Strike avoidance and protection advice needed

Jesster

Jesster

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I have a powerful, compact, Argentine polo pony. I bought him (cheaply!) from a friend as he had a niggling tendon problem. He strikes his nearside fetlock with his hind foot. So much so that he has a hardened lump there now. He was sound when I bought him.

I rested him from the end of August over the winter and brought him back in to work slowly, walking on roads from January until April. All was well. He started trotting and cantering in April and was stick and balling in May. All was well with zero reaction from the leg. He played one chukka at the end of may and BOOM! Lame. I was gutted. He wore Premier Equine Xtreme event boots over bandages but it seems they weren't enough....?

I have rested him since then and he is now sound and the strike area on the leg is now cold again.

Where do I go from here? I have been thinking about the options;

1) Take his shoes off and rest him for a whole year. Perhaps the time he had off was not long enough?

2) Work him barefoot next year; no heavy metal shoe to strike with? Increased circulation to the injured leg?

3) Shoe him with racing plates in front and heavy shoes behind, to slow him down behind and speed him up in front? This was a suggestion from the farrier.

4) Buy better boots with better strike protection? Any suggestions?

I am open to all suggestions, I would love to hear from anyone with a similar problem. I adore the ******, he's amazing to ride (if a bit of a handful!) and I'd be gutted if he were to become a field ornament. Though he is a rather handsome field ornament. Sigh.

Help!
 
I'd barefoot him, let him grow the foot he needs and you might very well find the striking is lessened or even goes away completely.

I'd like to see photos of hooves if you have any. Close up, side on and clean.
 
I think I would get the area scanned so you really know what is going on, it may be that there is damage deep in the tendon or ligaments that although now seem to be settled will flare up again if he starts to work hard . At least by having a proper diagnosis now you can make a plan to get him back to full use, otherwise it may be that you do all you can and he still cannot play polo, it is a very demanding sport with the joints being under immense strain.
Having the shoes off would help function of the whole limb, possibly play with no hind shoes if that is practical.
 
When you say "grow the hoof that he needs", what do you mean by that? should he have more heel in front?

Scans proved 'inconclusive' the damage showed itself as healed, which is when he started slow work. But it can't have been healed properly as it seems to have gone again.

Barefoot and one year resting, do we think? My gut says so. Thanks for your input.
 
I wish that he would take it easy and play slowly but the mad thing is like a Mexican Jumping Bean during chukkas!!
 
I think what LucyPriory means is that when the shoes are off they will often grow a foot that's a different shape / has different angles than their shod hoof... and because of the orthotics effect of this, ie the impact on the leg and body above the hoof, you can find that a horse's typical movement can change. It's quite common for horses to stop dishing for example, and you may find that once he's grown a full barefoot hoof the brushing / striking is lessened because he's loading the foot and leg differently / the musculature above it changes...
 
I have some leather tendon boots with brilliant strike protection, perhaps try these initially - if he is actually striking it? Do you know that he is or could it just be flaring up?

I'd have the leg scanned, will cost £200 but you'll know what is going on and be able to treat it properly. No point turning him away for a year to find he goes lame again and you're back to square one x

Good luck x
 
Maybe a tendon boot with a hard strike pad and rolled toes on hind feet to increase the break over point?
 
philamena said:
I think what LucyPriory means is that when the shoes are off they will often grow a foot that's a different shape / has different angles than their shod hoof... and because of the orthotics effect of this, ie the impact on the leg and body above the hoof, you can find that a horse's typical movement can change. It's quite common for horses to stop dishing for example, and you may find that once he's grown a full barefoot hoof the brushing / striking is lessened because he's loading the foot and leg differently / the musculature above it changes...
Click to expand...

Yes with someone who knows what they are doing, the hoof will become the shape that is best for what is above. This doesn't mean letting the foot get unbalanced, overly long in some areas or otherwise neglected. It does mean having someone caring for the feet that has experience of how the hoof adapts over time and knows what they are seeing. IME with appropriate care dishing etc does become less of an issue. I've worked on many a horse with upper body issues that have resolved naturally over time when the feet were allowed to be the shape they needed to be. Does take a bit of patience though.
 
How best to find such a person? I am happy to play him barefoot if it helps him; how do I find someone in my area to fix his feet up? Farrier or trimmer? Will a year be a long enough time for this to happen?

I have been looking at Dalmar boots and Woof Smart boots, does anyone have an suggestions as to which are the most effective? So many questions....

Thanks, you are all being very helpful!
 
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