Mr Mackenzie - Barefoot Update (pics)

Kenzo

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Right, following on from my last thread (below)

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?624704-Barefoot-unshod-Experts-Opinions-please

Please could I have some feed back/advice again from you guys again that kindly replied before, are they any worse, better?

He had some flaring before as you said and some of it has since chipped off, I'd like to think it was 'self trimming' but it could just be really poor hoof breaking away.

I've been washing/soaking the hooves and treating the thrushy area in the deep sulcus area, it is not as tender (when i gently pick the area to clean and check for stones etc) and seems to be a improvement, ive been using keretex antibacterial spray wash and Kevin Bacons Trush treatment.

He's not had a trim sinse my last post, just road work, average 4 times a week.

As you'll see from the photos our stable yard has stony/gritty surface, good in some respects I suppose, he picks his way over it carefully (in hand, i wouldnt ride him over it) bit ouchy at times but fine on roads and grass.


He's an expert at tubbing and lifting his feet for me before I ask, think he likes his pedicures.

957C9F86-4C52-47B6-89DC-B1BF396A70F9-206-000000115EB97E70.jpg


Ok, back to subject of this post, these are the feet now, not as neat looking but it's showing how they are wearing/coping with road work sinse my last post and if any, the changes.

Some where taken after I'd washed his feet, some after in the stable.

Front offside, you can see where the inside has broken away.
D0515C03-3053-4E3B-ABC8-EEB2B7C2A871-8149-00000809139A14DF_zps8ec9b5b9.jpg


Inside view, close up
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B98A42AB-8F7B-4523-8165-9FD58DB29153-8149-00000808A7691EFC_zpse1d07a6b.jpg


Nearside Front, side view
D7A0204A-66B6-400C-9210-6007085CD510-8149-0000080BE916B192_zps09475f3d.jpg


Underneath
AFB2D2DF-4DCD-44C2-B377-3DD648B827EC-8149-00000808CCB76103_zps71ee633f.jpg


Back feet, side view (sorry missed off the other offside hind)
AE9DCAF9-A510-42FB-B6BE-99C139328873-8149-0000080A6609F7C9_zps5a49bd23.jpg


Underneath
C596EAA6-0DAF-445A-94D7-BF85C31F6DF1-8149-000008097AEB0016_zps6742cfcc.jpg


Gosh...that was rather faffy copying and pasting that lot on an iPhone!

Diet, he's now on Dengie Healthy Hoof, bit of sugarbeet, protexin, Argo Vitmin, a joint supplement and cider vinegar.
and some hay (say 2 nets a day is the average) he's carrying less weight now as he's just dropping off a bit (less grass/more work)

But I've since heard that this Dengie healthy hoof is not actually that healthy, but it's approved by the laminitis trust so I'm a but confused if I should be using it now.

Been looking at Cavello Horse Boots, do I boot up or carry on as I am?

Sorry that rather long but any feed back would be much appreciated.

Thank you :)
 

TwoStroke

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How much road work do you do? The frogs just look like they may not be getting enough stimulation. If he is footy when ridden then I would boot up, but if he's comfy then crack on.

Dengie Healthy Hooves is full of molasses, so not ideal at all. The laminitis trust logo means only that the combined sugar and starch of the feed is less than 10%, and the company has paid the laminitis trust a lot of money! There is no testing performed on the feed. Something unmolassed such as fast fibre would be a better choice.

Most people also require a high quality mineral supplement, such as Pro Hoof. What is argo vitamin?

I wouldn't worry too much about the chipping. My TB recently tore a huge chunk of hoof wall off, but he's perfectly sound (and very proud of himself!).
 

Kenzo

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Thank you for your reply firstly.

He's getting ridden 4 times a week, a mixture of road work and on some grass tracks, he's also coming in off the field everyday (when he comes in for his feed and brush etc) and walking over stony ground, so he's walking over a good mixture of surfaces, he's out 24/7.

He's fine on smooth tarmac and better on grass, but does pick his way over the yard surface.

I'm just wondering if I should get the farrier to check/trim or rasp of continue how we are as he's wearing them naturally and touch wood pretty evenly, but sometimes scuffs his toes if he's not really walking out, wondered if they needed rolling at the toe slightly to prevent possible braking/chipping or if there wearing uneven as in the balance of the foot.

Argo Vit min is a mixture of cod liver oil and spices to improve skin and coat etc.

They seem like rocks underneath now but when your used to seeing them you become a little blind to any obvious problems that perhaps someone with much more knowledge on BF feet than me, so paranoia sets in.
 

Cragrat

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Couldn't find before photos of the frogs and ones, but the now ones seem promising:)

The outside view is, IMHO, much better for NOT being trimmed. As TS says, chipping like that isn't a worry. If you let a farrier or trimmer near it, they would like as not take far too much off in their 'tidying' !

Also, as TS says, the healthy hooves isn't that great. Is your sugar beet unmolassed? That and minerals like pro-hoof, and perhaps a small amount of linseed, is probably more than enough.

If you can exercise on surfaces he is comfy on, e.g roads and grass, then carry on with out boots. If you have to do stoney tracks, then boots may help the rear of the hoof develop (because he would heel land confidently in boots) but boots will eliminate self trimming and balancing ( which currently I think he is doing a good job at).

Scuffing toes- is this hind or fore feet?

Thrush- there is a balance between treating effectively and over treating to the point where healthy tissue doesn't get a chance to grow. Perhaps try getting it clean, then mashing 1/2 a cotton ball in sudocrem and stuffing into the central sulcus? Should stay there a couple of days. Gentle and often surprisingly effective. But improved minerals often help resolve thrush issues.
 
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