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Post by sarafina on Oct 15, 2009 13:52:45 GMT -5
I would love some input on this ongoing problem.
Fifi has had 4 abscesses this year 3 in front one hind. Besides being uncomfortable for her, it interrupts our riding time.
Now that she is brewing #4, I'm wondering if there is something else that can be done. Farrier (whom I trust) says shoes will not help due to the shape of her hoof. I've been putting Venice turpentine on her soles to help harden whatever thin sole she has. Abscesses seem to come after she gets trimmed.
Can anybody recommend a boot that i could put on her hoof for a couple of weeks for turnout? I figure, if she can wear something until her hooves grow out a little, it would help. I've watched him trim her, and he barely takes off any - it's really just nipping up with wall a bit and some shaping. No trimming of the sole at all.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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Post by RacetrackRejects on Oct 15, 2009 15:00:24 GMT -5
Is he trimming her too short or taking off too much sole? Bruising can turn into abcesses so I would think either of those 2 might be possible. Shoes alone might not help, but shoes with pads might help. Also, I would think being trimmed out balance could cause it, but maybe not too quickly.
As for boots, I have heard that the BOA boots work great for turnout/riding, but are a tad pricey. Would be worth trying though I think.
Basco has had quite a few abcesses this year, but I think it's just due to our unusually rainy weather.
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Post by fancyhorse on Oct 15, 2009 15:45:37 GMT -5
Honestly, I'd put shoes on her. She is abcessing due to bruised feet. If your farrier is against it, I'd get a second opinion and hey try it, what would it hurt?
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Post by Allison - on Oct 15, 2009 20:59:26 GMT -5
I second the shoes. Not everyone can go barefoot.
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Post by alisonph on Oct 16, 2009 7:32:50 GMT -5
SF,
We had a mare that abcessed without shoes. She had great feet and wasn't ouchy being barefoot, but she would just abcess. Putting shoes on solved the problem.
I vaguely remember a thread on COTH about abcesses and thoughts on why they recur. Maybe a search over there would bring up more information.
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Post by sarafina on Oct 16, 2009 11:35:39 GMT -5
It's strange, because he trims her about every 8-9 weeks (he's at our barn weekly, so gives her the once over starting at about 6 weeks.) She grows slowly. He never, ever touches the sole, because it's so thin. We've discussed shoes, a few times. He's not anti-shoe, because he shoes many horses in the barn, and trims others. he's always going to conferences for new shoeing techniques, etc. and also stands around to watch his clients' horses work to check their movement. I may just go ahead and tell him to put shoes on her to see what happens. However, if I can get some boots for the two weeks after each trim, I'd be happy with that too. It's not the financial thing - it's the "what's best for the horse" thing. I was frankly surprised that he nixed the shoe idea. I thought a nice fat aluminum shoe might be a go - especially in the front. Farrier indicated that she's got nice hoof walls (I asked if a supplement would be a good idea - he said no to that too) and a nice toe callous going it's just those &*(^ soles.
Thanks so much for the thoughts and ideas, guys. I'm going to see what I can find on COTH.
Saw some nice BOA boots - also saw some glue - ons that looked pretty cool - used by endurance riders. So if shoes truly don't help, might get her some booties. Sadly, they don't come in pink flowered with glitter for the princess.
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Post by RacetrackRejects on Oct 16, 2009 13:40:03 GMT -5
Just wanted to mention one more thing about not trimming the soles. My old farrier never trimmed Basco's soles either saying that they were thin and Basco was always owie unless he had front shoes on (especially after a trim). When I moved Basco, I changed farriers and the new farrier told me there was nothing wrong with Basco's soles so he trimmed them. We found there were bruises ALL underneath the trimmed away sole. He was bruising from build up of sole. After we started trimming the soles, Basco was able to go barefoot just fine.
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Post by sarafina on Oct 21, 2009 9:50:30 GMT -5
RR- hm. I will talk to the farrier about this. Seems to me that my fave farrier from my former barn trimmed her soles a little and NEVER abscessed. Will look into that.
As for shoes, farrier doesn't want to put them on because he feels her sole will soften more, and we'll be in the same boat, albeit now with the cost of shoes. (frankly, if nothing improves even with external boots, i'm going to say, shoe with pads, or i'm finding someone new. period)
So, now, I'm considering Boa boots vs. Old Macs - put those babies on for 1 week after she is trimmed until she toughens up a little, and then see what happens.
Any reviews on these boots???
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Post by johnnysauntie on Oct 27, 2009 19:18:34 GMT -5
Kel, I have a pair of boas you can borrow to try out before you buy. Measure her tootsies - I'll look up the size I have tomorrow but they are pretty small.
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Post by sarafina on Oct 30, 2009 12:57:22 GMT -5
Wow - you rock! THANKS
As luck would have it, she's 5 1/4 diagonally (heel bulb to toe) and 4 3/4 straight down and 4 1/4 across. Farrier thinks she's a "1".
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Post by johnnysauntie on Oct 30, 2009 15:10:01 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure I have 1s, will double check! need to find them, think they're in my garage. back to you tonight or tomrrow am.m
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Post by Pam on Nov 1, 2009 16:09:59 GMT -5
That, to me, says it all. No problems with old farrier + ongoing problems with new farrier = new farrier needed. JMHO.  Any time a horse is consistently sore after trimming, the farrier is doing something wrong. It's that simple. Once in awhile, yeah, it happens. But if she is sore enough every single time, enough that you want to have boots to use every single time, something is not working. If he won't at least try something different, it's time to find someone who will. Any chance your old farrier might come to your new barn? ETA: BTW, Retained sole can indeed cause bruising and abcesses. |
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Post by guiltygirl on Nov 1, 2009 17:19:11 GMT -5
My vet said same thing Pam--but he did say my farrier was great that Leo's is probably due to a puncture and a piece of dirt got in.
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Post by Pam on Nov 1, 2009 19:34:53 GMT -5
GG, That's exactly what I was thinking. They call it a gravel and it can be a tiny stone or even something as small as a sand grain that gets in thru the white line, usually after wet weather when the foot is soft. It gets in, then heals over, eventually causing infection (an abcess) and gradually working it's way up until it comes out at the top. They take what seems like forever to resolve. Here's hoping your guy is better soon.
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Post by johnnysauntie on Nov 2, 2009 11:20:47 GMT -5
I've confirmed that the boots are indeed size one. Check your PMs Kelly.
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Any time a horse is consistently sore after trimming, the farrier is doing something wrong. It's that simple. Once in awhile, yeah, it happens. But if she is sore enough every single time, enough that you want to have boots to use every single time, something is not working. If he won't at least try something different, it's time to find someone who will. Any chance your old farrier might come to your new barn?
