What to do for the best? Feet issues again!

[asommerville]

My 18 yo mare has now stood in for 10 weeks on the farrier and vet advice after having her feet x rayed after Christmas.

She has weak hooves and thin soles and was down in her heels.

She is allowed walked out or ridden but has not been in the field, farrier said last week I need to manage her feet and in the winter she can only get out for an hour per day which unfortunately is probably not something I can arrange due to work etc (easy for him to say) in the summer he advised she can only be out in the day and in at night or vice versa due to the damage the wet fields will do on her feet.

I am scunnered. Feel so sorry for her and she's fed up now but have no idea how I can arrange her getting out for an hour and back in.

I love her to bits but I can't help thinking it must be a crap quality of life for her and I absolutely Won't have her stood in for 6 months of the year........can anyone give me advice as I am failing to come to any solution at all

 

[Angua2]

I have no doubt the BFT will be about soon, but I guess the usual questions will need to be addressed regarding diet etc


Have you considered hoof boots??

 

[TigerTail]

How is having her stood in and all but stationary going to improve the situation To grow hooves need stimulating, the soles need stimulating, which aint gonna happen stood in. All thats going to do is make an old lady's joints stiff!

She needs boots and pads and movement and a good diet!

Whats the diet at the mo?

Is she shod atm?

 

[TwoStroke]

Research barefoot on here, there's much you can do to help your horse without her being stuck in a box for the rest of her days .

 

[HaffiesRock]

There will be a solution. Could you move her somewhere where there was someone who could turn her out and bring her in. Or somewhere where there is hard standing so she can be out but not on mud?

I hope you find a solution for her xx

 

[pines of rome]

I would put her out in boots and pads, it really helps to do this with horses with thin soles!
I did this with my TB daily for nearly three months when I took his shoes off and brought him in at night on a nice deep shaving bed!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Is she foot sore in the field?

My mare has dreadful hooves after they were butchered by a bad farrier. My new farrier (and Vet) was happy for me to keep her out 24/7 as she was comfortable in the field.

 

[asommerville]

shoes were initially off ut now back on at the advice of farrier and vet. she is fed on haylage, dengie hi fi molasses free, fast fibre, magnesium and pro hoof dont have the option for being out 24 hours until.May either. i have looked at loads of yards but no where could.offer what we need :-(

 

[TwoStroke]

How long has she been on the minerals? If not long, then give it some time to kick in. If she's been on them for a long time, however, you may need to think about a forage analysis in order to give her a more specialised diet.

After that I'm afraid that stimulation is a necessary part of rehabbing feet like this, and that can't be done in shoes. I know it's difficult when the farrier and the vet are recommending shoes, but they simply don't understand the theory behind barefoot.

 

[LucyPriory]

Please post hoof photos side on with camera on the ground (stay safe tho) and a clean view of the sole.

 

[asommerville]

Not sure about pics, hope these work.

these are the x rays from beginning Jan

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...70ee788984de1117f14d5247c9e1e_zpsfbf9d31e.jpg

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...d493fc7128685b076da1ba52a23c4_zps1b2bfd27.jpg

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...043f26c771dc9e8fb30e6fb0d4c55_zps3e7b4f39.jpg
I am aware of the demineralisation in the above pic as the horse already has pedal ostitis as an ongoing issue

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...2dd8100f8ff473b11f7b1b60cbcdb_zps52ebbff2.jpg

The below was from January, will get updated pics this evening

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...eeec19dc22c0e9fc4b10d6692e146_zps23aa4e70.jpg

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...c4ade4ed812cbfbf93cabc3f04ae2_zps401a2e19.jpg

http://s1274.beta.photobucket.com/u...=3&o=15&_suid=1363195196478019456080688558053

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums...d25647f8da4a9076bd73375458663_zpsf3218eb2.jpg

Sorry for the photo overload

 

[LucyPriory]

Sorry can't make the links work.

 

[TigerTail]

I am aware of the demineralisation in the above pic as the horse already has pedal ostitis as an ongoing issue

Thats what I can get to work! OP when taking a sole shot you need to get the camera more square and level to the hoof