What is going on with this hoof?

[Wagtail]

Horse is currently unrideable. History of ulcers (now treated and scanned clear), but still jibbing and turning and looking at her sides like she has colic (only when ridden). She has very slight left fore lameness. Feet are uneven. Straighter on inside and more flared on outside. She has slightly offset cannons (bench knees) which I think are the reason for this. But I noticed she has high low heel conformation too and there is a change in angle of growth in the left fore. Sorry about the white line being unclear, I was in a hurry when photographing and did not pick out enough so they have a bit of sand in them. Any ideas what is going on?

LF side

LF Front

LF heel

LF sole

RF side

RF front

RF heel

RF sole

 

[Wagtail]

I meant to say, the horse prefers left rein to right. She acts like she is protecting herself from pain when ridden and is all bunched up and affected. I wonder if she is not loading her left fore so much because she is shielding a pain issue higher up. She has had her ovaries scanned and all is fine, but she is in season more often than not. She has put on weight but this may be down to lack of exercise. Regarding her feet, I was wondering if the change in angle could indicate some pedal bone rotation. She is not foot sore even on stones.

 

[cptrayes]

Wagtail if you look at the hairline she has a desperate mediolateral imbalance in that foot. If she was mine I would be walking walking walking in hand if necessary, on abrasive surfaces until she puts that hairline straight. There's a good chance she'll then come sound on it.

It's also changing to a more upright foot. That'll come through fine too.

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks, Cptrayes. I hadn't noticed the hairline. She hasn't been hacking out at all because of the riding issue. Will suggest her owner tries walking her out. I wonder why the foot is changing?

 

[cptrayes]

If the height is changing compared to the other, I've seen it in horses with shoulder injuries.

C

 

[glenruby]

Nothing to do with shoulder lameness - just a result of chronic lameness in general. Your horse is developing a more upright hoof conformation (club foot) by the sounds of it as a result of chronic lameness. You need to get to the bottom of the lameness asap, not increase the exercise.

 

[Wagtail]

This horse used to develop a strange sweat patch on this shoulder. She was also found to have some stiffness there a couple of years ago by the physio, so she may well be experiencing pain there again. Vets (she has had many look at her recently) have not picked up on it, except to say that she has very slight left fore lameness. I am wondering though if the lameness could be bilateral and just worse on that side. Vets don't think the lameness has anything to do with her reluctance to be ridden though.

 

[amandap]

Aren't these body/hoof problems often a chicken and egg situation? My guess is that until the hooves are more robust the horse will continue to compensate in it's body.

 

[wench]

Is this the one you had an animal communicator out to? Did it do any good?

How about a thermal imaging scan?

 

[amandap]

If it is a club foot, I believe they are usually due to short striding on that leg from a body issue or diagonal leg/foot.

 

[brucea]

Wagtail if you look at the hairline she has a desperate mediolateral imbalance in that foot. If she was mine I would be walking walking walking in hand if necessary, on abrasive surfaces until she puts that hairline straight. There's a good chance she'll then come sound on it.

It's also changing to a more upright foot. That'll come through fine too.

Ditto - walking is good. A nice free stride out walk - no one on board, no tack. Good for you too!

I'd also be into these deep central sulci flossing them out with povidone if possible. dealing with anything in there is key.

Slight bit of WLS - watch the diet too.

 

[Wagtail]

Well xrays were done and show the pedal bone is tilted slightly and is in line with the new growth. But it is not laminitis (which we knew anyway). Foot is also unbalanced mediolaterally, as CPtrayes pointed out and this is mirrored in the pedal bone too. The navicular bone looks good, so it is a foot balance issue. We will be working with the farrier to correct this (without shoeing).

As to the cause, the mare has just had her back xrayed. It had been clear of all problems 3 years ago, but is now showing some processes that are very very close, and two that are overlapping. So I guess that she has kissing spine.