What is this? Odd picture of my cob's foot

[gabbypinkjessica]

My little cob is really prone to mud fever.
Up to this winter, I haven't had to do much about it - her feathery feet dry out overnight, and she has udder cream on before she is turned out, and this seemed to stop her getting it. However, this winter we have moved from the north east (cold and dry) to the south west (warm and wet).
I have carried on with my usual management as it seems to suit her, but have tried to keep an eye on her.
The first thing was that her feathers have thinned - i thought this must mean the skin underneath was damaged, but when I examined them, I can't find any scabs, or in fact broken skin. So I didn't do anything about this.
However, the thinning of her feathers means I can see her coronet bands much more, and they are quite thick and bulbous looking on all four feet. The farrier says it's fine and not to worry, I'm just not used to seeing them.
But, today when I brought her in, she was a bit sensitive when I touched her near hind, and when I looked, she seemed to have bits of her coronet band "shedding" in the same way that frogs and chestnuts shed, the bit hanging off is quite rubbery and loose, but she won't let me look very closely at it. The bit I mean is at the left side of the coronet band that looks like it is attached to the wall of her hoof, but it isn't attached, it is loose like the bit you can see further round.
I really don't know if this is normal, and if I should be worried about it? Am I missing something? Should I get the vet? Or am I being a bit neurotic (she isn't lame, and is sometimes a little sensitive when I touch her feet anyway, so maybe it doesn't hurt at all!)?

 

[gabbypinkjessica]

Oh God have just scared myself stupid that she has canker... her feet were very thrushy when I first got her! However, to clarify, her sole and frog look completely normal, no changes, no pain or swelling... so I hope it isn't something like that! It is literally only this little bit on the inside of her near hind. Although all her coronet bands look the same colour and texture.

 

[teddyt]

It looks like the coronet has swelled up because of the wet weather. A bit like when your fingers go white and wrinkly if you spend too long in the bath. Really dry her legs off with a towel when you bring her in.

 

[Patches]

One of my horses has on occasion had that sort of peeling bit of horn at the back of the heel....it's almost like it's been cheese grated. Farrier has always said that's nothing to worry about.

I've never seen any of mine with that raised looking coronet band though. In very wet weather, some of mine seem to have white looking bands that resemble a human cuticle (for want of trying to find something to describe it as), but nothing textured and raised away from the foot like your horse.

Sorry I wasn't much help.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I think it's just where the Periople has got water logged, it kind of goes soft/cloudy and mushy. Sparks has white feet and hers looks similar after a bath. Trust your farrier.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

When your girl's hair thins out it is called bog burn and it is the result of wet muddy conditions damaging the hair shafts which then break off. My hairy ned gets it every winter coz Wales too is in the mild and wet category. I know it's not ideal but she's happier out than in and her hair grows back normally in the spring.

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse has this regularly. He sheds his soles, frogs and coronary band regularly. When it is wet, it is more obvious.

Mud burns away the hair which will be making her feathers thiner and her feet more obvious.

Dont panic, she does not have canker, that really stinks and it starts with thrush which also stinks with a discharge.

Each time my horse is shod, his sole and frogs get trimmed. Between time, sometimes its like he has frog flip flops on.

 

[Fransurrey]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's just where the Periople has got water logged, it kind of goes soft/cloudy and mushy. Sparks has white feet and hers looks similar after a bath. Trust your farrier.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, it's the Periople. Maybe it doesn't shed as easily with thick feathers (my pony has very tidy coronet bands, so I see 'normal' shedding). The periople is like the cuticle on your nails - it protects new growth of horn, until it has chance to keratinise and become more resilient.

I'd be more worried about the bruising 2/3 way up, to be honest.

 

[Theresa_F]

Don't worry, old Cairo's feet looked like this if you looked under the hair. He also used to have huge chunks of frog come off when they got wet, ditto what you describe at the coronet band. In summer it dried out to a thick looking crust that was much reduced.

If you want to avoid the loss of hair, use good old pig oil and sulphur - this prevents "bog burn" which is what your mare has.

If you want the long PM I do on keeping hairies with show condition hair and legs that are mite free, PM me and I will send it to you.

 

[gabbypinkjessica]

Thanks for the help! Much appreciated - I am not used to dealing with mud in the quantity we have it down here! xxx