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Discussion on No Hoof Care in 9 Months
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 11:41 am:
Hello All--
These poor feet belong to a 15-yo Appendix bred that I am helping move to a better home. The current owner has not provided farrier care in 9 months. Poor, poor girl. Where should we start with these to get her healthy again? 
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 12:01 pm:
I wouldnt think it would be too much of a problem. The feet have been self trimming on thier own. I would keep him barefoot till the cracks grow down. That should happen when the feet dont grow so long they have to break off by themselves. I dont think it would take long to get those feet nice and healthy. Is he lame?
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 12:04 pm:
Oh ouch Terri!! I have no advice, except maybe getting some xrays which you're probably already doing. Good for you for helping the poor girl!
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 12:19 pm:
No, she isn't lame...but is ouchy on hard ground. I am wondering, once she gets a farrier's care (she has not yet been moved, but soon), what supplements to give to bolster healthy horn growth. I would think within another 9 months and attention, they might be back to normal?
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 12:52 pm:
Terri, thats about the right time frame I think they say 8-12 months for a new hoof to grow down. I don't think you need supplements as a good diet should be all thats needed but biotin at least 50mg per dose. ( i think thats the amount?)has been shown to help. Most products for hooves don't have enough to do any good so you really have to check the amounts per serving. Dr O has a good article somewhere. DR O is it 50 or 20mg recommended per serving? Ive seen worse feet recover pretty fast with a good farrier or trimmer especially since she is not lame. Im glad you are helping find her a new home
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Member:
hwood
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 1:02 pm:
What has her footing been like where she is kept, Terri? If she has been in pasture, then that's why she is probably tender on hard ground. For the initial trim, I would allow her to stay on softer ground because she isn't going to have much clearance for her sole, unless it's lots of false sole build-up. I agree with Katrina that she will come along fine month by month. Her feet look awfully dry, and when I've had feet like these, the horn is like dried taffy . . . harder than anything to cut with nippers. Your farrier will be able to manage, though, by taking off the flaring wall toward the back of the hooves and by putting a smooth roll on the edges.
If you have the time, I'd use some good hoof softener on the coronet and sole.
You're doin' good, Kid.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 1:11 pm:
Oh good, I have never seen feet like this... I'm glad she will be ok 
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Member:
carocbr
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 2:05 pm:
I've seen a lot worse than those feet, so you should be fine in time! Looks like there are cracks to grow out and a lot of flare which needs to grow out too. It could be the flare of the hoof wall causing the 'ouchiness' - its apparently like having your finger nails pulled away from your fingers...
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 2:24 pm:
The friend who is helping me with this horse (she knows the owner) just told me that she has had this condition for 3+ years, and even with routine trimmings the feet where in similar shape. She does live in low ground (frequently wet), but, has a very appropriate shelter that is always dry and clean stalls...we're wondering about possibility of fungal infection?
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 2:35 pm:
I'd be interested in seeing what the bottom of the hoof looks like.
Shirl
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 2:52 pm:
Shirl...there are pictures of the bottom...can you not view them? I think I screwed up the placement of these photos pretty royally. My apologies.
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 5:41 pm:
Get her off that wet ground. These feet are mostly the product of a wet environment. As Katrina says, she's trying to self trim. A farrier will rasp away much of the flare and they will look better, but they aren't going to improve until she's on dry ground all the time. Horses won't seek out dry ground on their own. If she's in a wet pasture, even with dry areas, that's too much moisture. The wetting and drying cycle is probably at least partly the reason for the cracks. Nine months is a reasonable time to see great improvement with the right farrier and a DRY environment. Julie
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 9:15 pm:
Terri,
No, it's not you - probably another Senior Moment. Instead of saying "bottom" I should have said "the sole, frog, etc."
Hope things improve. Constant wet ground can cause thrush, canker, etc.
Shirl
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 10:28 pm:
Hello Terri,
Start with a good trim, removing the flare, and you will be amazed how good the feet will look now. My chief concern is the cracks at the junction of the quarters and the heels but they may grow out with nothing more than proper trimming. The article explains about nutrition, supplements, and hoof dressings. Sometimes with feet like these you may have an abscess or two that develop in the defects in the horn but deal with them and you will be fine with time.
DrO
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 1:08 pm:
What does this horse do? and how much room to move will she have at the new place? I've found that good feed and room to move are two of the best things you can do hooves. If she can be rode I get her out as many miles as you can each week, put easy boots on if she's tender. The movement will still help even while wearing boots.
If she's to stay barefoot ask the farrier to leave as much of that hard sole as possible. Personally I wouldn't touch any hard sole if at all possible. If it's white and flaky then it would need removed.
Good day,
Alden
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