Oh no, my tb bare foot is now not good :(

[thatsmygirl]

As most off you know he's been going really well, striding out well and happy but he come in a couple off days ago very sore and short strided, I know what it is, it's the muddy field that's weaken his feet as he was fine when I turned him out. I kept him in because he looked so uncomfy and this morning he walked out lovely again ( just careful on the turns) but how can I overcome this? I'm not keeping him in all winter and it's to muddy for his boots in the field so what option do I have? I really don't want to give up and shoe as in such a short amount off time his feet look so much better but how do everybody cope with mud? I normally turn out 6am and bring in 5pm and can't do anything different as I'm at work inbetween and it's a private yard.
No happy bunny

 

[Emma S]

You could try keratex hoof hardener - it will help stop the foot from softening as much in wet conditions

 

[Holly Hocks]

I don't know the answer for you, but my mare is the same - first two weeks fab, last two weeks sore. However I walked her out this morning in hand and she was fine - I'm pretty sure mine is to do with the mud as well....maybe hoof boots while you ride?

 

[Clava]

Are you sure it is the mud? All mine are barefoot, including a sensitive tb, and they live out all winter, no hard standing and generally their hooves are better in winter in terms of being not footie.

 

[skint1]

Our TB mare has been the same recently, we took her backs off in August and she was fine, took fronts off in Oct and she did very well, better than expected in fact, until her last trim about 2 weeks ago, I can only think that it is the constant wet ground making her feet soft (they're still out 24/7 but probably be coming in at night soon) she's fine in the field but much more sensitive on the hard standing/road/yard.

I'm not sure what to do about it myself, was thinking maybe putting her back on Biotin and/or seaweed which did wonders for her feet last year (when she had shoes on still)

 

[thatsmygirl]

He's not in work anyway so that's not a issue it's just keeping him comfy as I don't like seeing him walking like that. On the plus side his fronts have thicken up a treat after his bad trim which left him with nothing to start with.
Iv heard karatex isn't good to use? But willing to try if people think it will work.

 

[Clava]

Have you checked for any traces of thrush?

 

[amandap]

I'm a bit nervous about writing this but have you considered your grass itself as a possible cause of his symptoms? It's been very cold at nights here. Is there any grass free turnout you could use? If his soles are thinish then he may be more sensitive when they are softened due to wet until they grow thicker.

It is very early days, don't forget. His hooves will be making lots of changes and may need time to grow stronger.

 

[paddy555]

Are you sure it is the mud? All mine are barefoot, including a sensitive tb, and they live out all winter, no hard standing and generally their hooves are better in winter in terms of being not footie.

"this"
mine are out all day and stabled at night. I ride in a lot of mud and live in a wet part of the country. Like Clava generally their feet are better in winter as there is less rich grass.

I tried kerratex years ago and it wasn't particuarly brilliant. Having learned about formaldehyde I would never go near it again. There was a post on here a while ago about the effects of formaldehyde. Definitely not nice stuff.

I think you need to give it some time and boots will let you ride.

Moorman, can I ask a question please about your ca/mg powder?
Did you devise this mixture based on Dartmoor soils and minerals in particular? I understand the link between ca and mg. I have tried to feed magox unsuccessfully. It makes the horses very skittish and even relatively small quantities makes them runny. I tried feeding limestone flour as well but still couldn't get the mg up. Are your client's feeding this in addition to their usual supplements etc? Just interested in anything about this please.

 

[PitPony]

My mare got waterlogged a couple of years ago...when she was first off barefoot behind...we noticed her walking differently one morning and it looked so odd and peculiar we all were worried. Got the vet out and diagnosed water-logged! Becuase she has arthritis in her hocks she walks a certain way to compensate but because her feet were water logged and it affected how she was walking she was trying to compensate for two things...
we just had to keep her in when for a day or two...good thick dry bedding...and gradually she was ok and it never happened again (touch wood)....other suggestions were too get hair dryer on her feet or emigrate to drier climate!!
It was strange and people didn't believe it...but it was true...you could see the wall of her hoof give when he pressed it...
Itmay not be what yours has but it just goes to show you do have to consider all kinds of things...she didn't get it in her fronts as she had shoes on which did offer protection from the wet seeping in underneath...

 

[TigerTail]

dont forget he is going through an adjustment period! Dont panic yet

If he is coming in at night his feet are getting plenty of time to dry off and harden up again, so i wouldnt be worried about the mud. Mine are out 24.7 and whilst the frogs looks a bit squishy shes still sound on our horrid stony track.

Hows the diet coming?

 

[Andalucian]

TBs coming out of shoes will have thin soles. When dry they might cope, but when wet, they flex and allow pinpoint pressure from stones etc to hurt their sensitive foot inside. Over time the soles thicken, but until then you either need to stable them, or yard them for about half a day to allow them to dry, boot them, or consider reshoeing and trying again in the dry weather. Sorry, but I'm trying to give you realistic, practical advice here.

 

[farrier69]

Just be patient. The feet will get better...nature will take over and work wonders