Urgh, newly barefoot and very sore horse escaped- bruises?

[Michen]

Literally cannot believe this happened last night. I've been so careful since he came back on Monday, religiously picking out his feet, treating for thrush, putting boots on him to get him to the field so he doesn't tread on a stone as the yard surface is a dirt stone path. Making sure he's barely stood on the concrete outside his stable for longer than a minute.

All been fine, he's clearly lame (navicular bruising and inflammation) but walks around pretty comfortably now on his shavings bed- one week post shoe removal. Pottering around in his medicine paddock without shoes happily enough.

Yesterday he decided to remove himself from his stable

and take himself for an amble across the yard, walking himself over concrete, stones and rocky surfaces for about 50 metres in the process. When I grabbed him and went to take him back to his stable he started hopping his back legs (which actually still have shoes on) and then stood like a severely laminitic pony and refused to move.

Got him back in his stable but he's clearly sorer today on his shavings than he has been. Absolutely terrified he's bruised his paper thin soles argh- as if this isn't difficult and stressful enough. Any suggestions on what I can do for him? Should I keep him on the shavings bed for a few days or turn him out in boots (they are borrowed and too big but would do with a nappy, he's in a restricted paddock anyway) and let him move around a bit? I'm also away this weekend so I'll no doubt spend the entire weekend worrying that he will spring 5 abscesses in each foot!!!!!

 

[paddy555]

don't put him out loose in boots that are too big even with padding. If me charges around he could get them off and cause an accident.
It is not the end of the world so just carry on as normal and let him sort himself out.

There are 2 things you could do. Clean his feet out and then put him on a muddy area so that he packs his feet with mud then don't clean them any longer.If you want to treat thrush leave the mud in as packing and just treat the central sulchus.
Also, if the track was short enough and you had permission or owned it you could forget putting on boots to get him to his paddock but put old carpet down as a walkway. This would save putting boots on.