Re: Ex racehorse Thoroughbred going barefoot! Piccies
Couldnt ride last night as he was bitten to hell in the field by the pesky midges, despite a good fly sheet with neck piece and fly mask and covered with sudacream underneath, as they like to have a good bite at his bits and pieces. Poor boy!
So, gave him a good groom instead, and found something horrid in his hoof - I have been really up to date with his thrush in this feet, and have sharp proddy thing that came from a manacure set at home, its small enough to pick out any rubbish from his seedy toe and stuff the redhorse putty back in. When hoof picking and cleaning before he was tucked away for the night, I had a really good poke around, rather than just using the hoof pick and, between the outer wall/white line area, and up to the edge of the bars on the underside of the hoof which BFT has been trimming down, I thought he had some compacted mud and lifted it, only to find some of his sole came away and underneath was this foul smelling black thrush. Same case on the other side. A really small area and could easily have been missed but, perhaps that didnt help when he was limping on that leg. I have scrapped it away, cleaned and treated.
So, rode this morning, he is back to his normal self while walking accross the yard, no limping, yey!
He trotted just fine in the field ans seemed very happy. No heat etc from having some extra grass, as we have enlarged is area, just a little, but keeping an eye on. I dont want him to poach his field too much, as my YO wont be happy, its hard when its not your land.
Shall take some photos, hooves have definately grown some more, I am amazed at how much, hate the separtion underneath though, thats still there and his feet are not pretty but, the main thing is that he is sound again, was very worrying for a good 3 weeks really and to be honest still dont know the exact cause, I still dont think it was abscess as he would have got worse, not better, perhaps it was a combintion of things.
Funny how you start to look at other horses feet and feet with shoes on when you try barefoot, I am always wanting to pick up other barefoot horses to admire or look at hooves with shoes on, just to see how they are looking. I am not saying we shall remain barefoot forever, but, we didnt have a choice at the time.