Posted by Alexandra Wikner on July 16, 2003 at 10:22:08:
In Reply to: Re: The new pictures can be seen here posted by Alexandra Wikner on July 16, 2003 at 02:14:06:
My farrier has just been visiting. And he agreed that she has depp digital flexor tendon contractions. His first question was if either mare or foal was fed any hard feed, but they arent. He was pleased with that. He was also very pleased at the fact that I did noticed it and called him out early, normally he isnīt called out until the foals are on their toes (ie has clubfoot). He was also very pleased to see that she puts her heels down well and hasnīt started to have the toes in the air.
He didnīt trimmed her feet anything, as heīs opinion is that the toes she have will work well as holding the heel down (compared a little bit as how a toe with toe-extension works, but of course a shoe has much more effect). Her heels hasnīt grown to long so they were also left untrimmed (She was trimmed 7 th of July). He did NOT wanted to rock the toe as his opinion is that a rocked to will increase the risk of her going up on her toes. And as she has her heels on the ground, has her weight evenly disturbed on both legs and so on, he wanted to leave the hooves untouched for some week at least to see. He showed med how to stretch the fillys legs, and I should do that several times a day, gentle and easy.
My farrier also wanted her to have as much turnout as possible, but tought that I was acting just right when I keep the horses in at those sunny, warm days as today when the insects are horrible and keeps the horses walking endlessy in their field. That would cause extra stress on the legs as the filly cant lay down and rest all that she needs, and constantly walkng would put extra stress on her legs.
(She has been on 24 hour a day turnout until a few days ago when the insects came with the HOT weather. They havenīt walked endlessy before or anything. Just to point that out)
HMy farrier also thinks it is another good thing with bringing them in on the days. It takes the mare off the very lush grass and she gets hay to eat, and her feedintake is a littele bit more limited and lowered then. His consideration was that you should NOT starve the mare or try to stop tha foals growing. Because when the foals gets proper feed again they would grow rapidly to catch up and that could cause even more problem. And he has seen skinny foals with DDF contractions too, they will try to grow as far as they can, and the only thing you achieve is a skinny, growing foal....with contracted tendons. Buts just limit the intake a bit, as 24 hours a day on grass (with clover) gives the mare way beyond what she need. So if the weather gets worse and the insects go away, he wanted med to let them out for about 12 hours a day (the same time they are stebled now) on poor grass and with hay instead. Sp the filly can have her exercise without mom eating to much. (I have good-qualty stud hay for broodmares and youngstock).
I should call him immediatley if anything worses, and we will immediatley put on glue-on shoes with toe extensions then. Same thing if she hasnīt improved at the farriers next planned visit at August 1:st.
The horseclinic has closed down for a month due to vacations, and wouldnt open until august, so I havenīt get their opinion. But my farrier used to work there, so I guess they would say pretty much the same. My farrier also is one of few in this area with proper training and good knowledge. he is the ONLY one with any experience in real life from foal correction, and he has formerly worked at a stud as a farrier. So he is the best I can get, and I truly hope he is right. (He did wonders with the fillys outward twisted leg anyhow, a leg that more than one person thought was unfixable...)
Any comments och anything? This is MY first experience of this problem, so I have to trust pretty much to my own feeling, common sense and what "experts" say, but it is sometimes confusing when the experts diasagree. But I truly want to hear all opinions so I myself can think about what I think sounds as the best way and so.
As longs as any ideas or comments are well explained and makes sense I would listen to them. And for example the fact that my farrier had a perfect explanation why he didnīt wanted to rocker the toe at this moment anyway, I accepted it cause it soundes reasonable and so.