Lame Mare, Coronary Band Abscess, could it be a farrier problem?????

I hope I get the photos attached correctly. I don't have pictures of my mare's hoof, but I tried to illustrate the problem with the attached photos.

Problem:
- Farrier trimmed feet 4 weeks ago, and seemed to leave toe longer than expected on both front feet.
- Right front leg lameness.
- Swelling noticed around Coronary band, and abcess busted on the back of the hoof (notice photo with red circle).
- Seems to be walking more on the toe part of the hoof and buckling the ankle over to keep pressure off the heel.

Illustraction shows where the swelling is seen and where the abscess busted.

Treatment:
- Followed vet's recommendations
1. Antibiotic - 5 days
2. Pain Meds - 5 days
3 Soaked hoof in epsom salt for 30 minutes for 3 days

Signs of improvement are seen, but still worried.

We really need some support on this. The mare has been lame for 2 weeks now and in the last 6 days, we found the abcess and treated for that. Has anyone had this problem? What did you do to help healing? Could the toe being long have cause the coronary band swelling and abcess?

Most lameness issues are farrier problems. Here's what I see: Your horse has incapsulated thrush in the frog which is causing heel pain and too long heels as the horse is trying to elevate off of the frog to alleviate the pain in the frog and is buckling forward like a woman in too high of heels falling on her face. This thrush could also be the root of your swelling at the back of the coronary band and as it tries to heal on its own is causing the abcessing which typically comes out at the exact spot you indicate. Too high heels can cause coffin bone rotation if it is not corrected. You must heal the thrush and get the heels down to correct this, it is NOT life threatening! This illustration you have doesn't show what the bars are and is actually showing a too high heel which is rotating the coffin bone. The coffin bone should be ground parallel. Looking at the bottom of your horse's foot the bars are not trimmed which is causing flares that are stretching the laminae. The sole has not been exfoliated and the walls are most likely too long also which is causing periferal loading stretching the laminae all around the foot. When the walls are too long it's like pulling your fingernails back with every step the horse takes. Can you post a photo of the hoof from the side and front as well? I would recommend you go to www.swedishhoofschool.com and take time doing some research there.

Velvetgrace -- can you get your own horse's photos? How long is too long in the toes? Was it an abcess in the back or an injury? Where on the coronary band is the swelling? Is there heat in her leg? Hoof? Pics would help a lot. How is her other front foot? How are her back? How long have you dealt with this farrier? How long after the trim did you notice lameness?

Clasymover, how do you figure all that when the picture is not of her horse?

Is she still swollen after the abscess burst? Is there a strong digital pulse? Is the farrier due out again? Can you get them out to ensure it's open and draining?

I would continue to soak a hoof for a week after it burst, there's always the chance of dirt getting into the open wound. It's not unusual for an abscess to take weeks to completely heal. We went through this all summer with one our geldings.

A picture of her hoof would sure help.

I will get a picture posted soon, a day or two, just please wait and I will get it.

I would continue soaking, maybe wrap with icthamol to continue drawing the abscess out. I do not think it was your farrier's fault. Abscesses happen, they are not rare, or life threatening. Out of all of them I have seen and dealt with, the farrier was never blamed. If your farrier is not doing a good job, or you don't like the way your horse is being trimmed, then I would look for another one. Abscesses can form for many different reasons, but I wouldn't think leaving her toe a bit long would be one of them. Good luck with your mare and I hope she starts to feel better soon.

I agree with this, it was not necessarity the farriers fault. She could have had a stone bruise that became an abcess or sometimes, a very small rock with get imbedded in the white line and work its way up into the hoof causing an abcess. It also could have been thrush, but I am not experienced with that and don't know. However, if you are unsatisfied with how he trims her, then definitely look elsewhere but I don't think it was his fault. Just keep it clean and it will clear up. :)

Missed the part about the photo not being of her horse. That's what's wrong the hoof that the photo is of though. Will look forward to seeing pix of her horse's foot.

Abscesses can form for many different reasons, but I wouldn't think leaving her toe a bit long would be one of them.

Yes they do happen for many different reasons but actually long toes can as they cause stress on the hoof wall at the toe with every step.

Notice in the pictures that it is the white hoof where we had the problem. In some pictures you will notice a red circle that is the point where the abcess had busted.

In some pictures you will also notice that the leg is buckled over at the ankle... well that is how the mare was trying to relieve pressure off the heal.