Q & A with The Vet

Continuing Problems With My Barefoot Horse

Dear Dr. Teskey,

I have two problems I hope you can give me insight on.  The first is scratches possibly caused by the use of hoof boots.  The second is heel height and frog/digital cushion development.

I emailed you last winter because my horse, who had been barefoot since Sept. 2006, was very hoof sore.  At your suggestion, I used Easyboot Bares every time I rode him and used the thick comfort pads.  He did well with the boots and pads at home but had severe problems on the 2 multi-day endurance rides we did.

The obvious problem was that the boots just didn't fit him well.  At the ride in January, I poured at least 1/4 cup of grit, dirt and sand out of each boot at the end of the day.  This was after using vet wrap, duct tape and plumber's putty.  In addition to the dirt in the boots, the comfort pads had gotten folded in half horizontally underneath his sole and were ruined.  Then, on top of all that, he got a bad case of scratches.  I had only planned to do the first 2 days of the ride which was good because there was no way he could have done the third day. The scratches cleared up quickly (within a week) once we got home.

My second concern is that his frogs and contracted heels have not changed since I pulled his shoes last fall.  As you suggested, I used the hoof boots all winter to cushion his tender feet and he did well here at home. My trimmer, who has trimmed lots of barefoot horses, but isn't really trained, won't lower the heels, saying the hoof angle has to match the pastern angle.  I read quite a bit about trimming but still don't feel like I know much of anything.  Unfortunately, there is no well trained hoof trimmer near me that I know of.  I have a rasp and hoof stand and am quite willing to do what I can.

Even though the scratches are frustrating and I fear may end our endurance career, I am just as concerned about helping my horse's hooves to develop in a healthy direction.  Other horses that he lives with are doing just fine barefoot and have large, healthy looking frogs.  So, now I'm searching for what I need to do to help my horse get there too.

I really would appreciate any insight you can give!

Thanks,
L

Dear L,

Mostly it sounds like you need to ride barefoot more and condition the horse's hooves to do endurance barefoot, as I think you're right about the pastern wraps and the scratches.  This can be serious, so I wouldn't keep using the tape and wrapping above the boot that was contributing to that problem.  It also sounds like you've done too much/demanded too much of the horse early on.  Conditioning on the right terrain (not gravel) as well as keeping the horse in a good environment are the most important things.  Along with diet.

Decontraction of hooves is a mighty slow process, or doesn't happen at all many times coming out of shoes, since it's the BONES that are misshapen. Give it at least two years before deciding there will or won't be decontraction.

Keep up the good work,

Dr. TT

Rehab Thru Barefoot Trim

Hi,

First thanks in advance for your help.

I have an 8 yr old gelding that presented acutely lame on the right fore about 1 month ago.  We gave him stall rest for a few days before seeking vet care. After 1 week he saw the vet who first diagnosed an abscess and took x-rays. He was tender to the palpation area on RF leg at hoof/hair line.

After developing x-rays, vet called to say possible fracture to the pastern bone.  Returned for more films. 

Horse was continued on 24/7 stall rest and results of other films sent to NC State Vet School radiology dept for diagnosis.

Vet

School

said bony calcification between P2 & P3.  They suggest steroid injection. 

Can barefoot trim help this horse?

He has improved vastly but still gives on RF when circled but is much better at straight trot.

PB

Hi PB,

Certainly natural hoof care helps horses in general, because it respects their natural abilities to both heal and then perform.  There is a good amount of information available now that demonstrates how well horses do when they get their hoof health back.  I have treated many, many horses with fractures and calcifications/ringbone type changes and have always had some improvement in their condition.

Take care,

Dr. TT

Can't Save Them All

Dear Doctor,

I transmit the photos of the foot of this lamatic horse.  I would like to ask council on how to deal with it.  I cannot use drugs because it has given birth (approximately 40 days old). Currently as it is looked at on the photo has an abscess that I’m dealing with water baths and salt.  I hope for an answer

Thank you

F in

Italy

Hello,

After looking at the photos of your mare, it looks as if her hooves are close to coming apart (the hoof capsules are coming off), so I don't believe you will have much success with my advising you on the trimming.  It is "too late" in other words.  This has been going on for months to years, and now it is too late to try and make a good result for her.  If she were my horse I would probably not attempt further treatment, or perhaps I would try a hospital or clinic where she could have daily care.  This is not a trimming problem anymore, it is a whole horse/whole health problem that needs intensive care, or perhaps it would be best to euthanize the mare.

Dr. Tom T.

Better Off Barefoot

The Natural Hoof Care Advantage

Natural horsemanship practices today go hand in hand with natural hoof care—together they are unbeatable!   

Click here to read the entire article!

If you have a question for Dr. Tom you can email him or post a comment here and he will respond as soon as he can.

Foundered Horse

Hi, I thought you might be able to help me….

My horse foundered about a year or so ago maybe a little more.  She was not mine at the time but I do know some about what happened.  Right after it happened she was given bute for a week to ease the pain and her feet were soaked about 2 times a day in ice cold water.  A neighbor, who had previously had a founder problem with her horse, would occasionally come and tape a pad made of thick foam to her feet.  This seemed to make her a bit more comfortable but the pads did not last long (they got flat after a short time) and it was not done completely consistent.  After a while she seemed comfortable again so nothing really was done to correct her feet (the coffin bone had rotated down - obviously as a result of foundering).  Over time they started to look a little unlike a normal hoof (not really terrible looking but definitely not normal). The farrier said that she would roll the toe because that would help her feet.  So that was done and now her feet, after about a year or so, finally look almost if not normal from the top.  The bottom is still a flat sole though.  How do I know if the coffin bone is again parallel to the ground as it should be?  Is there something that should be done to make it so she doesn’t have a flat sole anymore?

I just want to make sure everything is right with my girl.  I love her so much and she deserves the best and what is right.  I want to prevent more rotation in the future and make sure her hoof is as normal as possible.  Please tell me all you can about what to do! I hope I explained it ok.  I’m sorry if it is hard to understand.  Just make of it what you can and any information would be very helpful and so much appreciated. Thanks so much for you time!  I hope to hear back from you soon!

M

Hi M,

Best advice I can give you is to read like mad about founder on the internet.  Do a search for "barefoot founder" and you'll get LOTS of good stuff to read.

The flatness of the sole will improve over time if the coffin bone isn't too badly damaged.  If you have a veterinarian take x-rays of the hooves you can tell the position and condition of the bones.  An experienced natural hoof care provider can also give you an accurate idea how the coffin bone position is doing.

Keep up the research,

Dr. Tom T.

Please Help! Horse with Navicular Syndrome

Hello,

I came across your wonderful website online.  I have a horse with navicular syndrome.  He was diagnosed about 6 months ago.  He is an 8 year old Quarter/Thoroughbred gelding.  He is used for Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure.  Once he was diagnosed with navicular he was put on Isoxsuprine and we put him in an aluminum egg bar shoe that is raised in the heel.  I do not like giving him this medication as I know it is not good for him.  Is there anything you can recommend?  I know you believe in bare foot, this horse has Thoroughbred heels... not much heel.  If we were to trim him and leave him barefoot how would we get the pressure off the heel to relive the pain?  I would greatly appreciate any advice, or if you could please put me in contact with someone that can help.  I love this horse will all my heart, he truly means the world to me and I want to help him in any way I can.  Looking forward to speaking with someone soon.

Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,

M

Hi M,

It's troubling how many horses are prescribed isoxsuprine when it has been clinically proven to offer NO improvement in circulation in horses, whether they have navicular problems or not.

Also, the object is to actually get pressure ON the heel areas, but with COMFORT.  This is accomplished with special pads inside boots which you can see at EasyCare Inc. Also, it’s very important to read Pete Ramey's website.  All the articles there are very good! Keep researching. You're on the right track!

Take care,

Dr. Tom T.

Navicular Horse

Dear Dr. Teskey,

I live in Westchester County in NY and I was researching treatments for my horse who has navicular.  He is a 14yr old Quarter Horse gelding and I’ve had him for about 8 years. I found out he had navicular when he was about 9yrs old and the vets put him on bute and isoxsuprine.  Well as years went on I saw that the isox wasn’t helping and he developed edema from the bute which he was on for about 4yrs.  About 3 weeks ago a vet came to look at my horse since his lameness was considerably worse and he said he had laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome on top of the navicular.  I feel as if I've come to a dead end with him and I can’t do anything to get him out of pain.  The vet said that if the laminitis got better then we could think about nerving him to help the navicular.  After reading the article you wrote about side effects and how he could need it again in possibly 2-3yrs, I don’t know what to do.  I love this horse with all my heart and soul.  I will do anything to get him to be comfortable and not be in pain anymore.  I know that it probably will never happen but I hope you can help me with some advice as to what I should do.

Sincerely,

N

Dear N,

Certainly it's "late in the game" to be doing things differently with your horse, but I still think it's worth it for you to get someone to help you and him with a natural hoof care approach.  Read the   Hoof Rehab website to start with. Get some appropriately sized hoof boots and pads from EasyCare and get someone from your area to help you if needed.  Certainly there will be lots of damage in the hooves from the previous shoeing and drug use, but horses can recover from these things pretty well if given time.  It may take several months to years since he's been mismanaged for so long.  Keep in mind that the veterinarians and farriers have just been doing what they thought was best, even though it was wrong for the horse.  Everyone gets educated in situations like this, and the horse is along for the ride, probably wondering "I'm glad someone finally realized I just needed my hooves kept the way they are.  Without the crazy contraptions of steel and nails and the drugs that don't work."

You're on the right track.  Keep up your research.  Attend workshops on natural hoof care.  Get some books on the subject.  Keep your chin up.

Dr. Tom T.

Foundered Horse in Oregon

Dear Dr. Tom:

I am an animal control officer in Oregon, and I am trying to determine what treatment is required (i.e. what treatment best provides for the health and well-being of the animal) for a horse which has foundered.  In this case the horse foundered about a year ago. The hooves have not been trimmed and they are now about a  foot long and curving up.  My horse owner says that the inflammation is now gone and that it won’t really do the horse any good to trim these hooves, that it is only to keep concerned do-gooders happy.  This doesn’t seem to make sense to me.  Wouldn’t the horse be more pain free and have fewer future problems with bones, etc., if something corrective is done?  Thanks for any help.

RW

Hi RW,

Sounds like you've run across some genuine ignorance there in Oregon, with whomever thinks it will do no good to trim those deformed hooves.  How intriguing.  Absolutely, the horse will be so much happier and healthier with some simple, common sense hoof care.

Anyhow, I would encourage you to get a hold of Cheryl Henderson of ABC Hoof Care in Oregon.   You're on the right track, and getting Cheryl or someone closer to you to get you going in the right direction will get your horse going great.

Take care,

Dr. TT