New horse lame

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Ceriann

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Had new horse for 9 weeks - she's fab. Genuine sale and 5* vetting passed before I got her. Totally sound until my farrier shod her - we changed her front shoes to toe side clips (previously none), which was Farrier's preference and vetting recommendation. Due to weather didn't ride for 3 days post shoeing - she was lame on near fore in trot on left rein only. Farrier came back out, took shoe off and whilst acknowledged it was probably that foot (as hot) had a good look and said no nail bind but could be an abscess brewing. No obvious lumps/bumps etc to suggest leg issue. Few days off, sound to lunge so started riding and sound for 4 days of riding. Two days off and lame again at my lesson (yesterday) - same presentation as first time. Vet came out today and she was sound in front - in circles, straight line and on different surfaces. She's now booked for a work up at vets next week.

I can't get over niggling doubt it's foot/shoe related so anyone fancy looking at these (pics of near fore) and letting me know if anything jumps out please?! Having stared at them I have spotted a couple of things most notably only two nails used on inside of near fore but appears three used originally - nail bind issue I wasn't told about?!







 
Having 2 nails then 3 the other side is normal on the 3rd picture the wall of the hoof on the left looks longer and could be the start of a flare which could cause problems, I don't think the bars of the shoe look long enough to offer support to the heal either they should be further back than they are and agree with faracat they look under run.
 
The photos are not at a great angle, but the shoe does look awfully small for that foot.

On the side shot, looking at the angle of the hoof wall compared to the pastern, the axis looks to actually be broken forwards, whereas the heels being somewhat collapsed made me believe it would naturally be more inclined to be broken back. It occurs to me that the foot *may* have been spread and has had some enthusiastic re-modelling.

But, I am just an interested observer, not qualified in any way. I think an X ray would be where I would want to go, to see where the natural balance of the bones in the foot would need to be, rather than just looking from the outside, as each side sort of is on a converging line, that does not look right.
 
The current shoeing protocol doesn't give any heel support. The shoe is applied to where the heel is - which appears to be very underrun - and not to where it should be. From the front view of both feet, she has quite a lot of flaring in both fronts, though the nearside is worse.

Was she cold shod? The quarter clips aren't doing anything at the moment!

I do hope you get to the bottom of her mystery lameness quickly :)
 
As far as can be told from the pics I would get her reshod by someone else. I'm assuming this was cold shod?

What lovely frogs on a shod horse though!

It would be nice to see some better pics, check out the rockley blog for good angles and get camera on the floor :)
 
Thank you all. Vet who did vetting discussed her feet with me when she was vetted and noted toes slightly too long and heels underun. He recommended, to avoid future issues (though felt at that point they weren't yet at the point of being problematic), that the farrier work to correct this, trimming and to use toe clips (she was in fronts with no clips. I discussed this with farrier before shoeing and he's def shod differently (hot not cold shod but near fore shoe was removed after first lameness and replaced cold) - he did comment that there was much foot to play with.

I will look at that log and take better pics. She's booked to go to vets for lameness work up on Tuesday but part of really thinks this is foot and therefore farrier should at least be involved. I'm going to try and find someone to come out to give a second opinion.
 
Sometimes even if better just different shoeing can be an issue with new horses and the timing suggest so too really

Re two toe clips to schools of thought, one you can bring the break over back and shorten the toe, secondly which I have read more more recently is that you can end up with the hoof wanting to run between the clips so the toe gets longer because of the reduced angle and the heels get worse.
 
ester said:
Sometimes even if better just different shoeing can be an issue with new horses and the timing suggest so too really

Re two toe clips to schools of thought, one you can bring the break over back and shorten the toe, secondly which I have read more more recently is that you can end up with the hoof wanting to run between the clips so the toe gets longer because of the reduced angle and the heels get worse.
Click to expand...

So a front toe clip would be better? I'm in contact with old owner who thinks it's possibly a reaction to different shoes. Task now is to find another Farrier to come out (good reliable ones are as rare as hens teeth round here)!
 
Not necessarily, it is just that the intention behind 2 toe clips isn't always born out in the result.
 
I too would be looking at the balance of her hoof, mine had flares to the outside, under run heels & was in quarter clips.
When I bought her she was in front clips, the Farrier at Ross dales said my mare was nicely shod & even if she was a being shod at a farriery school they would of shod her the same, just that it wasn't right for her because of her hoof & leg conformation, he also commentated how not enough farriers once qualified continue any further training.
I sympathise in your hunt for another farrier, can your vet recommend anyone? Or does your Vets do a remedial Farriery clinic, you can take her too?
 
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