Managing a pellet bed for youngster requiring firm footing

chrissie1

chrissie1

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Long story cut short:)

Have a foal with toe extension who needs a firm base so that he has to stand on toe extension with no possibilty of digging downwards. The stable has rubber mats with a deep pellet base topped with straw, over about a 10 x 10 area, leaving the front and his haynet area without bedding. This was put down for the previous occupant and now that the foal is in there is coming out.

So, since I rarely disturb the underbeds in the other stables, I'm pondering if the best option is to have a shallow-ish bed and muck the wet spots out daily, or allow a bed to develop that is firm underfoot?

As he is in from 4 to 7 in the morning I don't want a bed that means he will stand in wet bedding, which is the worry with a shallow layer.

Any thoughts?

(He is under close veterinary scrutiny etc with correct diet).
 
I'd scrape back the bed every other day to reveal the wet pockets and lift out, then fill in with bedding and smack down with shavings fork to compact. I'd also do away with the straw but that's personal preference. When adding more pellet bedding I would in this case soak the bedding before to activate it and not just put it in as a pellet form as the pellets move around a lot.
 
Sorry should have said, straw is going completely, and I'm thinking that your way is the better way, just wondering if anyone may have any feelings either way.

I wowuldn't risk foal with dry pellets in case being a baby he ate them.
 
I'd keep the bed a bit thicker and while he needs the security I wouldn't take out the wet spots (unless absolutely soaked) but spread them about a bit to mix in as a thin totally dry bed would move about a bit so the thicker and more stable the better IMO.

BTW, my foals don't eat the pellets even if dry, they had one taste and pulled faces spitting them out so ignore them totally now.
 
Thanks, I'm probably going to see how it goes, being a colt he pees inwards (!) whereas the mares/filly seem to favour the against the wall aproach which can lead to dry spots. The underbed I'm removing is bone dry after 2 months on the one side, I imagine its's dark and soaking against the opposite wall!

I really don't want a thin bed, the sort that is mostly brushed out in the morning, I want the pee to soak in and not cause thrush or ammonia.
 
chrissie1 said:
Thanks, I'm probably going to see how it goes, being a colt he pees inwards (!) whereas the mares/filly seem to favour the against the wall aproach which can lead to dry spots. The underbed I'm removing is bone dry after 2 months on the one side, I imagine its's dark and soaking against the opposite wall!

I really don't want a thin bed, the sort that is mostly brushed out in the morning, I want the pee to soak in and not cause thrush or ammonia.
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If you use wood pellets you should find that they soak up the pee really well and then you can just scoop out the wet patches. I have a thin pellet bed on rubber mats for 2 of mine and I definitely don't find that they are standing in the wet (I have to say though that because they have distinct wee patches I always tip dry pellets into that area, but you can probably mix some of the wet through the dry pellets so that they will start to break down).
 
You are in the exact same position I was in this time last year. A wood pellet bed where I took out the wet and poo every day worked fine for me and my colt with a toe extension. I soaked the pellets before adding them.

Try to remember that any beddding base in a stable will be firmer for him than standing outside 24/7 in a soggy field or mud, and will help to keep his hoof in the right position rather than the toe pushing downwards.
 
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Yes stabled, standing eating at head height is exactly what he needs, and I am going to add that this problem was not of my causing! He isn't mine, and ought to have been brought in while he was away being weaned, but stayed out 24/7, exactly as you say.

Did yours come right? Please say yes....
 
I figure its lucky that you have this shoe on and help for a club foot. You need to work this to make this work. Lots of movement. Go after this rehab and work it or lose it. I would take all bedding out, except for the back third and keep the stall clean. He'd be on the bare mats, have some ground tension and be able to lie down without bed sores forming. I'd be looking to reduce his stall time as well and opt for more movement, if I could. I'd also spend much time on his rehab with these shoes going for Promenade Walks, leading the horse on asphalt or the barn aisle...whatever solid surface you can find (driveway) for 30 minutes 2x/day. I would feed hay on the ground, because there is more pressure on the toes when it is. Fight thrush religiously and get the diet balanced.
Its the movement on this shoe that will help correct things...get a regime going and go for it....move. See the farrier's eye brows go up when he comes back...that's what you want. He's only there for an hour...the rest is your homework. Best wishes.....
 
Thank you, the advice I have is to avoid the splayed leg stance, as he currently favours, (as do many foals), one leg in front of the other, thereby stretching the structures in one leg, those that are functioning correctly, and avoiding stretching the ones in the compromised leg.

We have x rays from day one of remedial work starting and vet was here today and hugely delighted with how it's going, although we realise that more x rays as backup are required as things progress. Gravity is now taking over and moving things in the right way, so we do hope that this is going to come right. Current worst case scenario is slightly mis matched feet, which is the case in many horses.
 
chrissie1 said:
Yes stabled, standing eating at head height is exactly what he needs, and I am going to add that this problem was not of my causing! He isn't mine, and ought to have been brought in while he was away being weaned, but stayed out 24/7, exactly as you say.

Did yours come right? Please say yes....
Click to expand...

Yes, he is going to be OK. He has a lovely temperament, which helped us decide to persevere with him. Farrier says he will definitely be fine once he is a big boy and wears shoes, which will stop the tip wearing away. After latest rounds of toe extensions (since September) his toe tip is good, and he is now au naturel and doing well. We might be right on track now to keep doing without the tips. We think his front hooves will probably always be a bit boxy and upright, but that isn't the end of the world.

The only thing I would add is that he has had about 4 abscesses in his affected hoof, all at the tip where it takes the pressure. No big deal, just a bit of a nuisance, he is so good it is easy and no bother to poultice and dress the hoof for him. Hoping that that is not going to start off again, we are having awful wet weather at the moment.
 
Well that's great news, this one also has the most exemplary attitude to life!

I hope he doesn't get abscesses, the weather is so awful that when he's out he can't avoid getting some damp under the extension and I don't really want to get into wrapping his foot as routine, plus vet keen that his hoof should be allowed to flex normally with movement rather than constrict.

I have considered some small hoof boots, for when recovery is further along the line. I had some once and the toe of the boot acted as a sort of extension (in one that was mine) and she went out in it daily, off from teatime onwards overnight, which worked very well. I padded the grippy parts round the back of the boot so she didn't get sore. Of coure I lent them to someone with a Lammi *****land and never saw them again.:rolleyes:
 
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