*PICS* Help!! Calling all feet Gurus!!

nic85

nic85

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 January 2008
Messages
1,173
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
Morning all, this is for a friend who is at the end of her tether with her horses feet. She has given me permission to post pics and ask for help/advice etc.

Quick back ground;

Show cob type horse, about 14hh ish, was purchased last year and came to her overweight, came down with laminitis within 3 weeks of being at new yard. Previous owner denies any previous attacks but feet say otherwise... His diet has been carefully monitored, winter he was on Farriers formula and a handful of healthy hooves. His workload varies at the moment but he's mainly gently schooled and a little hacking. He needs more exercise, his owner is aware of this but his feet are so hit and miss.

These pictures were taken yesterday, 2 weeks after shoeing, the farrier has said he wants to put pads on the next visit. he come every 6 weeks.

Horse is now out 24/7 on pretty bare grazing with no hard feed at all but owner is contemplating giving him farriers formula again

Left Fore

998821_10151462307337547_1586942560_n.jpg


1011920_10151462307447547_1259031480_n.jpg


1044658_10151462308072547_1028233053_n.jpg


1011293_10151462308622547_1618632193_n.jpg


1044259_10151462308772547_1834552172_n.jpg


999665_10151462308867547_659859985_n.jpg


Right Fore

1002698_10151462307702547_1804648127_n.jpg


1017190_10151462307792547_1901341919_n.jpg


1011894_10151462307952547_2099477909_n.jpg


1017269_10151462308247547_1281716679_n.jpg


5881_10151462308432547_122649425_n.jpg


1001755_10151462308512547_230476680_n.jpg


Both feet

1044612_10151462307617547_809455505_n.jpg


Any help or advice would be appreciated!!

Thanks for looking
 
Wow, those are interesting!! I'm no expert so will be interested in the comments from those with more knowledge. The hairline on the front feet stick out to me as they don't look particularly straight. (Novice eyes mind!!)
 
Oh my goodness! Has she had x-rays?

Those are seriously unhappy feet.

ETA - I'd be getting an EMS test done too, and I'd want him off grass and on a diet of lots of soaked hay and exercise.
 
china said:
Wow, those are interesting!! I'm no expert so will be interested in the comments from those with more knowledge. The hairline on the front feet stick out to me as they don't look particularly straight. (Novice eyes mind!!)
Click to expand...

They do stick out almost in like a V shape, photos aren't great but you are getting the gist.

Brightbay said:
Oh my goodness! Has she had x-rays?

Those are seriously unhappy feet.

ETA - I'd be getting an EMS test done too, and I'd want him off grass and on a diet of lots of soaked hay and exercise.
Click to expand...

No x rays as of yet but this is something that may need addressing.
 
Oh dear. :(

They remind me of the hooves that Enfys posted that belonged to some heavy horses where the farrier had purposely cased severe flair to make the hooves several sizes bigger than they should be.

If the horse was mine, I wouldn't faff about, I'd be booking him into Rockley Farm for a hoof rehab.

Seriously, no foot no horse. This is far beyond needing farriers formula and quite frankly I am flabbergasted that the farrier hasn't made this clear to the owner that this is the sort of hoof pathology that causes horses to be PTS. How on earth could they just take the owner's money and shoe those hooves?
 
Faracat said:
Oh dear. :(

They remind me of the hooves that Enfys posted that belonged to some heavy horses where the farrier had purposely cased severe flair to make the hooves several sizes bigger than they should be.

If the horse was mine, I wouldn't faff about, I'd be booking him into Rockley Farm for a hoof rehab.

Seriously, no foot no horse. This is far beyond needing farriers formula and quite frankly I am flabbergasted that the farrier hasn't made this clear to the owner that this is the sort of hoof pathology that causes horses to be PTS. How on earth could they just take the owner's money and shoe those hooves?
Click to expand...

I agree with you, I think a huge problem is the farrier is an idiot, I have told her repeatedly to change farrier as he is not making any good changes to this horses feet.
 
2 weeks after shoeing, that is shocking! I would definitely advise a change of farrier or for your friend to have a serious discussion with current farrier about why he is shoeing the way he is. You may find they maybe lucky and that it might be as simple as a change in farrier may help. Is the horse managing to keep shoes on? Is it lame at all?
 
The thing is, as mentioned already, the horse probably does have an underlying metabolic problem. Many Vets and Farriers are behind the times RE diet/hooves although the link between laminitis and cushings has now been recognised. It would be worth encouraging the owner to get the horse tested for cushings (their vet might be able to get a free test still).

I honestly think that going straight to the experts is the only sensible way forwards and the experts in this situation are at Rockley. If the owner's Vet would be willing to refer the horse, the insurance might pay (depending on the terms, or if the horse is insured).
 
I am not an expert but feel that your friend would need a second opinion from another farrier who is well recommended by their clients. Additionally, I would consider an assessment by an equine podiatrist (also one that is recommended) whilst the hooves are still shod.

This way your friend will get expert advice from two different perspectives which will help them make an informed decision as to the best way forward for their horse.
 
I also agree that it would be advisable to have the horse tested for any underlying metabolic disorders as they greatly impact of hoof quality. If it all possible time it so the vet and farrier can visit at the same time to work out a plan of action to get the horse back on track ASAP.
 
I would definitely sack the current Farrier. Why would you want to keep doing what obviously isn't working?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein
Click to expand...
 
Diet, diet and diet, laminitic diet I suggest. Boots, pads and a professional that can trim sympathetically along with X Rays.
 
Ps. The right fore is collapsing, I don't think the horse should be ridden until things are more under control. Rockley is a good suggestion or an experienced professional like Lucy Priory. Imo and I'm sorry but imho this horse needs urgent diet changes and hoof support. Suggest your friend implement the emergency diet on the ECIR page. Sorry to be blunt and sending good vibes to the owner. X
 
amandap said:
Ps. The right fore is collapsing, I don't think the horse should be ridden until things are more under control. Rockley is a good suggestion or an experienced professional like Lucy Priory. Imo and I'm sorry but imho this horse needs urgent diet changes and hoof support. Suggest your friend implement the emergency diet on the ECIR page. Sorry to be blunt and sending good vibes to the owner. X
Click to expand...

I think we need blunt answers! Ive already put forward my concerns about the collapsing right fore, I was shocked he was only shod 2 weeks ago.

Horse has previously been tested for EMS and Cushings, both clear. I have seen his owner this afternoon and told her she needs an immediate change of farrier. Although another livery has now told her his feet will never grow the lines out as hes a lamanitic and shes been told by a vet.......hmmm.

Owner has told me her Farrier said the horses hoof is dead that's why it looks like it does and he need a dorsal something that costs a fortune?! I have never heard of it though!

Thank you all for your replies!!
 
:eek: The hoof isn't dead! lol. It does appear that the wall is disconnected from the foot inside though. I expect the farrier means a dorsal resection, ie. cutting the dorsal (front) wall away.

Here's diet advice http://ecirhorse.org/index.php/ddt-overview/ddt-diet
and perhaps contact somewhere like Forage Plus for longer term mineral intake to help.

I would stable (deep shavings) or yard (grass free) on conforming footing/boots and pads, feed emergency diet until X rays and a good/experienced hoof care professional can get there.

As has been said it may take a good while to sort this but with right diet and hoof care it will be sooner rather than later. x
 
Oh lordy it gets worse!

http://www.thenaturalhoof.co.uk/34.html go on here and scroll down to Dorsal wall resections. :(

ETA - please try to get the owner to ditch her butcher of a farrier and to ignore idiotic comments.

ETA - could you sit down with the owner and read this thread and look at Rockley's cases with her? Some of those horses were written off by vets and farriers and have returned to full work after their rehabs.
 
Last edited:
Did the vets not do any x rays when he came down with laminitis ? I'd seriously want to know what's going on inside and I'd imagine rockley probably would too.
 
If that horse does not have significant rotation, it would really surprise me.

I would:

Get the shoes off and purchase some boots and Styrofoam pads.
Get the horse off all grass
Feed only soaked hay or marksway high fibre haylage, a molasses free feed, micronized linseed and pro hoof.
Get xrays ASAP.
Stop all riding and only turn out in small area, possibly box rest until xray results.
 
OP... You can tell the owner all this till your blue in the face but from my own experiences, including my own journey to come to the decision of barefoot for my 'tb that couldn't ever possibly go with out shoes', a person will only transition there horse to barefoot and seek barefoot professional experience when they find out for themselves!!!
You need to allow her to read this thread and do some research herself, look at all the blogs and the success stories and she will then come to the decision. Untill that point you will be wasting your breath.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.. The owner needs to find this is the best way for themselves otherwise they will not stick with it. Guide them to this thread and the links and the curiosity to research will follow.
 
That horse needs to come off the grass, yesterday.

Laminitic diet - 12 hr soaked hay, handful of fast fibre for a mineral supplement. Vet needs to come out to assess - the horse almost certainly has rotation. They almost look like sinkers.

New (competent) farrier is imperative.
 
Thank you all for your input, I shall forward the link to this thread to the owner and let her make up her own mind.

Thank you all again :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top