Hello,

Im brand new to this forum, I actually sought it out because Im struggling with my 14 year old Thoroughbred. Hes a retired race horse, very loving and has been with me for 9 years. I was wondering if anyone could lend me some help or advice, in the last 4-5 months my horse has seemed to constantly turn up lame.

Now I know he's not got the best hooves in the world, a fore hoof has been cracked most of his time with me and its never caused him any discomfort. When I clean his hooves they do smell foul, but not too terribly so. He has had thrush in the past and a abessess, but I cant find any hot spots or indication of one. His hooves are soft, I dig them out as well as possible with a hoof knife to be sure theres no small pebbles causing him trouble. Ive tried hoof conditioners in attempt to just try and help him. But its hard to treat when I just dont know whats wrong. Ive contemplated treating him for thrush, but I dont feel that the smell of his hooves is serious enough to be a case bad enough to make him lame. But i could be wrong, theres no swelling or heat spots in his legs at all either. (Or that I can find.)

Any suggestions on what could be wrong? I will try and get some pictures of his hooves tomarrow after I scrub them up. Any help is greatly appreciated.

~Dee

Do treat him for trush. I personally use bleach but the store stuff works as well. There should not be any odor from his foot. While you have his foot up, look down the back of it [over top the heels] the frog should not be higher than the wall. If the frog is is highest part, that is what he is walking on and he will be sore. He may need shoes to elevate the foot off the ground. Alot of ottb have flat feet. Finally @ his age you may be dealing with arthritis. Does he go completely sound on Bute ? He may just need an over the counter joint supplement to help him out.

Glucosamine pellets and MSM work wonders if it may be joint/arthritis that your horse has. I have had a handful of both OTTB's and other Thoroughbreds. I once had a 16YO OTTB mare that was pretty as a copper penny but could barely canter. After only 2 weeks of Glucosamine and MSM (you can get it at Tractor Supply and most online equine stores) she was cantering fluidly around her pasture.

If it is his hooves, I personally would treat him for thrush if you are smelling an odor. Do you think it could possibly be that he is tenderfooted? Does he go barefooted alot? Another suggestion would be to go Natural barefoot trims with him. And yes there is the constant battle between the barefoot horse folks, and the shoeing world of horses. I am not die-hard either way, but I have NEVER EVER gone wrong with correct barefoot trimming.

Worst case in my world was a 30 year old OTTB mare with TINY hooves that literally were falling apart. I started her owner's interest in barefoot trimming since she was paying an arm and a leg for shoeing and otherwise was just using the mare as a trail horse. After 6 months of a great barefoot trimming program, the mare had NO lameness issues, a VERY well formed, calloused, tough, sole, and could be ridden for miles every day. He owner told me that after owning for 5 years her mare had never been able to walk on the gravel driveway because of the tenderness of her feet. I was on the way back from a ride with her on one of her other horses and watched smiling,as the 16.1hh 30 Year-old mare with hooves SMALLER than my 14.2hh Quarter horse, that had previously been so bad, I had no hope for their recovery- walking and trotting happily down the long gravel driveway without so much as the slightest stumble. This was after an approx. 6-mile ride on pavement, dirt, pasture, and more gravel roads.

To those in the shoeing departement, I'm not anti-shoe either. And yes, I would also check the height of the frog on your horse also just to be on the safe side.

Well that was a long one! I do hope it helps in some way. Best of luck and let us know how he does!

Most of the horses at my show barn get tender footed in the summer. Often the reason is all the bathing we do. It wrecks their feet. Try to avoid getting their feet wet, if you can.

I have been advised by my farrier and others to be very careful with any softening hoof oils, lotions or creams on the sole and heel as it will make the problem worse. They need their soles toughened up, if anything. There are a few products my farrier and vet have recommended. There is a hoof packing called Magic Cushion that works nicely to relieve pain and toughen up the sole. I also like the old standard, Venice of Turpentine and Tough Stuff. I have friends that swear by Crossapol and say they can't get through the summer without it.

My farrier also does poured pads for both thrush and sole tenderness. Both my trainer's jumper and my hunter went in poured pads during the summer. It helps a lot.

Best of luck and let us know what happens.

CWirth

Cwirth, the poured pads are new to me, and sound quite interesting. I noticed them earlier in the year in an equine magazine. Have you ever tried them and how do you like them? Do you happen to know on average how long they last?

Poured pads for thrush? Do they apply some sort of medication and if so what kind? I can see for a sore foot because of rocks and things but thrush?