So "Lame"

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Zoex

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hi guys,
I recently got a new TB yearling (2 in December).
I'm just doing light ground work with her to learn manners (a 5- 10 min dander 3 times a week), grooming etc. But I have noticed when she walks on gravel she walks as if she is walking on egg shells. She's fine on flat hard concerte ground, can walk normal and in the field of course she's racing anything that goes past her. I am wondering is the gravel tread normal?

The stones are quite small and pointed so I always encourage her to walk on the grass part of the lane shes walking on to help (she loves her walk, gets upset when I am leading back into her field).

I am just afraid of her having laminitis and not catching it on time or something. She is not shoed yet.
 
It’s almost unheard of to get laminitis in a two year old. Much more likely to be the health of the hoof. There’s lots of things that could be making her soles sensitive, her environment or diet so I’d look there.
 
Many unshod horses struggle on gravel/stones , it isn’t something untoward at this stage..but when broken and ridden you may have to decide between shoeing or working barefoot...and there are many knowledgeable people here who can advise about hoof health for keeping a horse barefoot.
 
ycbm said:
None of mine have been.
Click to expand...

I've never owned one but liveried with many and sadly all full tbs I knew had either terrible feet full stop, or were very footy on tricker terrain.
perhaps this is a management issue in thinking all hooves are alike?
 
Zoex said:
hi guys,
I recently got a new TB yearling (2 in December).
I'm just doing light ground work with her to learn manners (a 5- 10 min dander 3 times a week), grooming etc. But I have noticed when she walks on gravel she walks as if she is walking on egg shells. She's fine on flat hard concerte ground, can walk normal and in the field of course she's racing anything that goes past her. I am wondering is the gravel tread normal?

The stones are quite small and pointed so I always encourage her to walk on the grass part of the lane shes walking on to help (she loves her walk, gets upset when I am leading back into her field).

I am just afraid of her having laminitis and not catching it on time or something. She is not shoed yet.
Click to expand...

Of course it is normal the feet aren’t used to gravel yet... they are used to soft surfaces. If you walked on carpet all your life then someone stuck you on durdledoor beach you’d not take a step without crying.
For one make sure you’re not over feeding as any excess sugar in a 2yo is going to be bad for the whole metabolism never mind the feet. It’s tempting to mollycoddle and feed but just don’t if they are on grass. Salt and a mineral lick is plenty. Salt and chaff in a bucket is a treat enough. Unless of course there’s signs of malnutrition...?

if there’s chance of walking on a track or any surface other than grass do it. Why just 10mins? I used to take my fully out for ages after all they’d follow their mums out wherever.
 
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