Otoelene had some hoof problems last summer but I thought we were past that. Then last weekend when I rode her I noticed she was just a little bit off. I notices some chipping of her front hoof again at the front of the shoe but didn't think it would be any worse than last summer and that getting her shoes reset would solve the problem by trimming out the bad spots.
Unfortunately, the bad spot was huge. The farrier dug it out from underneath and then gave me a choice.
1. Pack it and put a shoe with a pad back over it.
2. Resect the hoof wall over the hollow space, put a shoe with a pad back on.
I knew the best choice is to cut out the bad stuff but it's different when it is your own horse. I told the farrier that it was making me sick. He said that's pretty bad for a vet to get sick over a hoof wall resection. I said it wasn't making me physically sick, just emotionally sick seeing it on Otoelene. How had she not been dead lame for weeks with that underneath the hoof wall? Maybe this will allow it to grow out faster. Guess I will have to step up the painting lessons if I'm not going to be able to ride for awhile. Very depressing.
I'm sorry! I hope she recovers completely and quickly!
ReplyDeleteEep, I'm sorry! :( I hope she recovers soon!! I've seen some interesting cases with hooves but this is pretty crazy! Shows how strong she is to not be lame, she'll get through it!
ReplyDeleteOver the last four years I have worked on 5 cases very much like this. The feet were resected, treated, resected, treated some more. When I finally did hay and pasture tests and created a tightly balanced mineral ration, the wall separations fixed themselves and there is now no sign of it in any of the horses. They were all at least this bad and two were much worse, we nearly euthanized one of them. He is out on trail riding right now. Have you ever thought of trying something like that?
ReplyDeleteoh my! what a scary sight! I hope she recovers quickly for you. Would there be any benefit to using Cornucresin(sp?) on that (seems to promote hoof growth , and we had some success with a bad quarter crack a few years back
ReplyDeleteWow poor girl that looks so sore. Hope it grows out quickly and never somes back.
ReplyDeleteOh Man...I'm so sad to hear about this! At least you are now on your way to new growth and know that an awesome horse is waiting for you once this is all over. Keep us posted.
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