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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| My 3yo barefoot mare that is always tender on gravel (obviously) came up way lame at a trot last night. What do I do? I assume stone bruise maybe even abcess. She was LAME at a trot. Not a walk though.
She is always a weenie on the rocks. Like bad weenie. Has not been rode in a week, lives in a pasture with no rocks accept a tiny amount of gravel from the driveway washed down in front of the barn.
I did notice the farrier did NOT take any sole out last time he trimmed her. I have heard several things about this- could this be why she is sore? Bruise from it maybe?
UPDATE: so I went home whatever yesterday morning and I picked everyone's feet and applied kopertox. That evening I did it again. This morning I didn't get to because of a ruckus at the barn (long story) but I did again this evening and my 3yo trotted out of the barn sound. I went ahead and pushed her some to make her trot a longer distance to watch her and she stayed sound. So I'm assuming thrush. Kopertox for me has never taken more than about 2 days. Now, I don't know if that was the issue or what but tonight she was sound. I'll keep treating her feet for a few days because it's constantly drizzling but thank you to everyone. I did go buy the magic abcess concoction that is at the top of the forum though just in case.
Edited by RoaniePonie11 2014-07-17 10:29 PM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| Could be stone bruise, and it can later turn into an abscess.
Could be thrush
Could have sprained her ankle
If the horse was mine, I would make sure there is no heat or swelling above the foot. If so then I would treat accordingly.
If it is in the foot, I would take the hoof testers and test the foot to see if there is any pain, if I found pain, I would look for signs of bruise and signs of abscess, or thrush. Then treat accordingly. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| Thank you. It is definitely the foot. I don't have hoof testers unfortunately but maybe someone at the barn does. I'll check tonight. I sure hope it's not an abcess. I have never had to deal with one in the 15 years I have been around horses. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | You can toughen her up with Turpentine. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| RoaniePonie11 - 2014-07-15 5:18 PM
Thank you. It is definitely the foot. I don't have hoof testers unfortunately but maybe someone at the barn does. I'll check tonight. I sure hope it's not an abcess. I have never had to deal with one in the 15 years I have been around horses.
To test around the white line, get a large set of adjustable pliers and test |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| will turpentine do any damage if its not just a sore foot and it is an actual abscess?
Thank you for the plier info- I will try that. Lord knows I have plenty of those.
Thank you guys for your help. I have never had foot problems like this before (coming up lame randomly) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | If your horse has always been a weenie on rocks, why on earth would you let her go barefoot especially if she is in training?? Barefoot lovers, flame away, but I don't think all horses are meant to go barefoot. I don't care how "good" the barefoot trimmer farrier is. I think this fad is doing more harm than good to horses.
Sounds like a stone bruise, plus horses are stomping a lot of flys this time of year. If she is in training, I would at least put front shoes on her.
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | I hope she heals quickly. That being said...my rule of thumb has always been if I don't want to walk barefoot on it, I won't make my horse walk barefoot on it. |
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | If your riding her I would put front shoes on her...... You know she is tender footed.. Some horses are just like that |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| she has been barefoot for the past 2yrs (since I bought her) and never had a problem until this last time she was trimmed. She has always been a bit of a weenie on gravel but I don't make her walk on gravel unless absolutely necessary. She's in training like walks from the pasture to the trailer to the arena and back. Might go to a barrel race every now and again and stand tied to the trailer (on grass).
The fact that she has been barefoot for so long and is now randomly having an issue is what concerns me. I am not opposed to shoes. I have 2 with shoes. They run the barrels and go and do much more than she does. Horses earn their shoes at my place. I don't have the money be shoeing everything just because they don't like gravel. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | probrably trimmed to short.. it happens sometimes. |
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | Sounds like an abscess to me. Have you prodded around her foot at all? Is she more sensitive at a certain area? Can you feel any softer spots? I would wrap her foot with a drawing salve to try and draw something out, or soak with epsom salts whichever you prefer. It could be a stone bruise but it isn't going to hurt anything to treat it as an abscess until proven otherwise.
It should not be due to the fact your farrier didnt take any sole out---that actually should be more protective for her foot than increase her likelihood for a stone bruise. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Instead of shoeing, I would look at investing in a pair of hoof boots, old macs are my favorite, they stay on, don't rub, and last forever, mine are about 5 yrs and still like new.
Also for the time being, I would buy some hoof magic, it has been shown through thermography to reduce inflammation in the foot. It is a little pricey for a tub about 60-80.00 but a tub will last you forever, make sure you use disposable gloves to apply to the foot, I put a disposable breast pad on after then vet wrap change every few days. |
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Expert
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| Bump for update for whomever.
I did dig into her feet and find a small amount of thrush by the frogs on her fronts so I treated her. I poked and prodded an nothing got an ouch response so hopefully I've got it nipped.
Thanks all |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| Check the central sulcus for thrush. Sometimes its thrushy and will "close" and look okish but if you take your hoof pick and it slides down in you have trouble/thrush. Often when you do this they display obvious discomfort so just be careful.
Let me know and I'll post some treatments. Soaking is recommended but my guy hated it so soaking cotton balls in medication and stuffing them in the central sulcus was great! Careful not to use to strong a chemical cuz you will kill healthy tissue. I found variation in treatment helpful because it can be caused by different strains of bacteria, fungus... Don't let up it will take hold again rage war!  lol |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Do I hear Banjos? | RoaniePonie11 - 2014-07-16 2:48 PM she has been barefoot for the past 2yrs (since I bought her) and never had a problem until this last time she was trimmed. She has always been a bit of a weenie on gravel but I don't make her walk on gravel unless absolutely necessary. She's in training like walks from the pasture to the trailer to the arena and back. Might go to a barrel race every now and again and stand tied to the trailer (on grass). The fact that she has been barefoot for so long and is now randomly having an issue is what concerns me. I am not opposed to shoes. I have 2 with shoes. They run the barrels and go and do much more than she does. Horses earn their shoes at my place. I don't have the money be shoeing everything just because they don't like gravel.
Ok...honestly. Your statement that she is a weenie on gravel...or that you can't be bothered to spend the money to make her comfortable just because she "doesn't like gravel"....that just aggrivates me.
She doesn't "dislike" gravel...her darn feet hurt. Owning a horse is a responsibility....an expensive one. Keeping them comfortable especially when we are asking them to work is part of the deal. If that means ponying up the cash for shoes or boots...well...so be it. It's not her choice to be sore...but somehow it's your choice to say she doesn't do enough for you to have "earned " the right to be comfortable.
Some horses can be barefoot and do fabulous. Some need boots or shoes. That's just how it is. I have a horse that goes for occasional rides and otherwise eats in the pasture all day. But...we have some rocks out there and he is tender footed. So...guess what...he gets front shoes. Doesn't have to "earn them"...he needs them.
Maybe I need more coffee...but this just rubbed me wrong this morning. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| TrailGirl - 2014-07-17 10:16 PM
RoaniePonie11 - 2014-07-16 2:48 PM she has been barefoot for the past 2yrs (since I bought her) and never had a problem until this last time she was trimmed. She has always been a bit of a weenie on gravel but I don't make her walk on gravel unless absolutely necessary. She's in training like walks from the pasture to the trailer to the arena and back. Might go to a barrel race every now and again and stand tied to the trailer (on grass). The fact that she has been barefoot for so long and is now randomly having an issue is what concerns me. I am not opposed to shoes. I have 2 with shoes. They run the barrels and go and do much more than she does. Horses earn their shoes at my place. I don't have the money be shoeing everything just because they don't like gravel.
Ok...honestly. Â Your statement that she is a weenie on gravel...or that you can't be bothered to spend the money to make her comfortable just because she "doesn't like gravel"....that just aggrivates me.
She doesn't "dislike" gravel...her darn feet hurt.  Owning a horse is a responsibility....an expensive one. Keeping them comfortable especially when we are asking them to work is part of the deal.  If that means ponying up the cash for shoes or boots...well...so be it.  It's not her choice to be sore...but somehow it's your choice to say she doesn't do enough for you to have "earned " the right to be comfortable.
Some horses can be barefoot and do fabulous. Â Some need boots or shoes. Â That's just how it is. Â I have a horse that goes for occasional rides and otherwise eats in the pasture all day. Â But...we have some rocks out there and he is tender footed. Â So...guess what...he gets front shoes. Â Doesn't have to "earn them"...he needs them.
Maybe I need more coffee...but this just rubbed me wrong this morning.
I don't thinking trying to keep a horse barefoot is a crime nor do we neglect them because we don't put shoes on. I put the "savings" from shoes towards a hoof supplement and various other horsey needs.
My guy is barefoot and lives on grass so of course on gravel he is a little sensitive! IMO walking them on gravel exfoliates (reducing/preventing thrush too) and is helpful in toughening the hoof up without chemicals. Invest in boots if they are really really sensitive to it. Daily exposure to gravel is key, you can work your way up starting with little 5 minute sessions and boot up for the rest. Or dump some gravel in front of your horses water trough so she can work her self up.
My choice to go barefoot involved/s just as much caring, thought, time, effort and love for my horse as any who shoes.
I really believe any horse can go barefoot if you are willing to do the work, balance there diet and make sure they are getting enough of everything they need - some of those feeds you would have to feed the whole darn bag at once to get the daily requirement of some nutrients. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| TrailGirl - 2014-07-18 8:16 AM
RoaniePonie11 - 2014-07-16 2:48 PM she has been barefoot for the past 2yrs (since I bought her) and never had a problem until this last time she was trimmed. She has always been a bit of a weenie on gravel but I don't make her walk on gravel unless absolutely necessary. She's in training like walks from the pasture to the trailer to the arena and back. Might go to a barrel race every now and again and stand tied to the trailer (on grass). The fact that she has been barefoot for so long and is now randomly having an issue is what concerns me. I am not opposed to shoes. I have 2 with shoes. They run the barrels and go and do much more than she does. Horses earn their shoes at my place. I don't have the money be shoeing everything just because they don't like gravel.
Ok...honestly. Â Your statement that she is a weenie on gravel...or that you can't be bothered to spend the money to make her comfortable just because she "doesn't like gravel"....that just aggrivates me.
She doesn't "dislike" gravel...her darn feet hurt.  Owning a horse is a responsibility....an expensive one. Keeping them comfortable especially when we are asking them to work is part of the deal.  If that means ponying up the cash for shoes or boots...well...so be it.  It's not her choice to be sore...but somehow it's your choice to say she doesn't do enough for you to have "earned " the right to be comfortable.
Some horses can be barefoot and do fabulous. Â Some need boots or shoes. Â That's just how it is. Â I have a horse that goes for occasional rides and otherwise eats in the pasture all day. Â But...we have some rocks out there and he is tender footed. Â So...guess what...he gets front shoes. Â Doesn't have to "earn them"...he needs them.
Maybe I need more coffee...but this just rubbed me wrong this morning.
I get what you are saying, but shoes are not the answer and can actually be a death sentence later on.
There are so many farriers that are putting on too tight of a shoe the foot cannot flex therefore the horse gets contracted heels as the shoe is too tight, due to the contracted heels they develop navicular. Yes this takes years to develop but it can shorten their life expectancy.
The other problem is the owners are not aware of what a good shoe job, is or do not say anything.
I was one of those owners I thought I seen contraction mentioned it to the farrier, he said no. I went to a local equine surgeon who misdiagnosed my horse, then drove 4 hours my horse took one step off of the trailer and the vet knew the problem was unbalanced and contracted heels. It took a year to correct.
I had 2 farriers shoe this horse under direct supervision of the vet, but couldn't shoe him properly without the vet.
The one I paid 250 to put front shoes on, just to pull them off the day after as per vet order as they were unbalanced and the shoe was too small.
Annemarie (sp) on the board, her barefoot journey if you look at what the farrier did to her horse before she went barefoot is one more example of poor shoeing.
Point shoes are not the answer for everything, there are other alternatives. |
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