Young horses feet (sorry its a bit long)

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levantosh

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Hi everyone, didn't know where to post this, my 3yo stallion has just had his first pair of front shoes on, I did want hinds on too but farrier suggested leavin them off. Any way I have been doing quite alot of road work to build him up and get him fit, he hasn't been moving in front like he used too (he is normally straight and correct but now he seems to dish and have a pony like action) in the mornings his hind legs are a bit puffy, so my question is could there be an infection or something like pounding on the roads causing his back legs to swell and is he moving like this due to his first shoes or am I just being paranoid??
 
Have you had your farrier back to re-assess him? I have to say that we never, ever work a horse on the roads without a full set of shoes on.

As to the legs filling - then if you are doing a lot of road work (and too much trotting) then, yes young legs could well be objecting.

Ease up on the work, get your farrier back to have a little look see - and re-assess.
 
He was only shod about a week ago, but has been in work for 2 months. Well this is the thing i'm not going to ease up on road work as I have to go on roads no matter what I do with him, and I insisted on hind shoes, but as the farrier has over 35 years experience he thought he knew best, but I am getting him out tomorrow to fit hind shoes, next time with any more of my youngsters it will either be my way or a different farrier!!!!
 
It's not necessarily the road work that is the issue, perhaps more the type of work you are doing. So if you are pounding on the road - stop, and think about just walking.
 
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Well I don't think walking is strenuous work on the roads! He walks for a mile and a half canters around a stubble field and walks the mile and half home.

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Ah, sorry. You said 'pouding' in your original post. I took that to mean you were doing a lot of trotting.
 
Yeah I just read my post it doesn't quite explain it properly, I mean like he has bit of a trot but he isn't push as he is still young, I just really don't want to cause him any pain or anything like that really. Pounding I mean't just being barefooted on the roads. Sorry. the other thing I have noticed is his legs swell more when he is hot in his stable he has been clipped now and when he has a heavier rug on they come up more!
 
I would be quite concerned about a young horses legs swelling up like that after exercise.
I would perhaps look at what you are feeding him on...high protein maybe? and how much turnout he gets.
 
He wasn't getting fed he has only just started getting fed as he is now cantering, only hay and grass, but it's only since he has had his front shoes done you see, he has been in work for about 2 months and a week an half ago had his fronts done and his legs started to swell! think I'm just getting the vet out to see he may just have knocked himself in field or stable or something, thanks all x
 
perhaps the farrier meant it was safer to have a young horse without shoes in case of kicking etc?

i don't think the back legs would swell because he isn't shod- if anything being barefoot would help relief concussion presuming he is trimmed correctly.

are his feet hot?

when does the swelling go down?
 
Could be concussion related, at 3 they are still growing and maturing so I wouldn't even consider doing roadwork at that age, maybe just a short gentle wander out in company so they get to see whats out there, and a very small amount in the school, maybe a couple of times a week but nothing taxing - normally do a bit more when they've reached 4 yrs old and go from there.
Also would be worth noting what type and weight of shoe your horse has, toe length/shape, what width and length does he have at the heels. As someone else has said maybe worth getting it looked at by your Farrier and Vet .
 
His feet are quite hot his legs go down after turnout or exercise, he hacks out alone and in company just down the road has been having gentle canters etc (all the same work as I do with all my young horse) I think he may be harbouring an infection or something as he is not lame or sore and he has a fantastic constitution. As I said above he doesn't get pushed to work he only does what he is comfortable with. HIS LEGS ARE UP MORE WHEN HE IS HOT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I had exactly the same thing happen with a young mare a few years ago, her back legs swelling, but she had worn her hooves down a bit, once she was shod, it corrected its self in no time!
 
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