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Discussion on Front hoof problems
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Member:
joann
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Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 11:35 am:
My old TB mare has front hoof problems since I removed her shoes. I am on very dry conditions and my farrier recommended moisture by watering down the stall areas, even standing in the manure. Well I'm not doing the manure thing but we are watering the areas around drinking wells, etc. He will not trim her until we get the soles softened up. I'm putting pine tar, and other hoof dressings on every day. One of her frogs is displaced and my farrier said the white line is exposed and her hoof wall and sole are weak. So, this is getting scary I certainly don't want any problems if there is some help to receive via e mails. Will try anything. Thanks
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 9:32 pm:
Joann Why did you take her shoes off? Barefoot is not for all horses. I have found that out the hard way! Shoes and equi-pak helped my horse a lot with his sole and hoof issues.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 12:38 pm:
Hi Joann, I don't know much, but I do know standing in manure is not a good thing. Good for you for not listening to that  If she has weak soles, I would agree with Diane. Do you know what her sole depth is? How long has it been since you've taken her shoes off?
I'd be interested to hear about the standing in water... I have heard mixed opinions... water then heat, not good, messes with the hooves and makes them weak. But then I've also heard some barefooters say to actually soak the hooves before a trim to make it easier to trim. I guess I don't understand why he won't trim her. Is there someone else you can get to trim her?
Is she lame or just ouchy?
Hopefully Dr. O and some members here with more experience will chime in here.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 12:57 pm:
Hello joann,
I have always found hooves respond well to dry conditions and excessively dry horn (lifeless appearing and cracking) do primarily to excessive wetting and drying. I recommend you follow the articles suggestions for improving the quality of the horn. If the hooves are too hard to pare with a knife you can soak the hooves in water for 20-30 minutes before the farrier works on them. But from a day to day standpoint it is hard to justify softening the soles with water.
DrO
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 2:56 pm:
Am I forgetting something, or isn't the pine tar used to dry and "toughen" the sole, not soften it? I have been trimming my own horses for a year now, and I try to do them in the am as they have been in the dew for a few hours, or after a rain. It makes a huge difference for me with respect to the ease of rasping, so maybe that is what your farrier is after. You could post some pics if able, that always helps to get some feedback... best wishes, Stacy
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Member:
joann
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 7:11 pm:
hi, I pulled the shoes because I've never shod any of my horses unless it was a travel situation or terrain issue. I'm not planning on using this horse much. I'm afraid I am not back strong enough to rasp or trim my own. My farrier is old fashioned and could be a real problem but I like him so stick it out with him. All the feet are coming around a little with continued maintenance and I am still using the water downed areas as a mud pack or hopefully moisture pack. My farrier said "I can't trim her feet because they are so dry. The hoof wall and sole are being held together as an exisiting structure and the white line was showing" He said to boot her if she became lame (she hasn't) and to try to get her softened up. call him him she is lame and then he'll deal with pads and shoes." I don't know maybe I missed something.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, Jul 30, 2007 - 7:42 am:
Hi Joann, that is confusing. I thought you meant she was lame. Your farriers comments are strange, but it sounds like he is saying she has a stretched white line? which can be caused by many things...including a unbalanced hoof, with a long toe.
Can you post pics? That would help Dr.O. with suggestions.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 - 7:24 pm:
Your farrier is compromising her hoof health so he can have an easier time of trimming. don't let her feet stay wet, they will become shelly brittle and tender. You can soak his feet in water or half water half vinegar 1/2 hour before he comes out so he can do them. But I would be pissed at a lazy farrier like that.
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Member:
joann
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2007 - 10:55 am:
Well now I have alot of info and maybe I will look into another farrier's opinion. My Arab is lame on the left front with no apparent reason, heat, swelling, etc. Her sole is contracted and the feet are dry - I've had her a long time and she's been shoeless forever and dry in the feet forever. Ive let her have the entire property for her home and she runs around with my tb so don't know if she's sustained some injury. She has not been ridden for three weeks. I intend to post hoof pics soon for each horse. Daisy's lameness is a notable head bob on the trot but she looks fine in the canter. They eat a 12%protein diet - alfalfa hay for the t.b. and 3-way for my Arab with some alfalfa. I put linament on her legs as well as cold water hosing. Horses - that's all I gotta say.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 2, 2007 - 6:38 am:
Joann, for more on diagnosing lameness see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse.
DrO
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