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cindy mette
Member
Username: Cindylou
Post Number: 44
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004 - 9:53 am: |   |
ok I have read the articles- but I still have questions. I have an eight year old QH gelding with a lot of vertical cracks- all four feet. He has never had great feet- but never this problem. We have worked for a year on getting his feet balanced- he has struggled with stratches- almost all of that gone now- just a touch remaining. I have him on ferriers formula- he is outside on pasture(dry) 22 hours a day,has free choice hay( although not great quality hay) he is ridden lightly indoor or outdoor arena two or three times a week. I have his selenium tested- and selenium is added in his diet. More cracking then ever in the last month. He is not overweight-and recently has had a crack enter above the coronet band. He is not lame- nor is sensitive at all-and no heat in the foot. He is trimmed every five to six weeks. Has never been shod- and would prefer to keep the barefoot trim. My ferrier is stumped- I know if I call my vet she will want to shoe- I don't want to do that. I am concerned as to what to do about the crack entering in his skin- and why isn't it sore? I put antibiotic cream on it- the crack is maybe an 1.8- to a 1.4 inch. Only one going up the hoof past the coronet band. Should I stop riding? Should I find someone to bond the hoof? Help!! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 11222
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004 - 11:11 pm: | |
Cindy, could you post some photos of the hoofs?
If he was having trouble with scratches he was probably having trouble with excess wetting (and drying). Even if dry now, the wall is damaged.
Since you have not posted in the forum to the article on hoof cracks I wonder if you have read this article: Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Poor Horn Quality: problems with the wall and soles. If gives explanations and recommendations.
If you have worsening cracks that are going into the coronet, yes I would quit riding for a while until you figure this thing out and start seeing improvement.
DrO |
cindy mette
Member
Username: Cindylou
Post Number: 45
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 - 2:50 pm: | |
Yes I did read and it was helpful- I just can't come up with why this horse is cracking so much all of a sudden. He doesn't fit any of the profiles. I had a chiropractor out for another horse of mine and she feels the toes are too long-causing the cracking. My ferrier came out yesterday and our goal is to trim every four weeks- instead of five or six and try to get the toes back a bit. She also wants me to try a hoof sealant- by SBS- anyone have any experiance with it? |
Jennifer Usher
New Member
Username: Eowyn
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 11:20 pm: | |
Hello, I'm new to this site and happy to have found it. I am concerned about two horses that belong to a neighbor of mine, one a Belgian mare and the other an Appaloosa gelding. Both horses have been turned out to pasture for many years now. The mare has deep cracks in both front hooves, basically spitting her feet in two. Other than her feet she appears healthy. The gelding's feet haven't been trimmed in at least a year, and have grown out into a shell shape. He has difficulty walking. He also has a chronic eye inflammation. I've spoken with their owner about these problems, but he's done nothing so far. I don't think it's a case of malicious neglect, I think he just doesn't notice. I guess what I'm asking for is information about these health problems that I can take to him and try to convince him to make changes in the horses health routine. I've decided that if after this he still does nothing then I will contact the authorities. Thank you in advance for any advice or information. |
Denise Bryant
Member
Username: Contilli
Post Number: 45
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 9:30 am: | |
Hi Cindy-
My three year old get similar cracks. He must have at least 4 up each hoof. They are really superficial and not into the wall. My Journeyman Farrier says it is due the dryness. He is the only one with these and they too make me uncomfortable. He is not lame and the cracks never 'split'. My farrier also says that putting shoes will not help this issue. They will go away with time. They have never gotten worse and actually they are getting better.
I sent him to a trainer for three months so I can not take any photos of him for you.
Good luck,
Denise |
Cheryl Hohler
Member
Username: Chohler
Post Number: 152
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 1:01 pm: | |
Jennifer talk to your animal control or humane agency and see if they can do anything. Neglect is neglect whether out of ignorance or malice. The mare needs corrective shoeing to bring the split back together to heal and the gelding needs several corrective trims and help for his eye. The points you can make to the authorities are they willl both end up dead lame and the gelding might loose his eye wich is not a life threatning thing but still. If money is a problem for the gentleman, the vet & farrier might cut the prices to help. |
Jennifer Usher
Member
Username: Eowyn
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 2:22 pm: | |
Thank you Cheryl! I did call my animal control officer today and we're working on it. I don't want to antagonize my neighbor, I just want to see the horses properly cared for. |
Cheryl Hohler
Member
Username: Chohler
Post Number: 156
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 3:51 pm: | |
I hope they can get something worked out. I think these things just happen out of ignorance and circumstances. Alot of people figure as long as their fed thats good enough. |
