chronic bruised hoof wall

[joann11072]

Could someone suggest any reasons/ solutions to a hoof wall that is constantly bruised? My mare has a stripped wall (white with 1 black stripe) on her right rear. The outer wall on the most white portion is constantly bruised, usually about half way down. It also seems to be dishing a little now. She is in a box stall, that is kept clean and dry. She is not a kicker. Her turn outs are in a very small sand pen with no rocks. She is ridden lower level dressage. She has her hind shoes squared for over reaching. She grows very slow, so she is shoed every 8 weeks. She does have a club hoof on the front right and low heel on the front left, with leather pads on both. She seems to travel better with the pads. She does not have soft hooves. She is on Focus HF. Did I leave anything out?
If anyone has suggestions please let me know.
Thanks
Joann

[Forgewizard]

Joann,
Bruising is always more visible on the non pigmented hoof than on the pigmented hoof, but I'd say that all colorations of hooves bruise equally.

As to your chronic bruise showing up in a stalled horse it usually is from a stall kicker. But it also could be from the horse laying too close to the wall and bumping the hoof as she gets up. Go over her stall with a fine tooth comb and really peer at the base walls for dented boards, chipped paint, s***********ed steel etc whatever the stalls are built from. also chec about the three foot high level for indications the horse has been cast. (Rolled over and stuck against the wall).

If you see evidence of (actually even if you don't see evidence, but just for good horse keeping) you need to add much more bedding to the stall and bank the stall sides. so that the bedding prevents the horse from rolling into the walls. Bank the bedding at least 18 inches or higher up the stall walls and into the center of the stall at least two feet. This of course reduces the "usable" area of her stall considerably, but may be healthier for her in the long run.

Another reason may be just repeated stomping against bugs. Some horses repeatedly stamp their hind hooves when annoyed by biting insects. I've seen some stamp their hooves like a machine gun.

Another thing to look for is an imbalance in the heels. A hoof with a jammed heel may bruise more readily.

A hoof with a build up of sole can cause internal bruising that leeches outward to become visible in the wall.

A horse that is lunged and bumps the pen wall or rungs will bruise their outside walls.

Is her hind foot "boxy" in appearance? (Clear photos would really help) She may be developing sidebone although 4 years is rather young for that.

You mention that she is prone to overreaching. She could be still overreaching but instead of forging, she is stepping under her forefeet and this may cause bruising. Look closeley at her coronet hairs and if they haven't been mechanically clipped short see if they have been worn off by her own hoof placement. I've seen many times where the horses are brushing themselves enough to shave their own hairs short, but not enough to cut the skin. Occassionally they bump themselves hard enough to bruise and the bruise grows down the hoof wall.

One slightly unorthodox way to discover where she is bashing her feet (if that is the cause) is to paint her hoof with lipstick and then after 24 hours do some detective work to find where the lipstick has been transferred.

8 weeks between shoeings on a 4 year old horse is NOT normal. Slow hoof growth on a 4 year old is not normal. I'd get your vet to do a complete blood, hormone and enzyme work up on her or at the very least change your hoof and vitamin supplement. She ought to be growing at least 3/8 inch of new hoof every 4 weeks!

If she's is an easy keeper or a heavy horse I'd especially opt for a vet analysis just to rule out metabolic issues. And have more than one test done- as one test is often not conclusive.

If at all possible toffer her free turn out with room to run and play - this freedom of motion will encourage better growth too.

At the risk of sounding "hokey" but I've seen it with my own eye*****. Have a COMPETENT accupuncturist evaluate her. If she is being used for consistent dressage work her loins may be swollen. There is a meridian that this swelling will constrict which can result in diminished blood flow throughought the hind quarters of the horse. This diminished flow will minimize hoof growth and hoof health as well as her ability to utilize her hind quarters properly. Once the "ting" point has been opened the loin swelling will immediately be relieved and the blood flow will normalize.

Have fun sleuthing!
Kim

[joann11072]

Kim,
Thanks for all the advice. However I never said she was a 4 year old. She is actually 12 and NSH.
You may be right with the fly stompping. She is a princess and can't stand even a single fly on her. I have tried the leg coverings but she pounds even worse.
We have done bloodwork recently and that is all normal.
She is bedded down in about 20 inches of shavings.
I have asked the cleaning pearson and he doesn't hear any kicking. This has been occuring since a have owned her, 2 years. Sometimes it is better than others.
She is a show horse and I have never not had to shave her coronet hairs, so that is out.
I actually have a chiropractor for her who also does accupuncture. She is treated about every 3 months.
I'll try to get some really good photos with my digital of the hoof in question and recent photos of her traveling, straight and bent. I wouldn't say that it is "boxy" like her club hoof. I'll try to post photos WED night of the hoof in question.
Again thanks for the advise.
Joann

[joann11072]

Here are the photos of the hoof and one of her traveling. Any ideas?
Joann

[Forgewizard]

Hi Joan!
Thanks for the photos! Pretty mare! I've become a tad partial to greys since I acquired my "Old grey Mare"! :D

IN the riding photo it is a bit difficult to really see well, but does she have slightly capped hocks? Or suffer from curbed hocks?

That off hind foot definitely likes to travel under her midline. She may have an over all body leaning problem that is contributing to what I can see in her photos. Rake off a smooth dirt tract and ask her to walk and then trot straight down the area. After each pass get off and evaluate her hoof tracks. Do the trot on both diagonals. Rake in between each gait change. I'd bet that she is stepping longer (actually her opposite hind leg is stepping short). Get someone to really critique your posistion from beind and see if there is a twist to your saddle. If she is moving hollow on one side your seat & saddle will reflect it.

Keeping her motion tendancy in mind. Here is also what I see in the one hoof you posted photos of:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL855/2893929/8503011/121192078.jpg

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL855/2893929/8503011/121192279.jpg

My sneaky suspicion is that she is fairly sore in her hind heels and is "scooching" her hind feet forward quicker than her fores can get out of the way. Get her better supported in back and evened up in her stride and I'll bet you see a tremendous difference!