Very exciting hoof update

sheep

sheep

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My OH is a very laid back type and wasn't as excited as I was at this discovery and my best mate is on her hols so have to share my very happy update with you lot! Unfortunately no pics yet but I will get some soon! I naturally keep a fairly close eye on my boy's feet - as you may know he had his shoes taken off a couple of months ago, after shoeing in wedges did sod all for him - but lately I have just been looking after them as normal and restraining myself from analysing every single detail on them.

Anyway yesterday I could restrain myself no longer and lay on the floor to get a good close look at them (very health and safety conscious) and OMG there is such a massive change in the angle of his feet! I think the increased workload over the past 4 weeks has prompted a bit of a growth spurt and there is now a clearly defined point between old angle and new angle - it is so exciting - my clever boy is growing his own 'wedge' and correcting the angles of his own feet. It is truly fascinating, I can see so clearly now how flat his feet were, and how long his toes were in comparison to how they should be. Will need to get him booked in a for trim soon, my farrier has dealt with my friend's unshod mare for 20 odd years so I trust him, nevertheless I will make sure I am there to ensure he doesn't touch sole, frog etc, just a wee tidy round the edges. We aren't heel first yet but we are definitely moving in the right direction.

My vet thought I was a nutcase for doing what I did, would love to show him what fantastic progress we are now making ;)

I will get some detailed photos soon, it will also be interesting to compare his feet with his xrays, the xrays he had taken in October showed one of his front legs is actually quite crooked - I wonder what weird and wonderful things his hoof is doing to deal with that?

Happy happy happy.
 
This is what so many people, vets and farriers included, refuse to believe - that all we have to focus on is maintaining appropriate diet and exercise, and the horse will sort everything else out themselves.
 
You have qualified as a fully paid up hoof anorak, and you will now be addicted to your daily dose of hoof porn. congratulations!

It's so exciting, isn't it? The downside is that you will now see bad feet everywhere you look, and if you're like the rest of us you will dream feet. Welcome to the club!'

If your horse has a twisted leg, is very likely that he'll grow a foot to match. It might help if you start a conversation with the farrier now about how important it will be not to try to trim his foot straight, but let him have the foot that matches his leg even if it looks a bit odd.

We want photos, you have to supply your share to keep us all going with our addiction :)
 
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It was just such a lightbulb moment, I couldn't believe the sudden change! The vet in question is actually out to the yard this week, I would love to show him the results but no doubt he will still think I'm a nut case..Aw well I'm happy to be considered mad if my wee horse is happy!
 
Ok, here's a pic, not the best quality but you get the idea!

IMAG0753_zpsf67726bf.jpg
 
I cannot believe how much the toe is going to come back! And in a fairly short space of time - about ten weeks. Now, if only I had done this in October!
 
Sheep said:
I cannot believe how much the toe is going to come back! And in a fairly short space of time - about ten weeks. Now, if only I had done this in October!
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If only the experts advising you had known more.....

But what we are finding is that it's never too late. I managed to recover a ten year old who had been lame since he was five. Work is really important, keep those feet walking! :)
 
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It is a light bulb moment and for me a sad one because of the ones from the past I could have helped this way .
 
cptrayes said:
If only the experts advising you had known more.....

But what we are finding is that it's never too late. I managed to recover a ten year old who had been lame since he was five. Work is really important, keep those feet walking! :)
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Yep, we are going to get firmly stuck in. He is an older horse so it is only going to benefit him, keep him fit and in good shape. Who knows, we might even get out dressaging some day.


Goldenstar said:
It is a light bulb moment and for me a sad one because of the ones from the past I could have helped this way .
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It is sad from that perspective, but on the other hand a steep learning curve, and you can only do what you think is best at the time.

If I followed my vet to the letter, my horse would still be lame and shod in wedges, and probably his feet would collapse beyond repair at some point. If I hadn't read things on this very forum, that is no doubt the direction I would now be heading. Not because I wouldn't be doing my best for my horse, but because that is what I would be told is best.

I'm very lucky to have received some fantastic advice on here, and read some fantastic posts from others.
 
As comparison, here is the same foot when his shoes first came off. Btw, I got my dates confused, so we are on about week 13 now without shoes!

IMAG2114_zps3ff029d6.jpg


I don't think I'm ever going to get bored of talking about his feet. Lol.
 
Sheep said:
As comparison, here is the same foot when his shoes first came off. Btw, I got my dates confused, so we are on about week 13 now without shoes!

IMAG2114_zps3ff029d6.jpg


I don't think I'm ever going to get bored of talking about his feet. Lol.
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Wow! Leaving aside the toe, which has been dumped so is even worse than it looks, look at the thickness of the piece of hair at the bottom of the back of the pastern. That the lateral cartilage and digital cushion. It's getting on for twice as thick. Well done!
 
I'm delighted with him, he's such a good boy! I will have to get some good all round pics soon so as to have a thorough comparison of how they have changed. But regardless I think we are definitely heading in the right direction, and this one simple wee picture just shows me how the wait, and the work, is well worth it. It's great to see a tangible change, as well as feeling it.
 
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