Your experiences please .... horse ripping hoof

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Squidge90

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So 5weeks and 2 days ago my horse had a small incident in the horse box and basically this caused him to go into 'fight or flight mode' in the horse box on the side of a busy main road, safe to say this was a terrifying experience (I feel very lucky that he escaped with just minor injuries that will heal over time)

The only injury that is still on the mend is the hoof. Some how whilst in the horse box he managed to pretty much shave back hoof down to the live tissue in the panic. The vet was fantastic and cleaned it all out and popped a iodine/sugar poultice for a few days.

Here's the initial damage...





Approximately 5 days post that, a hoof cast was put on (I had never even heard of one prior to the incident) for those unaware, it is basically a plaster cast that a human would have for a broken arm or leg for example but encasing his hoof. This was brilliant, and although it meant box rest, and a bit of a job ensuring it stayed clean and dry within the cast it was brilliant and didn't alter his movement or walking in anyway really (and thankfully we didn't have the issue of any pressure sores)

This was the hoof prior to the first hoof cast...





and at the replacement of it ...



So we have now done just over 4 weeks with a hoof cast and it came off for the final time yesterday. The hoof is looking good, the fleshy stuff now has some sort of cover on it which is hardening up, and the vet is pleased. The plan is now to have a farrier get some sort of shoe on it, and i'm praying that I can chuck him out in the field to give the hoof some time to grow and let him be a horse again (as he's only a 4yo i'm in no rush to get him back into work)








Does anyone have any experiences of similar situations? Did it have any long standing issues on your horse? (I'm expecting this to take 9-10 months before it looks like normal again. Any top tips for hoof supplements? (currently using Farriers Formula and Kevin Bacon dressing on his uncovered feet as the vet commented that there were fairly brittle)

Thanks for reading!
 
Ouchy for your lad, but great he's on the mend.

Mine is not the same, but my youngster had a major hoof resection for a persistent seedy toe infection. It has now fully grown out, and has left no evidence whatsoever that it was ever there. It took about a year to grow out completely. Pictures taken last year, when she was a 3yo. She was box rested for 14 days post resection, with daily applications of alanmycin spray, then shod and the cavity was packed with keratex hoof putty. Then I was able to turn her out 24/7. Shoeing was essential to provide support to the foot, as the resection was very extensive and deep. The hoof wall did ripple and bulge a bit as it grew out, which was worrying, but that was only temporary. She was x rayed again at the end, and these confirmed that she now has a normal foot.

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Unfortunately I don't have pics of the excellent end result :o, you'll have to take my word for it!

Her foot health has improved dramatically since she was started on pro hoof. I'd agree that supplementing your lad's diet is a good idea.

Good luck.
 
I would start feeding a better hoof supplement... There are several, I am using progressive earth ProHoof. My 3 year old has grown almost a complete hoof in 6 months on this, you should notice a marked improvement in hoof quality
 
Thanks Tiddlypom - it amazing how well their feet can recover! Here's hoping my boys will look as good as yours!

GermanyJo - thanks for the reply, I only started using Farriers Formula after it was recommended by a friend but I shall investigate some others.
 
pro hoof and forageplus (and a few others) are supplements preferred by those of us with unshod horses and seem to work well - I say that having used FF in the past ;).

Is there a rush/need to put a shoe on it? I think I'd err on not putting any unnecessary pressure on that horn growing down.
 
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