LONG! Barefoot supplements and advice on DDFT injury

[UptodateK]

Hi all,

just in need of a bit of advice - have done some research on here and elsewhere, but have a couple of specific questions for our barefoot experts and advocates. Sorry it's an essay - thank you if you carry on reading!

Bit of background:
12 YO KWPN gelding with showjumping history, became lame in Feb this year on RF. Possible overreach.(over an older OR injury which had healed). Vet advised bute and rest. still lame in march, practically on box rest at this point. Sent up to vet clinic for nerve blocks/lameness workup. V lame on RF and partly lame on LF. Couldn't get LF sound through blocking. RF lameness addressed - old injury hadn't healed properly so part of hoof cut away so could grow down and heal properly. Box rest advised for 4 weeks. LF to be monitored. Developed thrush during box rest. (now all gone but feet look rubbish).

Vet visited after 4 weeks - sound on RF but still sore on LF. Advised bute and turn out with minimal ridden work for 8 weeks. Shod in heartbars in both front feet.

Vet visited again 2 weeks ago - sound as a pound RF and hoof growing back nicely. Still lame in LF. Advised to have MRI....

Yesterday he had surgery on his LF DDFT after MRi discovered small lesion. Vet says his prognosis is good, but not sure if this means I'll be able to get back to jumping, or dressage.

So. After reading through these forums I've decided there are too many positive stories about going barefoot after these types of injuries to not give it a go.

However - I know vet will recommend more box rest (which he HATES and goes loopy on) and in-hand walking, along with egg bars or wedges or something.

Question is - should i give him a week or so on box rest and then start to turn him out barefoot? I'm concerned he might have more problems with thrush if kept in, and I know that excercise can only benefit the blood flow to his feet - which he won't get on box rest.

I'm tempted to just take his shoes off and turn him away for 6 months anyway to see how he goes.

My other question is, what should i do regarding feeding? A lot has been said about Pro balance / pro hoof and forage plus, and also copper, zinc and yeast. He's currently fed: grass (when turned out in day), haylage overnight, dengie alfa-a molasses free, dengie alfa-a balancer which includes: linseed, glucosamine, copper, selenium and biotin. He also has farriers formula.

It's quite difficult to get access to roads where my livery yard is (great when you want to hack out!) - we have a small-gravelled car park i could walk him on, an indoor and outdoor arena, and there is a small (and quiet)tarmac carpark next door - you have to walk through this to get to the hacking. But then there is a VERY stony path to get out onto the fields which would probably be too much for him.

I would really, really appreciate any advice. i know a lot of it has been said before, but i wanted to give you my case.

He's coming home on sunday so will post pics of his feet then.

God - well done if you got through that lot! xx

 

[cptrayes]

I can't comment on turnout after surgery, because I have no experience of it. But if you do decide to turn him away do not be despondent if he does not come sound. The last rehab I did was still unsound after a year turned away but sound after less than three months of a graduated program of work. Some of these rehabs need the work to build the right feet. Personally I would keep him in walk work, in hand if necessary, if that is possible after surgery.

Were you given a reason why surgery was necessary? It won't help you now of course, I'm just curious.

 

[UptodateK]

I was told that he'd need surgery to repair the lesion - no other options were presented to me.

Thanks for the advice - I would like to do in-hand work with him, just don't want to have to keep him inside.

 

[Brightbay]

Rather than turn away for 6 months, maybe consider 6 months gentle exercise without shoes?

You can buy boots to protect if you need to hack out over rough ground. I try to mix and match, so hooves get as much stimulation as possible but use boots if we are on more challenging surfaces At the same time, the horse gets to stimulate own feet by walking around grazing the rest of the time, and the hooves get a chance to find their own preferred shape.

You may or may not need to look at diet. Some horses seem to do fine. I had to change supplements because my grazing was deficient in some things. Since doing this, the same level of exercise is having a much more beneficial effect on the feet At the moment, my horse just gets 24/7 grazing, but restricted (they are in a smaller, eaten down area for summer). He also gets, once a day, a small scoop of timothy chop with no added molasses, a handful of high fibre cubes soaked, and a full measure of Forageplus Summer Hoof Balancer. If your horse needs a bit more, they do a Performance Balancer (I used this to get us started). Nothing else, and yet it's made a huge difference to his feet.

Observations are that Farrier's Formula seems to suit some grazing but not all (it contains iron, which is in excess in a lot of UK grazing).

Boots are a good investment - even if you return to shoes later, they are invaluable for when shoes are lost A decent pair can last years, at about the same cost as two shoeings. If you work out size, you can often pick up a lightly used pair on eBay to get started.

 

[UptodateK]

Rather than turn away for 6 months, maybe consider 6 months gentle exercise without shoes?

You can buy boots to protect if you need to hack out over rough ground. I try to mix and match, so hooves get as much stimulation as possible but use boots if we are on more challenging surfaces At the same time, the horse gets to stimulate own feet by walking around grazing the rest of the time, and the hooves get a chance to find their own preferred shape.

You may or may not need to look at diet. Some horses seem to do fine. I had to change supplements because my grazing was deficient in some things. Since doing this, the same level of exercise is having a much more beneficial effect on the feet At the moment, my horse just gets 24/7 grazing, but restricted (they are in a smaller, eaten down area for summer). He also gets, once a day, a small scoop of timothy chop with no added molasses, a handful of high fibre cubes soaked, and a full measure of Forageplus Summer Hoof Balancer. If your horse needs a bit more, they do a Performance Balancer (I used this to get us started). Nothing else, and yet it's made a huge difference to his feet.

Observations are that Farrier's Formula seems to suit some grazing but not all (it contains iron, which is in excess in a lot of UK grazing).

Boots are a good investment - even if you return to shoes later, they are invaluable for when shoes are lost A decent pair can last years, at about the same cost as two shoeings. If you work out size, you can often pick up a lightly used pair on eBay to get started.

I think you're right - Boots will be a really good idea - otherwise I'll never make it out of the yard! I'll check out the performance balancer, have almost finished the FF so am ready to try something new.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[TwoStroke]

I found the forage plus hoof health balancer exceptionally good.

Regarding turn out, I think this is something you need to discuss with the vet, really. Explain the issue with stress - turn out in a small stable sized paddock which you gradually make bigger may be an option.