Posted by Danvers on March 18, 2003 at 11:47:24:
In Reply to: Re: white line disease/show shoes posted by melissa on March 17, 2003 at 15:04:01:
: : : Details: 11 year old Morgan stallion shown English pleasure. No previous hoof problems. New shoes/pads made beginning of September 2002 at a horse show by experienced show farrier. Farrier commented on what a pleasure it was to work on a horse w/good feet. Pulled shoes and had feet trimmed by our regular (Amish) farrier after last show, end of October 2002. No problems noted. Kept in well-maintained stall with free access to small turnout paddock & trail ridden on average three times weekly. Saw regular farrier two weeks ago to have shoes/pads put back on. Farrier noted beginning of white line, evidenced by an area of separation on left front hoof about 2 inches long, 3/8 inch deep after cleaning out. Foot was dry and farrier put on show shoes/pads and filled all four with EquiPak (Vettec), which we have used in the past, but no other treatment or medication applied. Question: What degree of risk are we running if we leave the shoes on another two weeks in order to do a horse show at the International Livestock Exhbition in Springfield, IL? Unless strongly advised to the contrary, our plan would be to see the farrier right after the show to pull the shoes and assess the situation. Our thinking is that if the condition as not worsened that we may be able to treat w/merthiolate and reset, checking every four weeks. If condition has worsened, we would pull shoes for the season and proceed w/whatever treatment deemed necessary. Any comments, suggestions re this plan of action would be greatly appreciated.
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: : Please clarify... Did your stud have no hoof care or maintenance done from October 2002 until March of 2003?
: : ~~Danvers
: At the risk of sounding ignorant, no farrier care after shoes came off and he was trimmed, probably early November. In the past, we've typically taken down the toe at end of show season and then left feet alone until spring. Hooves were cleaned when he was ridden and/or on a couple of occasions when there was snow balled in the foot. We obviously missed the earliest signs of WLD, but we really didn't have any knowledge of WLD prior to this situation.
Okay... In the winter, nutrients that would be utilized to produce hoof growth are somewhat diverted to produce and maintain a winter hair coat; subsequently, you can often go a bit longer between maintenance periods. Likewise, no matter the time of year, you can often go longer between maintenance on the barefoot horse as opposed to the shod horse.
Nevertheless, anything more than an eight-week period is generally too long. Four to five months is, without a doubt, too long. Because the hoof is on an oblique angle in relation to the limb, .25 inches of growth is not simply a downward growth; it's also a forward growth of .25"
If it were simply a downward growth, your horse would get taller and it would be no big deal. Since, however, it's also a forward growth, the hoof is--in effect--providing less support for the limb. It's growing out from under the boney column of the limb, and the horse is losing his foundation or base of support.
This places undue stress on the tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues of the limb, and it creates stress in the hoof capsule itself, often creating stretching or tearing of the laminae and weakening of the heels and caudal structures.
Since your horse is a Morgan, it's possible that he's got a solid heel, possibly even a stacked heel, and there aren't any screamingly obvious signs of problems with the hoof capsule breaking down. Nevertheless, what you're identifying as WLD, is very likely a result of stretched, pulled, and/or torn laminae from a hoof that needs to be maintained more often and very likely needs to be "backed up." The stretched laminae results in a weakening of the natural barrier against moisture and ick and creates an opportunistic environment for bacteria and fungi to establish residence.
Assuming that he's kept with a long foot and that, when shod, the heels of the shoe extend past the buttress of the foot to provide a better base and an appropriate toe to heel ratio, he is probably better off with the shoes on than he was barefoot.
Basically, I would say that the best thing you can do is to get him on a regular maintenance schedule and keep him on it.
~~Danvers