[IchigoSweeties]

Hi there I really need some help and advice! Almost two years ago I bought my stunning mare off of a very dodgy dealer, she was underweight and her feet where crumbled cracked and just the most disgusting feet I've ever seen....so I bought her...2 years on we are lame every other day on a good month. We have had every illness under the sun and to top it off we broke our left hind last year. Vets have x-rayed and back leg is fine, but still lame on other 3 a year later! Farrier says the feet vet says the feet but the feet are now almost "good"! and NO improvement at all! Friends say get loads of vets opinion but I'm not rich! She is NOT in pain, she broncos around her field passaging around leaping and rearing everywhere she goes! But what can i possibly do to make my girl sound please help me!!
Thank you!
Georgia xx

 

[Joe4d]

u sure she is lame, ? I had a horse that learned to limp when he saw the saddle come out of the barn. PUt the saddle back in the barn go in the house and watch him out the window and he was perfectly fine, grab saddle, walk towards him he started limping again.

 

[Horseman56]

Hi there I really need some help and advice! Almost two years ago I bought my stunning mare off of a very dodgy dealer, she was underweight and her feet where crumbled cracked and just the most disgusting feet I've ever seen....so I bought her...2 years on we are lame every other day on a good month. We have had every illness under the sun and to top it off we broke our left hind last year. Vets have x-rayed and back leg is fine, but still lame on other 3 a year later! Farrier says the feet vet says the feet but the feet are now almost "good"! and NO improvement at all! Friends say get loads of vets opinion but I'm not rich! She is NOT in pain, she broncos around her field passaging around leaping and rearing everywhere she goes! But what can i possibly do to make my girl sound please help me!!
Thank you!
Georgia xx

There simply isn't enough information here to assist.

You indicate the horse is lame every other day but is not in pain. Define "lame".

Farrier says the problem is in the feet. What problem?

Vet says the problem is in the feet. What problem?

You say the feet are "almost good". What is "almost good"?

What farriery protocol has been tried?
What veterinary protocol/prescription has been tried?

Too many conflicting comments; no specifics; no photos; no xrays. You're not going to find a lot of help this way.

Take a deep breath and try again.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[IchigoSweeties]

u sure she is lame, ? I had a horse that learned to limp when he saw the saddle come out of the barn. PUt the saddle back in the barn go in the house and watch him out the window and he was perfectly fine, grab saddle, walk towards him he started limping again.

Unfortunately not when in the field regardless of her crazy behaviour she is still lame

 

[IchigoSweeties]

Only just joined so not smart enough to post x rays. But lame degree of about 3 on each leg, worst on near fore about 5. The farrier and vet mean that the lameness is due to her hooves being very poor, however now the feet no longer crumble and nails will enter the foot with less difficulty, there are still a couple splits at very base but almost completely grown out. Her x ray is only on the break and is 100% fixed. She is on Biotin supplement and hoof moisture. Never had any vet prescription not even when leg was broken. Anymore info I need to add?

 

[natisha]

I take it she has shoes on? Is there a reason for shoes?
Surely someone (vet/farrier) had to say something like" her feet are____" "or she has ____".
Like if you had a sore foot & went to a doctor he would tell you why your foot was sore or what the problem was. He wouldn't just tell you your foot is sore because you already know that.
It is very nice of you to care so much for your horse.

 

[IchigoSweeties]

I take it she has shoes on? Is there a reason for shoes?
Surely someone (vet/farrier) had to say something like" her feet are____" "or she has ____".
Like if you had a sore foot & went to a doctor he would tell you why your foot was sore or what the problem was. He wouldn't just tell you your foot is sore because you already know that.
It is very nice of you to care so much for your horse.

Oh right no they.didn't really elaborate :s just said her hooves were very soft which if course would be a very good.reason to be lame. But surely now her hooves are almost completely healthy I would have thought to see some improvement. Thank you I love her dearly xx
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[natisha]

Maybe it's time to demand some answers?
Foot x-rays may be in order.

 

[MyBoyPuck]

If you do have pics to post, just click on the "go advanced" button and them attach files.

 

[OctoberArabian]

Just because her hooves are soft doesn't necessarily mean shes lame? she isnt in pain, her hooves are just soft.... right? i'm confuzzled.

 

[Horseman56]

Oh right no they.didn't really elaborate :s just said her hooves were very soft which if course would be a very good.reason to be lame. But surely now her hooves are almost completely healthy I would have thought to see some improvement. Thank you I love her dearly xx
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Veterinary service charges represent diagnosis and treatment. If your vet acknowledges the horse is severely lame, ask for a specific diagnosis.

Farrier service charges represent treatment/management. Ask your farrier what he is treating/managing.

An answer of "lameness" isn't satisfactory.

Learn how to post photos. Acquire radiographs and a diagnostic from your veterinarian. Seek better information from your farrier regarding his treatment protocol. What is he treating? What protocol is he applying and how does he believe it will help.

Come back here with photos of the horses feet, lower limb, m/l and d/p oblique radiographs and at least a general diagnostic and attempted treatment methodology.

If what you have shared is truly the only information you have been provided by both the vet and the farrier, it may be time to consider practitioners more versed in equine lameness.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[TbLover]

u sure she is lame, ? I had a horse that learned to limp when he saw the saddle come out of the barn. PUt the saddle back in the barn go in the house and watch him out the window and he was perfectly fine, grab saddle, walk towards him he started limping again.

My horse so did that. He had a injury that he had gotten a year previous. Well he was ready to start working again and as soon as he saw that saddle he would start limping around and looking at me with those sad eyes. ofcourse i had a soft spot for him and didnt notice till my husband pointed it out. HA, 2 years after injury and he doesnt do it no more. lol

 

[IchigoSweeties]

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[IchigoSweeties]

Please what you have to understand is I'm 18, I am at college all day and work 5 till 11 Mon to Fri to have the money to keep her. Like I have said to my friends I don't have the money for constant vet visits x rays here there.and everywhere infrared radiography ultrasound etc. I live in England too. I dont know how much vets are in other.countries but for a one spot x ray (shoulder or foot etc) I'm looking at £250 excluding call out.
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[Tayz]

I can understand what its like for lots of vet bills and wanting to do as much as possible for as little as possible. good luck finding out why shes still lame and fixing it

 

[DuffyDuck]

Ichigo, I would suggest firstly getting her insured.

Secondly, pictures of her feet would be good.

My dad's mare was the same Our vet was completely useless and took xrays WITH A SHOE ON (we knew no better) and once we moved to a different yard and used a different vet, she was prescribed with having navicular. This was fortunate as the other vet was going to snip her nerve ending so she could be worked.

With retraining and Obar shoes, she's now fine- colder weather makes her stiff. Are all the hooves the same sort of size, or are any noticeably smaller? I've been told this is a sign of navicular.

I would say Xrays are a must.. on the other side, the money is an issue. If she's in the field and she's fine as she is, I would start saving every penny you can, then get the xrays done when you can as she's obviously still enjoying life out in the field!

Good Luck

 

[IchigoSweeties]

Ichigo, I would suggest firstly getting her insured.

Secondly, pictures of her feet would be good.

My dad's mare was the same Our vet was completely useless and took xrays WITH A SHOE ON (we knew no better) and once we moved to a different yard and used a different vet, she was prescribed with having navicular. This was fortunate as the other vet was going to snip her nerve ending so she could be worked.

With retraining and Obar shoes, she's now fine- colder weather makes her stiff. Are all the hooves the same sort of size, or are any noticeably smaller? I've been told this is a sign of navicular.

I would say Xrays are a must.. on the other side, the money is an issue. If she's in the field and she's fine as she is, I would start saving every penny you can, then get the xrays done when you can as she's obviously still enjoying life out in the field!

Good Luck

she is insured problem is had the vet out first day of bringing her.home to look at her feet and I now can't.insure her.for her feet :/ they ruled out navicular immediately as.this also was my first instinct, but they believe not. Yes her front left is smaller than the rest but vet again says she was born like it and lots of horses get it xx
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[kevinshorses]

Take photos of all her feet and post them up here. Then we can at least have something to discuss.