Unusual overreach? Not sure on how to resolve this issue..

Jordi222

Jordi222

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Hi All,

My mare appeared lame about 4 months ago or so, just after clipping her feathers. She's a chunky 15.2 shire X who just tends to plod around the field with the occasional whiz round with her gelding friend.

I had called the vet out and he suggested that she is somewhat overreaching (I cant remember the word he used!) but she is clipping her fetlock above her ergot somehow. This leaves her very sore and leaves a bloody or dryish scab in a short line above her ergot. I wasn't sure if she was doing this as she didn't have the protection of thick feathers to cushion any overreach?

It hadn't happened for a couple of months and yesterday when I rode, I hadn't noticed it had happened again. I rode her in front tendon boots as usual (with carbon fibre inserts so nothing can get through!)

We walked, trotted and cantered around the farmland. However, on our way back she became lame on the leg with the cut on it, but only lame in trot?

I'm hoping it's nothing else too serious, but I Hibiscrubbed and wrapped the sore when I got back as I had found it by then and protected the wrap with a brushing boot to turn her out for the night.

Has anyone else had this strange problem? I am just concerned it'll happen all over again and I hate knowing she's not feeling tip top :(

Note; We don't jump regularly or do anything that would cause this sort of injury..
 
Pictures would be really helpful if you have any, I'd be pretty surprised if this was an overreach injury rather than something like mites/mud fever though from what you've described.
 
Hi Jo1987,

We have really great drainage where we are and haven't seen mud since March time.. I am mystified. I deosect her twice weekly all over as I am paranoid about bugs. I'll try and get some pictures tonight, but she doesn't usually let me get near the area.

If I turn her out in a brushing boot, it heals up and disappears, but this is not a great long term solution as they always end up torn and ruined
 
Is it creased there? I only ask because my lad certainly has creases there that can get sore (his are behind so def not over reaching!), where does it sit if you flex it.
 
ester said:
Is it creased there? I only ask because my lad certainly has creases there that can get sore (his are behind so def not over reaching!), where does it sit if you flex it.
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Actually, that sounds like a good thought.
It could be! She reluctantly lifts her fronts (she's a bit of a bag), so I'll have to have look tonight but I'm starting to think that might be a thought.. The brushing boot softens it where it holds her own moisture in, so perhaps when they come off and it dries - it gets sore?
 
That is mudfever if you ask me. Strange I know but that is how the bacteria affects the skin. It makes it crack in lines. I had a hairy feathered cob who I used to clip and wondered what it was but it was definitely mud fever. However, because I thought it would go, i left it and it spread to lots of lines and then it just got really bad at the back of the hoof.

I soon found out that it'n am imbalance in the diet that weakens the skin so it's important to up the vit e and calcium in her diet (micronised linseed is a good source of vit e plus good omega oils only a small cupful) to strengthen the skin and just keep the area as dry as possible this summer. Use an antibacterial cream on it sparingly. It will soon go.
 
tallyho! said:
That is mudfever if you ask me. Strange I know but that is how the bacteria affects the skin. It makes it crack in lines. I had a hairy feathered cob who I used to clip and wondered what it was but it was definitely mud fever. However, because I thought it would go, i left it and it spread to lots of lines and then it just got really bad at the back of the hoof.

I soon found out that it'n am imbalance in the diet that weakens the skin so it's important to up the vit e and calcium in her diet (micronised linseed is a good source of vit e plus good omega oils only a small cupful) to strengthen the skin and just keep the area as dry as possible this summer. Use an antibacterial cream on it sparingly. It will soon go.
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I ruled mud fever out as the vet never suggested it, she is washed and groomed daily with 24/7 turnout so I hadn't even thought about it :/ I've just had a look online at pictures of mud fever and she hasn't lost any hair and the skin is still of a normal colour, it just appears sliced? I might have to have the vet back to give me another opinion.
 
How do your tendon boots fit? Do you ride in them regularly? Just wondering if the wound is at the base of the tendon boot and is either caused by the boot rubbing or is aggravated by it?
 
spacefaer said:
How do your tendon boots fit? Do you ride in them regularly? Just wondering if the wound is at the base of the tendon boot and is either caused by the boot rubbing or is aggravated by it?
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Hiya, I bought them just under a week ago and have ridden twice. Before now, I had a softer woof wear brushing boot made of a foamy type material. It's so confusing, but I'm guessing if it was aggravating her, it would have been worse in trot, hence the lameness I guess. I think I've definitely got to get a picture on here later :)
 
I'm eagerly awaiting photos of this if you can get them, my next question was going to be does she have a crease there but I see someone has already asked!
Being fairly new to cob ownership I'm intrigued by all these leg ailments that they seem to suffer with!
I would hazard a guess that it's something like mud fever if it's in the 'crease' that some cobs seem to have. I've discovered that you don't necessarily need mud for it to take hold, sometimes they seem to just get dry skin which turns sore for no reason at all!
I'd be getting it nice and clean and putting some mud fever cream on - my favourite is nettex muddy marvel.
 
ester said:
Is it creased there? I only ask because my lad certainly has creases there that can get sore (his are behind so def not over reaching!), where does it sit if you flex it.
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My horse is the same, he tends to get mud fever in these creases if they get damp/muddy.
 
Jo1987 said:
I'm eagerly awaiting photos of this if you can get them, my next question was going to be does she have a crease there but I see someone has already asked!
Being fairly new to cob ownership I'm intrigued by all these leg ailments that they seem to suffer with!
I would hazard a guess that it's something like mud fever if it's in the 'crease' that some cobs seem to have. I've discovered that you don't necessarily need mud for it to take hold, sometimes they seem to just get dry skin which turns sore for no reason at all!
I'd be getting it nice and clean and putting some mud fever cream on - my favourite is nettex muddy marvel.
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I may be best to treat it for a bit of everything so getting hold of some mud fever cream might be worth a go just to rule it out. I just would have expected my vet to pick up on this, so I am surprised.
The creams seem inexpensive so hopefully I can find a solution.. Would that cause lameness in that leg if it was making her sore? Usually these types of scuffs look worse than they are, but when she was lame in trot it made me worry more!!
 
Oh, and she is jet black so it's always great fun trying to find little nicks and sore bits.. Not! She has two white socks funnily enough - neither of which have ever had any problems! Sods law.
 
cream wise I do like to use sudocreme and add some flowers of sulphur to it. Cheap and effective ;).

and yes, if it is in a crease every times she puts her foot down it will stretch it a bit so could be making her lame.
 
It is most unlikely to be mud-fever if you have no mud but it is a kind of pastern dermatitis. It is probably worth asking your vet to take skin scrapings.
I have a mare with some very old scarring in lines around her pasterns and higher up her legs, which presents as mallenders/sallenders. I realised (long story) that her dermatitis is caused by wheat in her diet, even the tiniest amount causes her problems. She has never had hard feed with us, only ever grass/hay/haylage/grassnuts but she has had various supplements and commercial brand treats. I have now removed any wheat-based item, so no biotin/wheatgerm/
Brewer's yeast/bran and have replaced treats with carrot pieces as rewards. Her long-standing dermatitis has cleared up. I was speaking to my vet about it only a couple of weeks ago and he likened it to candida, which clears up when the problem food is removed from the diet.
 
I'd really like to see a picture to see if this is the same thing my horse is doing- It's definitely not mud fever or mites or dermatitis in my case, as I waited for the scabs to heal, went for a hack, came back and he came back bleeding there again, so I know it's some sort of weird overreach.

It's only on one leg, so I have bought a pastern wrap which seems to stop him cutting himself, though he is obviously still kicking/rubbing it as the pastern wrap is getting damaged in the same place! I think it's just a case of odd conformation.

If you find a reason for it, let me know!
 
Hope you find the cause. Meanwhile, if the tendon boots seem to help, you could try some field turnout boots/chaps. They are padded out and soft and especially made for turnout (Equilibrium, Shires and Requisite make them).
 
PaulnasherryRocky said:
I'd really like to see a picture to see if this is the same thing my horse is doing- It's definitely not mud fever or mites or dermatitis in my case, as I waited for the scabs to heal, went for a hack, came back and he came back bleeding there again, so I know it's some sort of weird overreach.

It's only on one leg, so I have bought a pastern wrap which seems to stop him cutting himself, though he is obviously still kicking/rubbing it as the pastern wrap is getting damaged in the same place! I think it's just a case of odd conformation.

If you find a reason for it, let me know!
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Not pleased to hear about your horse doing this - but pleased to know I'm not the only one!

Am currently treating as mud fever as a lot of responses have suggested this. It's hard to tell with my mare, she came from quite an unloved background.. Mentally and care-wise so I'm just going through the motions of the first year with a new horse.

I'm at work currently, but my vet is with her and my mother at the moment so will hopefully have another thought about this by the time I get home! She's a clumsy thing, so god knows.
 
Jordi222 said:
Not pleased to hear about your horse doing this - but pleased to know I'm not the only one!

Am currently treating as mud fever as a lot of responses have suggested this. It's hard to tell with my mare, she came from quite an unloved background.. Mentally and care-wise so I'm just going through the motions of the first year with a new horse.

I'm at work currently, but my vet is with her and my mother at the moment so will hopefully have another thought about this by the time I get home! She's a clumsy thing, so god knows.
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My farrier has recently re balanced his feet to try and sort out a different problem, so I was kindof hoping this would stop this problem but seems not- I think it's just because his legs turn inwards at the knee, he's pigeon toed essentially so just kicks himself- I find the sore gets worse with brushing boots if I don't have the pastern wrap on aswell- as it then becomes the boot rubbing on him instead of fur on fur (if that makes sense!)

I'l take a picture of his tonight and you can tell me if its in the same place as yours!
 
Hi all - just an update.

She had her jabs on Friday afternoon so took the opportunity to ask a second vet's opinion on her funny little injury on her leg.

This vet thinks it's a variation of dermatitis and has suggested I keep it moist at all times, with acqueous, sudocrem or vaseline. Her walking is less awkward and she isn't lame for now - I'm just glad she didn't need yet another course of bute and I have been told to keep it open to the air.

I'm still convinced she's bashing herself on the leg, but I'll give this a go for now ;)
 
Ladyinred said:
This is what you want if you are convinced its a knock. Can be worn above or below the fetlock joint so would be ideal for your mare.

http://hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/751/JHL-Sausage-Boot-or-Fetlock-Ring
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That won't be likely to go round the fetlock of a heavy type, they fit around a tb at a push with the risk of doing more damage by rubbing if the strap ends up at the back which it may well do.
I really cannot see how it is caused by the hindleg when on the move, unless the horse is exceptionally short and athletic as well as clumsy, it could be something she does when she lies down, or as she gets up she catches herself, a yorkshire boot may be better than tendon boots once you can cover it up again as they are softer and less likely to rub, although if possible leave uncovered as much as possible.
 
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Sorry for awful blurry pic and muddy horse- this was after a hack once I had left the scab before to completely heal up and fall off- is this what your horse is doing?
It's only on this leg, the only way he can be doing this is by kicking himself, which i'm convinced he is as he has very narrow conformation.

I use a pastern wrap on that leg and it stops him cutting himself, doesn't help the cause of the issue but some things can't be helped (Ie-his conformation!)
 
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