|
|
Discussion on Contracted heels 9 yo Q.H. mare
|
| Author |
Message |
New Member:
Seralys
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 3, 2004 - 4:26 pm:
I am thinking of purchasing a 9 yo QH mare w/ great bloodlines. Her owner brought her over for me to try out at my own barn for a bit. I noticed her feet looked too small and when I picked out her foot the forg looked small and "sick." That day when I rode at a trot she was sore on her right front when my post landed on that foot. The farrier came the next day, she told me the mare had contracted heels (past the vertical in the rt.foot), and may have a club foot. She said she couldn't tell if it was club or severe contraction.
Is it common to not be able to tell club feet from contacted heel? She trimed her level and left her barefoot. She told me to soak her feet in borax and warm water solution for 20-30 min 3x week then DrOp colodial silver(not sure of spelling) onto/into the frog and this would help her condition. Have you heard of this treatment?
I have done three treatments so far... I don't notice a difference yet. How long does this take? I have notified the owner and told her IF I take the horse a different price must be negotiated... But if I do buy the horse how do I know if the conditon will ever improve? Does this condition ALWAYS lead to navicular? She also has crushed capsules (?) the farrier said. What does this mean exactly,is this condition just part of the territory with contracted heels? Will her feet absess the farrier thought so. It's been a week and no absess. She still enjoys being ridden and has SUCH a positive attitude, how much work is too much? Should I completely pass this horse up even if she does lower asking price? Sorry, LOTS of questions. Thank you for your time!
|
Member:
Onehorse
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 3, 2004 - 8:40 pm:
Hi Cara,
Read your post. First, know that I'm not a vet or farrier, but do have a horse that has contracted heels. The goal of your farrier in leaving her barefoot is to allow frog pressure and hopefully to free the hoof to expand naturally. The expansion will not happen over night and there really isn't any quick solution. (I'm not familar with the borax solution or what it's intended to do, so I can't comment.)
In my horses case (he was contracted in his front hoofs)) we first had him in a 'new balance' shoe with 'frog' wedge pads and the shoes where nailed towards the front part of the hoof -- keeping the rear of the hoof as free as possible. The reason we began with the shoes was his heels were so contracted he needed more support. After eight weeks there was a noticeable expansion and now he's roaming barefoot to allow the hoof to expand as much as possible. His heels were contracted so much that his heel bulbs and where the hoof contacted the ground had over an inch and a quarter horizontal difference. He's 18 years old, but recovering and ridden all the time.
It seems odd to me that your farrier can't differentiate between a club foot or contracted heels, but as I said I'm no expert and wanted to relay my experience with contracted heels.
I think the key is to discern whether this has occurred from shoeing - was the horse in bar shoes for any length of time -- or is it occurring naturally in the horse? If the former, and if it is contracted heels, I think there's a much better chance of the horse responding to proper trim care.
Best of luck.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 7:07 am:
Hello Cara,
It is possible you have both contracted heels and a club foot but let's be clear all the stuff about confirmation of the foot is secondary to the fact the horse is lame, we do not recommend you buy a lame horse. Whether this is a chronic or acute problem is impossible to tell with certainty but the conformational abnormalities in the foot do not bode well. If you want to take this increased risk the three things you can do to minimize it is:- Don't consider buying until sound.
- Get the horses past veterinary records to see if this has been a problem before.
- Have radiographs of the foot done to see if there are degenerative changes or signs of arthritis.
DrO
|
Member:
Liliana
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 2:45 pm:
Hi Clara,
Well if it helps at all one of my horses was lame on all four and had contracted heels only he also had a really bad case of thrush which he had had for five years. In deed it took me a year to get him sound, but as I said he was really an extreem case of neglect. But, if you saw him now, he is come from beast to beauty!
Have him veted and put in the blanace the pros and cons, if it means a coupel of months care to get a great horse for a lowish price...
All the best
Liliana
|
Member:
Liliana
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 2:49 pm:
ooops sorry, its a mare isnt she
|
Member:
Redmare
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 7:18 pm:
Hi Cara-
I agree with Dr. O about not buying a lame horse. Warning: the more time you spend with her, the more attached you will get! How do I know this? Ahem 
Farriers/hoof trimmers are not qualified to diagnose medical conditions, so while a farrier might notice things and point them out to you, only a vet can tell you what's really going on. That said, I would be concerned as to what caused the severe contraction in the first place. Was the horse shod improperly, were the shoes left on too long, were "therapeutic" shoes used to combat navicular or some such?
Also, I'd be concerned with liability. If the mare is at your place and she gets worse, the owner could sue you. Don't say it won't happen -- I'm on another message board where an equine attorney tells all kinds of horror stories!
I know you want to do the best thing for this horse, but you have to think about yourself too. Send her back. There are many healthy, sound horses just as much in need of a home.
|
Member:
Liliana
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 7:41 pm:
Redmare,
I know your advise is "practical" but some times all they need is a little TLC as I mentioned before in the case of my stallion it was that his owner loved little feet {No he was not chinise}, and the poor thing wore a smaller size for many years, and he is a cob QH x Spanish not a dainty TB at all. Yes it took a long time in his case but he is a great horse now.
I'm just so against the "there are so many nice horses"
But, yes it wouldn't do any harm to have the owners sign a waver, to prevent any problems, after all you are feeding and caring for the horse whilst in your care.
Your vet will tell you how bad the if any the problem really is.
Love your horses
Liliana
|
Member:
Redmare
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 7:59 pm:
Liliana-
I am not practical, in fact I'm a humaniac  , which is why I know the consequences so well. I love my animal family; they are all rescues and they give me great joy. They also cost a heck of a lot of money to care for. I'm a single, self-employed woman with responsibility only to myself and animals, and even then it can be rough. If this potential buyer has family or other considerations, and has a limited amout of money and time for horses, she's better off choosing a sound useful animal.
|
Member:
Liliana
|
Posted on Friday, Nov 5, 2004 - 2:45 pm:
Redmare,
I hear you, good points, so true, mine are all rescue but the colt as he was born at the farm.
Just like you I'd be a lot better off money wise without my friends, but as sure as hell not as happy.
|
Member:
Seralys
|
Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 1:38 pm:
Come on folks lets not get too upset, I've done a bit of research and collodial silver is an antifungal, and also has antibiotic and regenerative properties. This horse may not join my herd but I do not mind feeding, brushing, and loving her for awhile. The woman who owns her was having her trimmed and shod by the amish who live near us...so beware. I have not heard from the lady in a few days, and we still haven't negotiated a lower price...Free would be nice, considering a lame horse isn't worth two sh!#s. X-rays would be appropriate if the price is right. I've seen a horse with severe club foot and hers doesn't look like that. It looks like the drawing in the information reference of this site. As for being sued, the farrier came out the day after she was DrOpped off and saw her condition as did my husband and my riding partners, I don't think that she'd have a valid case, besides I knew the woman prior to this transaction, she is very nice, just not knowledgeable about proper hoof care. I am still riding her and she is a very happy horse, never a sour moment, a real pleaser... we a not jumping or working out too hard though. Are certain horses more predisposed to this condition than others? The woman who owns the horse bred her once, I feel I should look at her off spring to see if she passes on these neg. qualities. Her registered name is Docs Sugar Bar Lady... I have a copy of her reg. and she's got some good family- I'm told- though I am not a Quarter Horse Buff myself. I just knew that quarter horses USUALLY have awesome attitudes and work ethic. I am continuing to soak and medicate. I will have the farrier out again next week if she's still here. So, I will update as my saga continues, I will keep looking for that "perfect horse"HA HA HA} DO YOU HAVE ONE FOR SALE?
|
Member:
Seralys
|
Posted on Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 - 8:13 pm:
I called the mare's owner today and she is going home on Saturday, I will miss her, but have decided not to invest my time and money into a lame horse. I already have one geriatric in my pasture. Thank you all for the input it helped with the decision. Cara
|
|
|
