Thrush on box rest...

[Albus15]

So my horse is coming towards the end of the three month box rest for a ligament injury (re-scan booked in January - suppose it all depends on that how much longer it will be). I've had his shoes taken off roughly 3/4 weeks ago.
He's on a thick shavings bed, gets mucked out twice a day and is a fairly clean horse. He has his feet picked out every time he's mucked out. He's got a fair bit of thrush mostly around the hoof wall.

Waiting on response from farrier, but has anyone found any successful remedies? Currently cleaned and sprayed with an iodine solution...

I've read online that it can also be caused by the lack of blood flow from the lack of movement, obviously this worries me with a lack of blood flow to help with injury healing...

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I found tea-tree oil spray very effective, while not being so strong as to destroy healthy tissue.

 

[Fieldlife]

Red horse hoof products - smear hoof paste or artimud on and should stay on a few days.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Red horse hoof products - smear hoof paste or artimud on and should stay on a few days.

I used tea-tree oil spray while waiting for Red Horse delivery. By the time it arrived, the thrush had cleared up. Farrier, who had recommended RH product was most impressed.

 

[Albus15]

Red horse hoof products - smear hoof paste or artimud on and should stay on a few days.

I've heard of the Artimud before - would this not just come off with the shavings?

 

[Equi]

The best I’ve found is to clean it out, syringe purple spray (wear gloves!!!) dry it off with some cotton wool and apply a dusting of thrush powder.

 

[Surbie]

I use field paste or artimud on a cleaned hoof - it works really well and smells lovely. Not that the latter matters much, but it's a nice side benefit.

 

[smolmaus]

I've heard of the Artimud before - would this not just come off with the shavings?

Some does but unless pony has been out in sucking mud I always find at least a little bit still in the grooves the next day. Artimud anyway. I didn't have much luck with the field paste myself.

I'm allergic to tea tree so it's all Red Horse for me

 

[Tiddlypom]

I use field paste or artimud on a cleaned hoof - it works really well and smells lovely. Not that the latter matters much, but it's a nice side benefit.

This. Field paste works well for stabled horses too, and it does smell nice! Shavings do stick to it, but it still works.

Great for keeping frogs healthy in soggy waterlogged ground, too, like now. Just applied some more to my two field kept horses this morning.

 

[Surbie]

My farrier told me to dust with some baby powder/talc after applying the field paste - reduces the shavings stickiness instantly

 

[smolmaus]

My farrier told me to dust with some baby powder/talc after applying the field paste - reduces the shavings stickiness instantly

I can't do clay without coming away covered in it. If I start with talc it's going to look like a scene from the Godfather. Still a good tip tho.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Swan anti bac dressing is brilliant so is eucalyptus oil.

 

[Apizz2019]

Red horse stable paint is brilliant stuff.

 

[rhino]

I use artimud and sole paint, both great products.

Be careful if you use anything containing tea tree oil, I’ve known many horses (including both my last 2) who reacted badly to it.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I go to the ag shop and buy anything targeted at farmers and hooves! Usually cheap and effective.

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

Take a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab pages regarding thrush. Unless the heel is low enough for the frog to 'kiss' the ground when the horse moves, the thrush will be difficult to clear. If your horse has been on rehab, it is possible there is now excess heel growth which you cannot pare back into balance for fear of undoing the rehab. See what your farrier thinks. Good luck.

 

[Beausmate]

I've heard of the Artimud before - would this not just come off with the shavings?

It's unlikely. Artimud is clay based, and sticks really well. I pick and brush out the grooves, then really push the mud in and leave it. It should last several days in a stabled horse. I've had horses out in the wet for a few days, and they often still have some left in there.

 

[CJoe]

Red Horse Field Paste, twice a day!!

 

[Horseysheepy]

Some does but unless pony has been out in sucking mud I always find at least a little bit still in the grooves the next day. Artimud anyway. I didn't have much luck with the field paste myself.

I'm allergic to tea tree so it's all Red Horse for me

Sorry to hijack post.

Would Artimud suit a horse that is in overnight on a deep straw bed do you think?

How often do you apply? My TB seems to really struggle with thrush.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sorry to hijack post.

Would Artimud suit a horse that is in overnight on a deep straw bed do you think?

How often do you apply? My TB seems to really struggle with thrush.

If it’s a very deep central sulcus then pack Red horse hoof stuff wadding in with a hoof pick, pressing it in firmly.

I thoroughly pick out the central sulcus first if the horse will allow it (it can be very sore if active thrush present) then spray with Engemycin oxytetracycline blue spray (a POM), allow to dry then pack with hoof stuff.

Artimud for shallower and/or more open central sulci as hoof stuff will fall out of those.

​

 

[smolmaus]

Sorry to hijack post.

Would Artimud suit a horse that is in overnight on a deep straw bed do you think?

How often do you apply? My TB seems to really struggle with thrush.

What Tiddlypom said basically.

I do a scrub with the hose for maintenance or a warm soak in salted water for active thrush, then a disinfectant spray, the Hoof Stuff packing material if required and Artimud clay. Hoof stuff and artimud will stick to a wet foot which is why I like it. The field paste won't, foot needs to be dry.

I was replacing Hoof Stuff every 2 days for active thrush and try and do a scrub and artimud once a week for maintenance.

 

[Apizz2019]

Please dont use field paste. It's called field paste for a reason - it's for the field.

Red Horse do a stable paint product which is a thinner version of field paste that stops bedding balling up in their hooves, which is what will happen if you use field paste indoors.

 

[Albus15]

Thanks guys some really good recommendations here!

 

[Surbie]

Please dont use field paste. It's called field paste for a reason - it's for the field.

Red Horse do a stable paint product which is a thinner version of field paste that stops bedding balling up in their hooves, which is what will happen if you use field paste indoors.

Interesting, I've used field paste in feet for an overnight stabled horse for 5 winters and have never once had this. This is both on shavings and now on miscanthus. Perhaps it depends on how concave the feet are?

 

[Goldenstar]

I always done well using iodine but with Thrush it’s always a case of what you doing does not work do something else.
Thrush on box rest is a thing the system of the horse is under stress things like thrush thrive in situations like that .
I hope your horse comes through whatever is wrong well.
My experience is that when movement and a return to normality starts you will shift in a jiffy .

 

[Apizz2019]

Interesting, I've used field paste in feet for an overnight stabled horse for 5 winters and have never once had this. This is both on shavings and now on miscanthus. Perhaps it depends on how concave the feet are?

I used it and it balled the bedding (aubiose) in our ponys hooves terribly. I switched to the stable paint for that reason.
RH recommend the stable paint for use with bedding, not the paste.