Update on Hoof Problems, barefoot..

[Jay.o]

Right, quick background for you that read it before and helped with your advice etc. Ben was shod a week ago last Thursday and was lame instantly. He usually is a tad footsore for a couple of days but by last Tgursday still bad. Farrier came back out and moved the shoe and holes, still lame.

Yesterday a friends farrier came out, one that I speak to anyway. I asked for a second opinion. He took the shoe off and had a look. Can you beleive that my farrier had nailed the hole through bens sole, NOT his hoof wall - fuming...

Becuase his feet are now in such a bad way, from crumbling and all the nail holes, he suggested shoes off... So off they came.

He is having a dry poltice on during the day with Boa boots on the fronts and in at night with a hot poltice on to draw out heat and infection. Him walking in the Boa boots was quite funny to begin with, like big wellies! But hes walking and he's not really all that sore at all. He can walk about in the field, doi a little trot etc and be ok for now.

Tonight he is having his feet soaked in buckets of warm salty water before going to bed.

Getting an EP or farrier back out this week to trim up/tiday up around the bottom for him.

All in all, good news, I guess. He is sore without those Boas on but I am sure it will improve.

[Julz]

Aww...the poor boy....!!! God he must have been in agony!!

What will you be doing with your original farrier?

TBH, if it were me i'd change farriers...

MTA: Why poultice? if there was an abcess or anything yes, but surely now the shoes are off, the pain will go? Best thing for heat and any swelling is cold hosing. or is it just precautionary?
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We had an incident similar to that at our yard, my friend and her son each had a horse, one of them was a huge cob type, with huge feet, the other was a warmblood with dainty feet.... the farrier was way past retirement age....he forgot what horse he was doing, and drove 6inch nails through the laminae of the WBs feet...instant laminitis caused by shoeing, in all four feet....

[Jay.o]

Oh I am changing farriers.. I am going to have my friends back out. He suggested just using racing plates for a short while so they are lighter and using smaller nails. My farrier put size 5 nails in which is apparently way to big for his foot type...

Its shame becuase he sorted out my mares feet back a few years ago, but I dont thinm he has had much experiance with TB feet or poor feet.

[Julz]

Unfortuently for farriers, the one mistake they make is usually a big one!

Our farrier has also made a huge ans stupid mistake..... he's just been done for drink driving, and has lost his driving licence, he reckons his dad will drive for him for the next three years to all his farrier appointments...LOL...wonder how long that'll work for...Shame, he's a good farrier..... *sigh*

[Pink's lady]

It's rather scray they we have to put our trust into a 'proffesional' like we do with farriers:eek: Especially if they really screw up!

If abcess formation is a possiblity with the punctures sole than a poltice is a very good idea. I'd also add a splash of hibiscrub into your wet poltice as it'll keep any thrush at bay.

Glad he's not too sore. As long as the trim is OK he should slowly become less tender. Boa boots are a godsent thought for sore feet.

I'd also bunge a couple of Milton sterilisation tablets (stuff you do baby bottles with) into the soak rather than salt water. Breaks down into salt water anyways and it's about as safe a disinifectant as you can get.

Fingers crossed his feet improve quickly

[shandy84]

Blimy poor old boy no wonder he was sore! I'm glad you've found a farrier that can help you both out good luck :)