soggy soles

[lovelikesalt]

My TB is shedding too much sole because of the wet Oregon weather. My farrier says the only thing to do is try to keep the feet dry, which he also knows is impossible with this horse -- he's neurotic and flips out in his stall.

I'm wondering if Keratex hoof gel would help in this situation -- I need to dry out his soles so they stop exfoliating and have a chance to grow back.

thanks

[John Emsley]

I don't know about the keratex hoof gel, but I do know that if you keep him bedded deep with dry shavings, his hooves will dry out. He can flip out all he wants and they'll still dry out.;)
John

[lovelikesalt]

I moved the thread over to the hoof problems forum to open it up beyond Keratex, hope that's ok.

I can't put him in a stall -- one because my street nail surgery horse has the stall and thus Huey has the turn out. We're building another stall but it won't be done for a couple weeks. Also he will actually stall walk himself lame if stalled.

Isn't the dry-wet transition really bad for their feet anyway?

thanks!

[T. Wm. HALL]

I use a product called 'Sound' on my horses and encourage my clients to use it also. It is an all natural base and doesn't have lanolin in it. It keeps dry feet soft, and soft feet maintained. I like it much better than Keratex, but it takes a little longer for the effects to be noticed. http://www.soundconditioner.us/

Trevor

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

What you're dealing with is what we've had to become expert in over in the UK.

Here it's wet and muddy, wet and muddy oh and then it's wet and muddy. This provides some distinct challenges when managing stock. Whether it's horses, cattle or sheep the environment has got to be managed so they don't end up with foot rot, thrush, dermatophilus etc etc etc.

There's some suggestions re how to manage in previous postings I've done and here:

http://www.horseshoes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=132109#post132109

http://www.horseshoes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=68526&highlight=clean+straw#post68526

Why is your horse flipping out and neurotic in his stable??? You really need to get that managed too and preferably before it's essential that he has to be inside and say in the event of illness or injury.

You can't ever have it so they can never come in for fear of doing themselves, your property, you or your vet damage or injury. What if his feet end up rotten with pending thrush because you can't manage the environment or his "soggy feet" effectively?

What is he doing in his stable?

Are you feeding him too much high energy food in consideration for what he does?

Why isn't he settled?

Is your stable such that he's not bored silly inside it? (Outward facing window so he can see what's happening. Other horses. Plenty going on around him. Radio on even.)

Is he a solitary horse? Does he have pasture mates? If so, is the routine the same for all? Or do you try to bring him in and leave them out?

How often do you visit?

What do you do with him in terms of exercise, grooming, handling etc?

Do you feed him in his stable? e.g. plenty of hay spread round with some chopped carrot and suede in it to give him something pleasant to do: spending time eating and picking hay out

Please don't get me wrong, because my preferance is to get horses out as much as possible and each and every one of mine prefers that and lets me know when in their opinion they've been inside a little too long. I've a lot of T/B's too and each and every one of mine and incluing the T/B's are relaxed and into a routine so they come in every day to get a break from the persistent rain and mud up to their hocks!

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/classic-carriages/e5e770f1.jpg

[Red Amor]

Happy to stand around Tom yeah

[clearthinkingone]

I just thought this title would be a really cool name for a band.

[Ray_Knightley]

I just thought this title would be a really cool name for a band.

I always liked the name Solar Prolapse ....or maybe Solar Prolapse and His soggy soles if you have a headman in the line up...