One cold foot - uneven horse

[lilaclomax]

OK, a brief history on Tonto, I have owned him now for just over a week. He is slightly uneven in trot, more so on the odd day, I have got him on no bute and Glucosamine to help if it is stiffness related - I believe that he is extremely tight at the back especially on his offside hind.
Today I brought him in and picked out his feet (normally in at night but out over the last two nights to give us humans a normal wake up time - lol). His near side fore was cold, the other three feet are warm (slightly more than normal), his foot and lower half of his leg seemed cold - initially I thought that it was his off side fore that was warm but when checking his hinds are the same temp, just this one fore??
He is barefoot and hopefully has the farrier coming out asap (wrong time of year to get a wonky horse!). The vet gave him the all clear when he had his jabs - he trotted up ok in the school and she said to go ahead with the back person.
Rambling now.. any help or ideas about the cold foot? I will be borrowing my friend's magnetic boots tomorrow to help out.

Thanks

[Lorraine L]

Could it be Laminitis ?
The reason i ask, is that Luke would normally not suffer from it at this time of year but being prone to it, he managed to deteroiate over the last week. I had bought him in off the grass because he looked uncomfortable, but went downhill from there.
He is now on bute and asp. In on a shavings bed with soaked hay and looking very sorry for himself.
The frost on the, still lush grass is a nightmare. I think lots of people have been caught out by it. Normal seasons might make us think of just Autumn and Spring to watch out, but sadly, its anytime now.
Luke had the front right, warm to start with. That changed to warm left, and now the right again. He is weight shifting so i have the feet supported as best i can.
Has tonto any history of laminitis ? Did the last owner say if there was any old injury to watch for ?
Sorry - more questions than answers !

[june]

Can recommend a couple of excellent chiropractors if that's of any use. One is in Bucks and travels to our area fairly regularly. She's very good. The other is the chiro who works with Mark Rashid and he will be back at ours for the day on 14th April. He's fantastic and well worth coming to watch and question even if you don't want Tonto treated.

There is quite a bit of laminitis about at the moment. Might be worth getting a blood test done.

[samcspottyhorses]

Hi lilaclomax,

I thought my boy was getting lami again this week. Asked YO to put so I could him in the pen as his front feet seemed boiling. However, had a chat with another owner on the yard - she has a lot to do with vets as her horse had long term arthirists problems, and she says her horse's feet are all different temperatures and never the same 2 days running. We checked and it's true - his feet were all different temperatures, so were most of the others on the yard, though we only checked the un-shod ones as mine is also unshod.

I wouldn't worry too much, is what I'm trying to say, if it's only his foot temperatures, as in our experience it can be an unreliable means of determining what is wrong.

I thought you could have fried eggs on my boy's front feet, but he was fine, didn't turn into lami, and Finns feet were just as warm - well, one of them was, on one occasion, but not the next day.

Good luck, hope it sorts out soonest. They do worry us don't they?!

[lilaclomax]

His feet were all the same temp this morning after being in overnight, will be popping the magnetic boots on him tonight if he comes in with a cold foot again.

June - I have Margie Craib coming out early next year (recommended by a good friend) and hopefully we should see some results, if not I will give you a shout.. will also be interested in coming to see your man in action. Sorry I have not been up yet, may pop over on the 4th after my Physio.. or perhaps I should say hobble!!

[marianne]

How hard is your ground at the moment and how long has your horse been unshod? Only asking this because my TB's been barefoot for three months and suffers (hooves heat up) when the ground becomes excessively hard (either because of lack of rain or extreme cold!)

He also benefits from coming in to his stable onto the "springy" straw and his hooves always feel cooler before I turn him out again.

I'm also aware of the lush icy grass link so make sure there's plenty of hay in the field for them at all times [even if most of it ends up scattered all over the field and/or pooed on grrrrr]

[jen1]

my horses back legs and feet were always cold when he was shod, when i went barefoot his hooves and legs began working propely and now they have improved 100%

[lilaclomax]

He has been barefoot for at least the last 18 months, the field is firm at the top of the hill and the solid but squishy type mud at the bottom! He doesn't like to hang around by the gate instead he prefers the top end of the field.. he was much better when he came in today and I even had a quiet walk on him in the school just to see how he would react, he is a very bright boy and had his ears pricked the whole time whilst just stopping to listen to me. He is sound in walk and very quick, he stumbled slightly once but then he was looking at another horse going past in the opposite direction!
He is a true polo pony as he understood neck reining and was not very clued up with traditional steering, he is still wonky in trot (not ridden - wouldn't dare until he is 100%) but at his happiest when cantering back up the field

With his magnetic boots on and his supplements hopefully the cold foot should disapear altogether - just need his teeth and back checked over now.. plus I am waiting to find out his quirks.. give him time - lol

[jen1]

what does your barefoot trimmer say, is there anything she/he can do to help?