Updated pictures of my tb's bare hooves. Bft input please??

[Nickles1973]

I have posted an album on my profile called George's hooves 09/10/2012 (original I know!!) with photo's taken today of my horse's hooves.
It is 10 weeks approx since his straight bar fronts came off and 4 weeks since his hinds were removed. I would love some constructive comments from anyone with an interest in barefoot transition on how his hooves are looking.
For comparison the photo's in the other album show his hooves when shod and in vettec plastic shoes to aid his transition.
I should add that he is moving really well when in the field and the menage but is still tentative when walking over concrete, stony ground and rough tarmac.
Thank's in advance.......I hope :/

 

[LucyPriory]

It's very very early days but looking a damn sight better than in shoes or the vettec.

Chipping and some smashing to be expected - this is usually entirely cosmetic and I've not found it to cause lameness.

Bound to be sore over the rougher surfaces. As much from the frogs as anything. They need a lot of TLC. Not harsh chemicals tho. I know they are popular with some, but particularly in this type of case I find them unhelpful.

I tend to mix what I do depending on weather and condition of frog. Current two favourites are sudocrem and red horse field paste. Sometimes I mix 1/3 high strength manuka honey with 2/3 plain zinc and castor oil cream. This is messy but good.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Well I'm no expert,but I do have a barefoot TB, so I know what you're going through. From the photos I've just looked at of yours, , the hooves already look healthier, especially the frog. Boots worked amazingly for my TB before we went the whole way to barefoot, but she is now barefoot and mostly self-trims....

 

[Nickles1973]

Thank's for the replies, it's comforting to have positive feedback.
Lucy, could I ask what it is specifically about his frogs that needs treating? I have been using silverfeet hoof dressing on the soles and frog every couple of days since the weather turned a bit wetter is this not going to help?
Cheers,
N x

 

[LucyPriory]

Re frog health - I think the easiest way is to illustrate the gap in health.

The frog in the attached http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/in-eye-of-beholder.html is not perfect, but belongs to a horse kept in conventional UK domestic livery so is an example of what can be achieved in trying circumstances.

This level of health or better is what you are aiming for.

The owner keeps an immaculate bed and uses a mix of field paste and the manuka honey/zinc oxide and castor oil potion.

But you won't get a decent frog if the diet isn't right.