Barefoot hacking help please? - hoof PICS added

[dingbat]

I got my new horse 3 weeks (last sat) ago. He is barefoot but was farrier trimmed. (hes 7) I have an EP who has seen him once (2 weeks ago) but didn’t do loads, as she said we’d tackle him gradually. His feet aren’t hideous but his toes are slightly long. He also has slight imbalance, particularly his right fore. He seems to have a bit of false sole at the front of both front feet too. No history of problems (as far as I know). hes not done loads of work and mainly schooling. I know hes done some small hacks but not real often and I doubt too far. Also very few roads.

I know his feet will therefore need conditioning. I hacked him after I’d had him a week or so and felt happy going out. did a short (20 mins) hack. We are mainly off road with a small bit of road (perhaps 5 mins, if that). Also a track which isn’t too bad but a bit gritty I suppose (5 mins, poss slightly more)– mixed with (mainly) mud. He was fine the first time and also walked over big stones. He seems a little slow towards the end but otherwise ok. the second time was the same. Same hack. Only walked. Then Saturday I hacked again, a bit further, although the extra was fields - not road. Only about 30 mins though or just over. Sunday I hacked again and did about the same. Again he struggled coming back both days (or slowed down I noticed – although he seemed to do it periodically) I know hes not used to hacking lots or hills so assumed it was that at first. Yesterday we had our first trot. I noticed nothing going up the field. But on the way back when he’d slowed again, my friend said lets trot to wake him up. It was concrete covered in a bit of mud. Not much grit although had already been over some. (its not bad or anything though). He was definitely unlevel in trot and didn’t want to go forward.

However, when I got him in from the field later he walked out ok. (didn’t trot him up). No heat in legs etc so I can only assume its his feet.

I’ve texted my EP. But what should I do with him? keep hacking for 20 mins or so for now? Then build up? (prob is I can only hack at weekends in winter). Or should I not be hacking if I think hes sore?

RIGHT FORE





LEFT FORE

[Yann]

Why not invest in some boots if you're not sure he's coping with what you're asking of him at the moment? That way you can keep him comfortable whilst you get him fit and build up what his feet can cope with at the same time. Pads in the boots will supposedly help with conditioning too and keep him very comfortable

[LisaM]

My girl is BF and has been all her life - she's 6 now.
This wet/muddy type of weather we're having now is not good for BF horses - the feet soften and the grit can cause quite an irritation as it can be sharp.
How long has your's been BF??

Because your boys feet are not so good I'd really restrict the ridden work til your EP is happy with condition and balance of the feet - I'd go out long lining as the extra weight of any rider puts much more strain on the joints for a horse with poorly shaped feet. I'd worry about long feet putting too much pressure on his tendons especially if he has little heel/flat feet.

Once the shape is getting there I'd hack out with boots.

[dingbat]

he doesnt have flat feet. my EP when scoring him said i can basically do what i want with him apart from XC and fast work. otherwise he should be upto anything else i want t do right now.

hes never had shoes on as far as i know.

if i boot him though - will that actually then make him unable to hack at all (ever) without boots because he'll get used to wearing them all the time? i know this isnt the best weather and i know its the gritty stuff thats the worst! evil stuff.

[Yann]

Not at all, you only need to use them as and when you think the horse might be struggling or need a bit of extra protection. The more work his hooves do the better they will get, in or out of boots, assuming there isn't a problem with diet going on.

[LisaM]

I have very little experience with the boots but I know people do use them to help condition the feet.
That's good his feet are not flat

You may find that you'll need the boots just for the winter hacks. When everything dries up in the summer the feet harden too and are less sensitive - It may well be a mixture of things causing the reaction at the mo. x

[zack]

Since the ground has got wetter my recently-BF mare has been struggling a lot more, and we can't go anywhere without boots now, whereas I had started to walk her on roads without them.
She may also be more footy because my new horse arrived which is all quite stressful for her, and my EP thinks that may have made things worse. You say your horse is new, and although they ostensibly seem fine they could be a bit stressed, just from moving to a new home? My EP has suggested increasing the amount of Magnesium I am giving her, and to ensure she is standing on concrete for at least a couple of hours a day (which I don't always manage it has to be said!). I would put boots on rather than risk bruising and then abscess, but that might just be because I'm paranoid!

[fin]

Boots, pads and lots of work--that'll develop the feet and make it far easier for him to work barefoot. Plus when you have time to do it consistently, walking in hand over smooth tarmac, then varied terrain etc to condition the feet. Chances are he just has unfit feet ATM if he's never hacked out over any distance, plus if his feet are a bit unbalanced anyway he's likely to feel it more.

[dingbat]

i soaked them in borax today and couldnt see any bruising. i have him on a general supplement (benevit) and also he is having mag ox - since my other horse has it. he never had it in his previous home.

i'm just mega paranoid. tonight i thought his tendon was warm and slightly puffy. i want shooting!

[fin]

Lol. Every time I see mine lying down I'm convinced he's dead, if he's standing about I'm sure his feet hurt, if he's hooning he's either magnesium deficient/been stung by something fatal/shot by an air rifle.......

I think owner paranoia is part of the IR syndrome Probably if we took lots of valium it would go away?

[debbiec]

well it depends if his soreness is due to lack of structure or inflammation in the foot. If lack of structure is the problem then boots should help (assuming his feet are good enough for that - your EP can tell you). It could genuinely be low levels of inflammtion causing the problem. If you've only had the horse for 3 weeks then I'm going to assume he moved yards when you got him. When a horse moves yards it can be a huge change in environment which can upset the balance of the gut and cause mild footiness. Assuming your EP isn't too worried then I'd think that just giving him some time to settle would do the trick (Trinity consultants do a great detox as well which could help things along http://www.justbespoke.com)

I wouldn't ride a horse who is foot sore, or one who is lame in any way, there's nothing to be achieved by it, and it could cause damage.

[dingbat]

he is ok in the school and sets off ok hacking. its the last 5 mins he suddenly slows down. he also walks down the lane to/from the field ok. so hes not footsore all the time.

i know moving yards etc causes stress and its all new to him.

My EP wasnt worried at all when she saw him but i'd only had him a week. she watched him walk over the stones on the lane and was happy. so i think its more like his feet arent used to the work. i'm paranoid about grass/IR anyway because of my other horse so hes not getting a sugary diet. hes on hay (less than 10% sugar) and then hes on grass in the day but only a small field.

hes on 1 pint (wilko type) jug of alfa a mixed with 1 pint jug of hi-fi lite a day (split into breakfast and tea), with a bit of speedi beet. then has mag ox and benevit added. so in theory it shouldnt be diet related.

i know he was only ridden 2 or 3 times a week max before i had him and mainly in the school. so i'm generally riding 3-4 times a week at the mo (one time being hacking) but this weekend i hacked twice so maybe that is what made him unlevel as it was too much.

i'm riding in the school next with him so i'll make sure he feels ok in there. but he probably will be.

[debbiec]

The fact that he's going foot sore means he's doing more than he can cope with.

Conditioning work isn't about 'getting their feet used to something' it's about controlling the environment so that it stimulates the foot to grow the correct structure. Say if you started training to get fit. It doesn't get easier because you're used to it. It gets easier because you get fitter. If he's going sore it's because there is a problem. It could be that he's worn his feet down too much with the extra work. No one would be able to predict his wear levels with only 1 appointment. I was gobsmacked the other day to see a horse who had worn about 1/4'' off his hind feet in 20 mins (bit annoying really it took months to grow!) excessive wear can happen on occasions and in a very short space of time. But too much wear is only one possibility.

Something about his feet is not up to the level of work you're doing, you could either cut it down by the 5 mins he's struggling with or do some of your hack in hand. Obviously from here I don't have a clue what the problem is, but a horse isn't lame unless there's a problem. It doesn't have to be a huge problem, it could simply be the settling in thing, but there is a problem.

[Yann]

Chances are he would go 100% sound in boots, if you want to keep hacking if he's wearing a bit too much off they would be the answer.

[dingbat]

i dont think hes worn any off. he doesnt look to have. still waiting to hear back from my EP. Will stick to doing very little until i do.