zoon
Well-Known Member
Not entirely sure this is totally veterinary, but need some expert advice!
My horse was sold in Feb and came back to me about 6 weeks ago - very long story, but involved multiple new owners for him and pure luck he found his way home! I had him shod at the beginning of Jan in front (bare behind) and he would have been due new shoes about 2 weeks after he was sold.
He came back to me having lost one front shoe - the shoe he still had in front was the same one I had put on in Jan (save you doing the mental maths - it was on from beginning of Jan to beginning of Sept!) The shoe that he had lost (recently I was told) had taken away a large portion of the hoof wall with it. The shoe that he still had was also promptly lost before farrier could get to us and also took most of hoof away with it. So I have been left with a horse with pretty much no hoof left in front!
To top it all off, he is also a little on the skinny side. Always been a poor doer and now he'll be living out over winter I am extra worried about his weight loss. He is currently being fed I scoop (1.5kg) saracen veteren mix, 1 scoop (2kg) alphabeet and 2 scoops benevit supplement daily along with the grass in his field, which although not lush, is still plentiful. Will have adlib hay or haylage when grass goes or have possibility of renting another 3 acre field with very long, not lush grass. Also have some micronised linseed on order to give him.
he has grown pretty much no length to his feet in the time he has been home and is quite uncomfortable. He is certainly not himself - used to be very nappy and spooky and now is suddenly very calm and willing. Most would be very pleased, but am wary of change in character than is so severe. I am worried mainly that it is discomfort that is causing it. Trying to do light roadwork with him to stimulate growth - just walking between 3 and 5 miles a few times a week on smooth tarmac.
I would love to keep him barefoot as he has been barefoot in the past and his feet were the best they've ever been, but I know to keep him comfortable I need a low sugar diet and to try and get weight on him is a nightmare if I can't use commercially produced feeds (that all contain sugar!).
What on earth should I do with my skinny horse with no hooves? Do you think behaviour could be due to discomfort (previously would have refused to go out hacking alone and would rear, but now happy to go out alone on strange routes ears forward and doesn't spook at anything, even salt bins that were all previously out to get him!) Not sure if rapid change of homes many times has taken awya his spirit or he is uncomfortable or jsut happy to be home!
My horse was sold in Feb and came back to me about 6 weeks ago - very long story, but involved multiple new owners for him and pure luck he found his way home! I had him shod at the beginning of Jan in front (bare behind) and he would have been due new shoes about 2 weeks after he was sold.
He came back to me having lost one front shoe - the shoe he still had in front was the same one I had put on in Jan (save you doing the mental maths - it was on from beginning of Jan to beginning of Sept!) The shoe that he had lost (recently I was told) had taken away a large portion of the hoof wall with it. The shoe that he still had was also promptly lost before farrier could get to us and also took most of hoof away with it. So I have been left with a horse with pretty much no hoof left in front!
To top it all off, he is also a little on the skinny side. Always been a poor doer and now he'll be living out over winter I am extra worried about his weight loss. He is currently being fed I scoop (1.5kg) saracen veteren mix, 1 scoop (2kg) alphabeet and 2 scoops benevit supplement daily along with the grass in his field, which although not lush, is still plentiful. Will have adlib hay or haylage when grass goes or have possibility of renting another 3 acre field with very long, not lush grass. Also have some micronised linseed on order to give him.
he has grown pretty much no length to his feet in the time he has been home and is quite uncomfortable. He is certainly not himself - used to be very nappy and spooky and now is suddenly very calm and willing. Most would be very pleased, but am wary of change in character than is so severe. I am worried mainly that it is discomfort that is causing it. Trying to do light roadwork with him to stimulate growth - just walking between 3 and 5 miles a few times a week on smooth tarmac.
I would love to keep him barefoot as he has been barefoot in the past and his feet were the best they've ever been, but I know to keep him comfortable I need a low sugar diet and to try and get weight on him is a nightmare if I can't use commercially produced feeds (that all contain sugar!).
What on earth should I do with my skinny horse with no hooves? Do you think behaviour could be due to discomfort (previously would have refused to go out hacking alone and would rear, but now happy to go out alone on strange routes ears forward and doesn't spook at anything, even salt bins that were all previously out to get him!) Not sure if rapid change of homes many times has taken awya his spirit or he is uncomfortable or jsut happy to be home!
