just when i thought we'd cracked it...*barefoot rehab*

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here_i_am

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Molly has been barefoot now since the end of august 2011. Aesthetically, her feet have improved massively, as has her lameness (blocked to RF - soft tissue damage & navicular changes). Vet at Leahurst said to retire her & manage her on bute. Prior to going barefoot, she was shod in heartbars for 3 years. Anyway, we went barefoot (balanced minerals, high fibre, low sugar/starch, etc) & she has been sound now for over 6 months. I ride her most days. Mostly roadwork so she can self-trim. She hasn't been trimmed for around 7 months.
Anyway, because she's been doing so well, i took her to the beach yesterday. We did just under 3 miles (we hack at home further than this), but today she is hopping lame on her bad foot :(
Im so disheartened. Really thought we'd cracked it with her. Is it possible that with some horses, once the damage is done, no amount of barefoot rehab can 'properly' fix them so they're able to get back to full work? This is what used to happen with her - the slightest bit of hard ground in the field or "too much" work, she'd be lame.
Where would you go from here? Just accept the fact that Im never going to be able to do more than plod around on hacks? :( Or is there something else i could try? Any advice greatly appreciated.
 
When you say hopping lame, how lame are we talking?
It could be that she has an abscess brewing. Is there any heat in the hoof, or swelling in the leg? I would check the sole for any signs of bruising as well.
 
OP - well done on getting so far. This may be a temporary set back or something completely different or a reinjury. You need a vet to help you decide which for sure.

But re your question. Some horses come to barefoot far too late in the day. I am constantly amazed by how well some horses do, esp those that arrive with a PTS over their head. But there are some horses which whilst they can be improved, have severe scarring, arthritis or other issues which mean they may never be 100%.
 
I guess i just thought/hoped we weren't too late to fix her... :( Don't get me wrong, i wont pts - she's not that bad - she has these flare-ups, then will come sound again...for a while. When she's bad, bute does the job with taking the pain away & she's perfectly happy in the field. So for as long as she's like that, she can be an ornament. I found though, that the more work she does (distance/hours, not speed), the better she is. So Im thinking she would probably deteriorate quicker if she was retired??
When i say she's "hopping lame", probably a slight exaggeration on my part! She's noticeably nodding in walk, but still weight-baring & happy to gallop away from me & refuse to be caught!
There's no heat or anything anywhere. I AM just assuming that it's her original issue that is the cause of this lameness but maybe (wishful thinking?) Im wrong :) It is the same 'type' of lameness she always showed before though...
She still has work to do (thrush issues), so i know her feet are by no means perfect, but id built my hopes up because she's been so well for so long. I just feel really down about it all tonight. Think I'll buy slugs as my next pets!
 
Sorry for you, as I am in the same predicament, I have tried to stay optimistic but in reality I don,t think my boy will ever be right!
He has good and bad days, after having a lameness assessment last week my vet has told me he has problems in his hocks and a knee!
He still enjoys his little rides out, but I was hopeful that we would be able to do more!
I thought his navicular was bad enough without more problems, so I am feeling pretty down as well!!!!!
 
OP - if your horse has thrush this could be behind the lameness. Esp if the central sulcus is any deeper than a thumb print. If it is edging towards a slit, or is indeed a deep slit, this is often a cause of lameness. Grit or other debris getting into the slit and causing abrasion (bit like sand in swimming trunks) or the heels starting to shear.

I was wondering about the beach and central sulcus issues but didn't want to pre-empt.
 
Also re lameness and barefoot, being pedantic I think but forgive me. Given the right diet and exercise and in the absence of metabolic disease/syndromes it is a rare thing for a hoof not to improve when barefoot. And the barefoot hoof can do some pretty 'funky' things to accomodate upper body issues, whether conformation or injury. Also when properly developed a hoof does a good job of soaking up concussive forces so potentially making an arthritic horse more comfortable. But if your horse has problems with chronic arthritis it won't take the arthritis away although it may ameliorate some of the symptoms.
 
I know many horses with underlying issues that come back lame from a bit of fun on the beach - sand is great when firm but even the slightly softer sand can flare up any underlying problems such as impar strains and so on.

Try not to worry about it at the moment and see where she is in a few days time - check for any heat/swelling and if you are really concerned get your vet out.

But it can take a long time for these navicular/soft tissue things - and you may still get days when it all does pear shaped. We do with one of ours, but the overall direction is upwards.
 
Could she just have tweaked it? Mine came in last month barely able to put any weight on his NF, was stood in the field holding it up, I thought the worst but 5 hours later he was fine and back to normal.

He'd had soft tissue damage 2 months earlier and I suspect he'd just done something in the field to make it hurt again, akin to a twisted ankle

Maybe just give her a day or two to rest and she how she is?
 
Thank u all :) Im hoping it is just a tweak & she'll be fine again soon...
With regards to the thrush, her central sulci aren't deep - it's more in her collateral grooves tbh. I've been scrubbing them & whacking Milton in daily. I bought her some Old Mac G2's because she'd starting landing toe-first again. But then Im compromising the self-trimming... so she's only worn them if we're going somewhere with really rough terrain.
I was supposed to be doing the Peover fun ride with her on Sunday, but thought that for her first day out since her rehab, the sandy beach would be 'nicer' for her concussion-wise.
I'll get some pics after work to see if anybody thinks there's something Im missing. Her back feet have a bit of funky flare going on atm too. Thank you again :)
 
Hope its just a blip, sounds like you have done so well! I find just when I think its all going well, he goes backwards again, but then like today I went for a small ride on the road without boots and he was walking out fine! I despair!!!!:rolleyes:
 
So true PinesofRome :rolleyes: I hope yours is on the up :)

Here are some feet pics from tonight.

Left Fore album (first 3 pics are from today) http://s172.photobucket.com/user/mollymurphy_2007/library/Molly/Molly Goes Barefoot/Left Fore



Left hind (first 2 pics in album are from today) http://s172.photobucket.com/user/mollymurphy_2007/library/Molly/Molly Goes Barefoot/Left Hind



Right fore (first 3 pics in album are from today) http://s172.photobucket.com/user/mollymurphy_2007/library/Molly/Molly Goes Barefoot/Right Fore



Right hind (first 2 pics in album are from today) http://s172.photobucket.com/user/mollymurphy_2007/library/Molly/Molly Goes Barefoot/Right Hind



I know they're way off perfect, but up until yesterday, she was sound on them, so i was happy. I know her white line is stretched, but HOW stretched would you say it was? Bad? I am treating for thrush, but it's a constant battle with her.
She has always worn her hinds unevenly, even when in shoes. They seem to be flaring more lately, but i was of the opinion that they can do what they want and i wont interefer if she's sound :confused:
We had a LOT of snow here for a couple of weeks, so her work was non-existant during that time. Only picked back up again about 10 days ago. Any observations regarding her feet would be greatly appreciated :)
 
youve definitely got central sulcus thrush. treat that.

also going from hard to a soft sandy beach wouldnt have helped . hopefully shes just sprained something though.
 
The white stuff on the pics is remnants of sudocrem - they're definitely not as thrushy in real life as they look here.
Im still blasting it though. Bane of my life!
On the upside, she seems sound today :) Will give her til thurs, then maybe take her for a walk. Fingers crossed.... :)
 
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