Thrush? Lami? Shoe issues?

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MissusMare

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Hello all, hive mind advice appreciated!

Pony has been having some issues with thrush in his hooves recently, his owner tells me this is a common occurrence for him and peroxide usually sorts it out.

I've not been having any luck with peroxide so have been using Stockholm tar on the advice of a farrier, which I've also not found to be helpful.

The last few months he's felt really 'jaunty' to ride, I can't explain it better than that, he just feels off. But I've walked him in hand and not seen any lameness issues.

Up until the other day, when I was riding and he was trying to move off hard ground onto grass, which he doesn't usually do, and I couldn't keep him in trot, which is also unlike him. I knew that something was wrong so remained in walk until we got home.

I'd decided I wouldn't ride until I could get to the root of the issue, but took him out for a very short (less than 10 mins) walk in hand to assess and he was looking stiff on his hind. He wasn't limping as such, he just wasn't looking right.

Could this be the thrush causing him issues or is it lami? He's living out 24/7 at the moment and so is on grass and no hard feed or hay. He used to live in a much smaller field so did not have as much access to grass, hence he used to be on hard feed and hay, but this has been stopped (not my decision).

He also had his rear shoes removed a month ago, so I did at first think this could be it. But surely after a month of work without his rear shoes he'd be used to not having them?

I know it's tricky to diagnose without a video, but if anyone has any immediate thoughts I'd be grateful.
 
Is there any heat in the feet? Raised pulses? That will give you an indication of whether to look further for lami…

Its takes months for feet to get used to shoes off again. They always get more footsy before actually getting better. Ive been there with that. It wont help with the damper weather with as that will soften things up.
 
It could be any of those things. He could have had low grade laminitis which wasn’t noticed, but when he’s shoes came off he felt soreness. My Welsh has only had laminitis in the hinds and it is a lot harder to notice. It could be bruising, poor quality soles etc.

As he’s not getting better, I’d probably call a vet to advise.
 
I would not want to worry you but in warmbloods I have seen persistent thrush as the first symptom of PSD.
You need to get a vet to do a lameness assessment.
 
If his got thrush and recently had shoes off could just be foot sore it can take months for them to be really comfortable, with the thrush I use Swan antibac twice a week it clears it up in no time you buy it on line.
 
Treating thrush when pony lives out is not easy. Getting feet clean and dry at this time of year is not easy either.
I've used Hedgewitch product, it's an oil so sticks to the sole and will get in all the crevices.
also, it was 20° here yesterday, so the grass is still growing, so laminitis is still a risk.

in the past when I've had back shoes taken off, the pony has managed fine from the get go, so suspect something else, not just footsore from no shoes.
 
I have used tea-tree oil spray successfully for thrush/foot problems in the past. If pony has had shoes removed has he got hoof boots? Some don't need them, especially on hinds but some do get very footy until they get used to the change. The worst footiness we have ever had was as a result of feeding NAF Pink Powder/Haylage Balancer
 
Barton Bounty said:
Is there any heat in the feet? Raised pulses? That will give you an indication of whether to look further for lami…

Its takes months for feet to get used to shoes off again. They always get more footsy before actually getting better. Ive been there with that. It wont help with the damper weather with as that will soften things up.
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Not as far as I could tell the last time I had a feel, but I'll give them a more thorough investigation today and see.

I'm really hoping that this is all that it is, you've given me a bit of hope that it could be the case so fingers crossed!
 
dreamcometrue said:
Preferring to walk on the grass sounds like he is footsore. One month isn’t very long to acclimatise to being unshod.
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Yes that was my first thought, tbf he doesn't have any other symptoms of lami but it was just the favouring of soft ground that set my alarm bells ringing.

Is there anything that can be used as a temporary measure for unshod horses that are a bit footsore? I noticed in the tack shop today that they sell little rubber pads to use in combination with boots, would this be worth a shot?

He's only actually being ridden twice a week at the moment, so he's certainly not in heavy work!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I have used tea-tree oil spray successfully for thrush/foot problems in the past. If pony has had shoes removed has he got hoof boots? Some don't need them, especially on hinds but some do get very footy until they get used to the change. The worst footiness we have ever had was as a result of feeding NAF Pink Powder/Haylage Balancer
Click to expand...

No, he hasn't got any boots but I'd be willing to give these a shot! I'm not very well versed in treating poorly horses so if you have any recommendations for boots I'd appreciate it
 
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