat.
Last week, she came down with laminitis - she's not even been turned out. Farrier said its not laminitis, but the stance is so unique (not to mention familiar
) so we wonder if it was trauma to the feet? She's very sore on and off i.e., yesterday she was a nightmare jumping about in her stable, today she could barely walk. She doesn't mind us picking her feet out at all, no heat, no swelling and no digital pulse today (although there has been a pulse on and off) She does get a bit stiff (she's getting on! though she doesn't think it 
) so I wondered about adding oil to a bit of feed daily for her with her not being exercised. We have been opening her door and letting her wander but she wanders far too fast and she walks us (yeah, she walks us!) to where she wants to go!! (her feet don't seem to bother her as much when there's haylage or grass on offer!)
What are your opinions - we debated whether there was a deep abscess, whether it IS lami, whether she's still just footsore from being shod last week, whether she's playing up?? (Farrier did say a few months ago she was taking the mickey out of us haha and at the time, I think she was - y'know, the dying duck act when she had to go back to her stable! But I don't think she is now)
We are at a loss as what to do or what to think. PTS is definitely NOT an option, as she's so bright and happy, she whinnies constantly to anyone and everyone, eating and drinking normally, taking her Prascend fine etc etc.
Is saltwater worth a try?
She's having a Danilon sachet when she's been sore and is currently on box rest.
Apologies for the long post and I hope this makes some sense!!!!!!
K x
I can't remember the exact time frames either so this is a rough guess!My share mare has been having problems on and off for the last 2/3 years.
She started with laminitis in summer of 2010 and had her feet padded, taped up, box rest, bute etc.
Slowly, she recovered well from this but almost the minute we started riding, came down with it again badly and became quite depressed. Vet advised PTS, but we decided to give her a chance - within 2 weeks, she had started to improve - she got her fire and spirit back, she started to become more mobile etc and eventually we got back to riding her. Vet recommended remedial farrier who put heart bars on her and she is still in these.
In winter, it happened again. At this point, I must mention she is (and always has been) treated as a strict laminitic - muzzled when turned out (only turned out for 2-4 hours every other day), soaked hay and, when fed, Happy Hoof or something similar. She's not overweight and ridden daily when fit etc. This particular time, she couldn't even walk. Vet again advised PTS and again, we gave her a chance.
After 2 weeks, the farrier said he wouldn't be at all surprised if she had Cushings (right age, 17) so we pushed for blood tests. Vet took a LOT of persuading and eventually he did bloods and then, we pushed for Cushings meds (blood tests took 6 weeks to return!!!! And we wanted to try the meds to see if it worked) - eventually, he gave us the meds. Within 2 weeks, she was bucking round her stable, whinnying, her spirit was back and we were so pleased. It took a lot of time to be able to ride her again - walking her out, in hand grazing, small paddock turn out etc you get the idea.
To cut a long story short, she was doing brilliantly hacking round. This year, we'd even just started trotting on the straight in the sand school and on the bridle path (she didn't want to stick to trotting on the bridlepath though!) Every time she's been shod however she's been quite sore. She had her shoes done 2 weeks ago (I think this was the trigger) and she became very footsore and has been ever since really, on and off. We were walking her to the estate (over the stones) and getting on on the road where it was flat.
Last week, she came down with laminitis - she's not even been turned out. Farrier said its not laminitis, but the stance is so unique (not to mention familiar
) so we wonder if it was trauma to the feet? She's very sore on and off i.e., yesterday she was a nightmare jumping about in her stable, today she could barely walk. She doesn't mind us picking her feet out at all, no heat, no swelling and no digital pulse today (although there has been a pulse on and off) She does get a bit stiff (she's getting on! though she doesn't think it ) so I wondered about adding oil to a bit of feed daily for her with her not being exercised. We have been opening her door and letting her wander but she wanders far too fast and she walks us (yeah, she walks us!) to where she wants to go!! (her feet don't seem to bother her as much when there's haylage or grass on offer!)What are your opinions - we debated whether there was a deep abscess, whether it IS lami, whether she's still just footsore from being shod last week, whether she's playing up?? (Farrier did say a few months ago she was taking the mickey out of us haha and at the time, I think she was - y'know, the dying duck act when she had to go back to her stable! But I don't think she is now)
We are at a loss as what to do or what to think. PTS is definitely NOT an option, as she's so bright and happy, she whinnies constantly to anyone and everyone, eating and drinking normally, taking her Prascend fine etc etc.
Is saltwater worth a try?
She's having a Danilon sachet when she's been sore and is currently on box rest.Apologies for the long post and I hope this makes some sense!!!!!!
K x
