Squishy frog help needed

[SEL]

3 barefoot horses on broadly the same diet living in the same conditions - 2 with huge, firm frogs and 1 with horrible tiny, under developed and apparently sore frogs.

The microcob came to me without any hoofcare for a year because she wouldn't let the farrier near her when she had her foal with her. For a pony that hadn't been trimmed for a year and had lived in a field she really hadn't grown much hoof, and still barely needs more than a brief once over with a rasp every 8 weeks or so. Living out 24:7 has worked wonders for her breathing but she now has very squishy and sore frogs. No sign of thrush and I'm religiously spraying with antibac foot rot stuff and red horse. Field isn't that wet although there's some grim muddy bits.

Tried to hack on the roads yesterday and she's obviously sore. Not landing toe first every step but enough for me to worry and order a Scoot fit kit.

The only thing different to the others is she has huge feathers - long enough to tread on. I'm wondering whether those heavy feathers are stopping the air getting into the back of her hoof and that's why the frog is so poor. Is there anything topically that can help harden it up? Any other ideas? Tarmac hacking is unfortunately our only exercise at the moment so I really need to get her comfy.

 

[laura_nash]

I don't think it's the feathers. Mine both have huge amounts of long feather and their frogs are huge and firm, despite living out 24/7 on wet ground and currently out of work (I don't ride in winter these days).

I use dilute iodine to toughen up soft frogs, though it does sound like there's maybe something else going on if they're tiny too.

 

[twiggy2]

Does she get any time when her frogs can completely dry out?
I used to use plain old salt water in a flat rubber feed bucket and soak each for for 10 mins nd then leave them on dry clean concrete to completely dry out, twice a week when bad and Ionce a week as a preventative during winter.
Sometimes the problem can go round in circles and if the frog is really small it doesn't contact the ground with each step so it is not getting any stimulation to aid blood circulation and get it growing healthy tissue, I was advised with another horse to getting it walking on clean pea shingle to stimulate growth.

 

[SEL]

I don't think it's the feathers. Mine both have huge amounts of long feather and their frogs are huge and firm, despite living out 24/7 on wet ground and currently out of work (I don't ride in winter these days).

I use dilute iodine to toughen up soft frogs, though it does sound like there's maybe something else going on if they're tiny too.

Probably wishful thinking then with the feathers because clipping them off would be an easier answer!

Does she get any time when her frogs can completely dry out?
I used to use plain old salt water in a flat rubber feed bucket and soak each for for 10 mins nd then leave them on dry clean concrete to completely dry out, twice a week when bad and Ionce a week as a preventative during winter.
Sometimes the problem can go round in circles and if the frog is really small it doesn't contact the ground with each step so it is not getting any stimulation to aid blood circulation and get it growing healthy tissue, I was advised with another horse to getting it walking on clean pea shingle to stimulate growth.

She's in for an hour or so but those feathers don't really dry out so the hoof underneath doesn't. But if Laura has feathery types living out with decent frogs then I suspect the wet might not be the main issue. Why salt water? Is that to harden or for antibacterial / fungal purposes? Might struggle for pea shingle in the short term but there's no reason I can't sort out part of the track with that over the summer. Thank you.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Not sure as to why the frog is so squishy but the cause of an underdeveloped frog and heel is usually caused because they aren’t landing correctly. Number 1 barefoot pony has never had a decent sole depth, wide usable frog or healthy looking digital cushion because he just doesn’t put his feet down properly. Instead he tippy toes around and never has a decent blood supply reaching the bits that need it. My Farrier does wonders keeping him sound but says it’s never going to change, it’s just the way he is built and carries himself. In complete comparison number 2 pony only out of shoes 6 months and on exactly the same diet and supplements has increased his heel width by an inch in that short space of time so you may find your pony will never have a text book foot.

 

[Highmileagecob]

My 27 y.o. has always been barefoot, and is well feathered too. Are you able to walk her out on tarmac for half an hour then examine the hoof and check the wear pattern on the underside to give you some idea of whether she is evenly loading the foot? It sounds as though she has not got a good chunky heel to bear the weight. Does she have high heels which are keeping the frog raised? Your farrier/trimmer should be able to do some set up trims and work on loading the foot properly if any of the above ring true.

 

[SEL]

My 27 y.o. has always been barefoot, and is well feathered too. Are you able to walk her out on tarmac for half an hour then examine the hoof and check the wear pattern on the underside to give you some idea of whether she is evenly loading the foot? It sounds as though she has not got a good chunky heel to bear the weight. Does she have high heels which are keeping the frog raised? Your farrier/trimmer should be able to do some set up trims and work on loading the foot properly if any of the above ring true.

She appears to be growing herself high heels - she's definitely started landing toe first but that's a recent issue. I'm assuming that's being driven by the sore frogs rather than the cause - but not sure tbh. She usually self trims pretty well apart from a flare on one hind.

Poor little girl is apparently trying to itch those legs too (spotted by a friend) so I'm wondering if that hair needs to be tackled in case there's inflammation hiding in the leg. She's going to hate me!

 

[paddy555]

the questions that come to my mind are the slow growing of hoof, is she on suitable supplement/protein for her to grow sufficient hoof. Where the heel height is in relation to the frog. As highmileagecob says are the heels high and preventing any stimulation of the frog or alternatively possibly is she is growing little hoof is the opposite happening and she is sore because she is frog walking . Try putting a ruler/rasp over the heels (foot up) and see where the frog is in relation to the heels. If high it may be a case of a swipe to take them down very very slowly as you are getting infection sorted.

If squishy I wonder if you still have lurking infection even if it is not obvious. I would stop putting anything on but soak in a soaking boot or bucket in copper sulphate a couple of times then let her stand in the stable to dry them out after the soak. Each day I would clean frog, especially the grooves very thoroughly and then clean the sulchus and especially the back with cotton wool/ dry towel pressed down with the hoof pick. Really good towelling dry of the whole foot will speed up the drying time.
I would clip the hair off from around the hairline at the back of the central sulchus up a little way to see what is going on. It is is squishy/greasy it may be better to clip a little more just so that you can thoroughly clean and dry it each day.

If you are trying to dry the feet out you could put some cut out socks//tights or similar over the legs to keep the feather up to let the heel area get some air and dry.
A picture of the sole/frog of the worst foot may help.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would try tea-tree oil spray. I swear by it for most things. It worked a treat when my Draft mare had an infection in the foot, just before she was diagnosed with Cushings. Has micro-cob been tested for Cushings?

 

[Goldenstar]

I would use iodine .

 

[twiggy2]

Salt is drying and kills a lot of bacteria so I gave it a go and it worked for a few I was dealing with, non were horrendous but they varied from a little thrushy and smelly soft frogs to sore footed and stinking.

 

[SEL]

I'll try and get photos today. If I bandage up the mucky feathers you can get a better view of what's going on.

Never thought about cushings with her.

 

[Highmileagecob]

She appears to be growing herself high heels - she's definitely started landing toe first but that's a recent issue. I'm assuming that's being driven by the sore frogs rather than the cause - but not sure tbh. She usually self trims pretty well apart from a flare on one hind.

Poor little girl is apparently trying to itch those legs too (spotted by a friend) so I'm wondering if that hair needs to be tackled in case there's inflammation hiding in the leg. She's going to hate me!

Treat for leg mites - I have found 2.5% selenium shampoo to be excellent. It cleans the skin of scales and debris therefore removing the source of food for the mites. Repeat at five day intervals for at least a month. Clipping the feathers off does not make a jot of difference; the mites will return unless treatment continues. Also, I would scrub the underside of the hoof with plain water daily to remove mud, and spray with a 1% solution of iodine. Have a chat with your farrier about taking the heels down, preferably over a few trims rather than all at once. If you find she is more comfortable within three days of shampoo and iodine treatment, then you are on the right track. Good luck!