126. The Barefoot Transition Continues...(aswell as the lameness)

Today i had the farrier come to see Spice to see if he thought that putting shoes back on her would eradicate the lameness but much to my surprise he suggested that i get her back checked as he thought the lameness could be muscular driven.

So, for now Spice stays unshod as he didn't see the point in putting shoes on if the lameness wasn't due to her hooves. He gave them a good check over and couldn't find any signs of abscessing or bruising so that's the good news.

I also asked him what his opinion of Spices hooves were and again much to my surprise he said that she had good hooves that were not genetically weak in anyway but that the quality/integrity of her hind hoof had obviously been compromised by the abscess and was therefore weaker than all the rest (hence the cracking).

So, at this moment in time i am once again undecided as to which way to go. If i arrange for the physio therapist to see Spice asap as well as get the vet to come and do a flexion test again i should hopefully have a clearer idea of what to do. If the farrier had have said 'she definitely needs shoes' i'd have had him put them back on her in a flash but as he didn't i guess all i can do is wait and see. God i've done 4 months so what's another month hey?

I just really need to get to the bottom of this lameness issue which hopefully i will do.

123. Genetics - Thoroughbreds

Today i had the vet come out to see Spice as two of her hooves on her left side are still warm to touch and i thought she might have some thrush in her frog so wanted to make sure that it was that and not another abscess brewing.

The good news is the vet checked her hoof over with hoof testers and came to the conclusion that it wasn't an abscess and that she just had a mild case of thrush (probably due to her flat soles).

She said that i might have to shoe Spice in view of the fact that she has flat soles which could simply be due to her genetic conformation and therefore never likely to change making her more susceptible to bruising and abscessing.

In view of this i have decided to ask the farrier to look at her hooves and give me his opinion aswell as also talking to my barefoot trimmer about the matter.

I think at the moment i just want Spice to be happy and sound again which she hasn't been since going barefoot.

Having given it 4 whole months, with 24/7 turnout, a good diet and regular trimming i would now have expected her to be sound on grass and 100% ride-able but she isn't and i can't ignore this fact.

The vet has recommended a two week course of danilon in the hope that the inflammation in her hooves will decrease and the on-off lameness issues will cease. So, we will see how she is doing in two weeks time.

If it IS her genetics then i can only say that i think there should be a law against those that breed horses who clearly have no idea what they are doing. Breeding what was once such an incredible asset to the horse out of its genetics and leaving it with a hoof so poorly formed to the point that it would not survive without metal shoes on is in my view Barbaric, grossly irresponsible and simply unforgiveable.

It's like forcing two humans with genetically poor/weaker teeth and then breeding them again and again and again until they get to the point where by the age of 13 they have to have all their teeth replaced with false teeth.

Do those who breed race horses have no care for horses hooves? and should those that are clearly unqualified be allowed to breed?

Today, i cried on my friends shoulders because i was so tired of thinking about Spices hooves...do i feel guilty putting her through this? Yes...of course but i know that i have done every single thing with her best interests at heart. I was prepared to give up my time, money and enjoyment for the sake of giving her a healthier set of hooves and this decision was based on anything but selfishness.

96. Lameness

Arghhh! Today i noticed that Spice was lame again on her hoof - the one which previously had an abscess. She is not crippled but she is walking rather slowly and has a noticeably uneven trot. I'm not sure whether it is the start of another abscess (fingers crossed) i it isn't! or whether she is just foot sore on that particular hoof due to it needing a trim as i noticed today that most of the weight is bearing on the hoof wall rather than the sole which has caused flaring and thus maybe the cause of her discomfort.

So, i have arranged for a podiatrist to come out to see her tomorrow and hopefully as i said it will just need trimming.

Five months into her being barefoot i was hoping that these problems would cease but unfortunately i think the abscess has really set that one hoof back. :(

Will let you all know how it goes tomorrow.

The good news is...when i tried long reining her out of the gate down to the stables today i had 100% success without any hesitation from her at all so i think i've cracked it with regards that.

I was planning on long reining her half way around the block tomorrow and then riding her back but it doesn't look like i'll be doing that now. :(