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Post by donnalex on Dec 27, 2012 11:28:50 GMT 1
Thinking again - never good! Since I got here in May Ive taken Georgia in the sea at least once a week. Her feet are really clean and never smelly even though at the moment the land is very wet and she goes out every day. Im also intermittently using Silver Feet but am wondering if the sea water is responsible for keeping her feet healthier? She has naturally quite tall heels and so also has deep clefts. Remember this is the pony with such rotten white lines that her feet literally fell apart. I will freely admit Im not very conscientious and probably only pick them out about twice a week. She has recently had her shoes removed, I took her in the sea yesterday, she is striding out well on the roads and pebly parts of the beach though her feet look a little raggy round the edges. Im hoping she makes it to summer without needing shoes hacking out maybe twice a week if I get the time. Also Im wondering if the sea water will stop her getting mud rash? She is on the minerals balanced to the land but even so Im now thinking maybe the sea water has been having some good effect? Does anyone else take them into the sea regularly? And if so do they get mud rash, leg mites and thrush? I do know that salt water used to be used to harden the skin so perhaps it can help with mud rash and mites?
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Post by jill on Dec 27, 2012 11:41:57 GMT 1
I know Red Rum used to work on the beach at Southport and I seem to remember Ginger McCain saying the water was good for him - legs though, I think, more than feet. All that cooling of tendons etc.
MTA I use salt in water as a disinfectant so probably the same effect from sea water, killing bacteria and fungal infections?
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Post by specialized on Dec 27, 2012 11:51:38 GMT 1
The disinfecting properties in the salt water are bound to help in both conditions.
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Post by penny70 on Dec 27, 2012 11:53:02 GMT 1
Exactly Jill - we use saline as general brilliant cleaner, disinfectant etc, so I firmly believe it'll be brilliant for skin conditions...I suffer from psoriasis, and know that whenever I am near the sea my skin is a lot less inflamed and red, and the patches become smaller too, particularly if I am in the sea regularly, although even being in the sea air helps (eg during the winter when there's no way I'm going in, even in a wet suit!).
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Post by curlytobiano on Dec 27, 2012 14:52:28 GMT 1
I wonder whether the sand etc as well makes a kind of exfoliant so all the gunk gets rubbed away and the feet are then less prone to infection? I guess one side effect is that there could be a drying effect on the hooves which might make them a bit more prone to crumbling?
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 27, 2012 16:22:56 GMT 1
When my old pony had an extreme version of mudfever I took him to the beach, it helped make his legs healthier and I think was nice and soothing for him once over the initial ouch. Plus his grubby white socks akways came out gleaming.
It is really good for their feet and legs though, my farrier swears by taking them.
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Post by gemwithdiesel on Dec 27, 2012 16:43:16 GMT 1
I think sand as a surface is also really good for the feet isnt it? so probably the best of all worlds.
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Post by donnalex on Dec 27, 2012 16:57:04 GMT 1
I suppose there are also other minerals in the sea as well. And trotting through the salt water may soak it into the feet better as the feet will expand a little as they bear weight. Just need to get her to lie down in the water now to get rid of her pock marks And yes I was wondering about over doing it as far as drying out the feet. But the draught horses that do the sea fishing dragging nets in the shallows would surely have problems as they go in every day. Wonder if they ever get mud fever or mites. I do wonder with mites too - do they get hold as the skin is easier to burrow into once it is weakened as many seem to suffer with mites and mud rash at the same time?
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Post by jen1 on Dec 27, 2012 17:51:18 GMT 1
when we get our foot bath in i was thinking salt water, im sure your onto a winner with her, i seem to remember they used to treat mud fever with salt water to dry the scabs out, can only be a good thing, so when can i move in, do you need a minion ,lol
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Post by donnalex on Dec 27, 2012 18:32:21 GMT 1
Can you do minion? Would you use epsom salts or maybe would you drive to the sea and fill up some barrels?
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Post by jen1 on Dec 27, 2012 20:24:51 GMT 1
oo yes, be a good excuse to go to st annes, , he he,
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Amanda Seater
Grand Prix Poster
Listen to your horse you may be surprised what he may tell you about yourself
Posts: 3,866
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Post by Amanda Seater on Dec 27, 2012 22:45:51 GMT 1
I have a friend /client from my time in Devon she goes in the sea often as she and her horse live right on the beach. The sea water really did not improve the deep thrush in her horses central sulcus. the sand actually abraded it to the point of bleeding. he did have low heels. He came up to me off the sandy soil whilst his frogs healed. once the sulcus had closed the sea water helped but great care had to be taken about the sand for some time.
I would have thought sea water and sand would have been fab but for an already deep sulcus and infection it wasn't. I should think it would be great otherwise though. The horse is fine now going in the sea regularly now that the frog is sound.
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Post by donnalex on Dec 28, 2012 12:28:33 GMT 1
That is interesting Amanda and something to watch out for. Hopefully it will never affect me though.
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Dec 30, 2012 11:06:01 GMT 1
Where I now live for half the year, the locals believe strongly in the power of seawater to heal, cure ,or at least relieve many ills. Sea Baths are routinely taken by both humans and animals with many Race Horses being swum in the sea daily. When I was kicked on one of my knee replacements and was left with a deep gaping, oozing hole on the side of my knee, my surgeon wanted me to go into hospital to have it drained. I told him where I was going and he agreed that to swim in the sea could be the best cure. The sea healed and closed the wound within 2 weeks, so I too am now a strong believer in the power of seawater. Ordinary salt water is not the same however.
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wills
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 4,657
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Post by wills on Dec 30, 2012 11:46:58 GMT 1
Another for sea water. I live right on the sea and take my minis along regurlarly. My mare is now at a yard and doesnt go anymore and for the first time shes fot mf and smelly feet.
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