It's hard not to laugh at that point; my usual response is " come on dear, let's get up and get back to work; I'm pretty sure it won't leave a mark; you can walk it off later....
After she is kicked, She literally says in the next five minutes, "Huh, he kicked the vet too. It was amazing he literally flew through the air." I'm like, "are u kidding?" She says, " oh no but he is great with his feet don't worry." I trimmed the horse without incident except the moment it coughed suddenly and sent me diving out of the way like an artillery barrage was coming haha.
after he kicked her, you should have checked that foot, he could have hurt himself. Might as well pile on the guilt with her sore ass
Went to look at a horse belonging to a friend of my wife. She said the horse was trimmed 3-4 weeks ago, but it didn't look right. It had cracks in all 4 hooves, and they were a too long she thought. I told her I look at it today around 1400, so I headed over and I walked into a crap storm. All 4 were run forward and cracked. I got the fronts pulled back, opened up, cleaned up with White Lightening, shod and vetteced them. The hinds were a different story. The left was the worst. It had a very bad crack, and the inside was also cracked behind the white line, almost as if the laminae has been pulled from the sole. I got it cleaned and shod, but was afraid to vettec it as when I pushed on the sole at the toe, it was very soft and the front part moved forward. Plus I couldn't get it as clean as I wanted, but was afraid to dig any deeper. I told the owner to clean it out every day and pack with iodine to help dry it out. I'm just a little concerned about it, but felt this was the best approach to the hind. Thoughts, Remarks?
Yes he is a little tight. The right front is flush with the horn wall. He was slightly toed out on that hoof and this is the first time the horse had gone with shoes. The place is pretty muddy. I'm not worried with over growth now as I have an agreement with the owner to check the horse in 4 weeks. It might have been better to have a little more width, but not knowing the horse and what goes on, I rather look at it a little sooner than have him pull a shoe now.
Nicely done. Mikel. If she puts him back out in the mud you're going to have a tough 'row to hoe'. When it comes time to patch that one, I'd use Equilox or the like and mix copper sulfate granules in with it. Hope you kekep taking pictures and posting them as the case proceeds.
Thanks for the suggestion of mixing copper sulfate in. Don't think I would have thought of that. Will give it a go. If I wait about 10 days or so, do you think it would be safe to fill in?
Here's the thing. In the photo it appears that the center area of the resected area still has black streaks in it which indicates that there may still be either infection or at least filth present that can harbor pathogens. If you seal that area up, you create an environment that is perfect for anaerobic pathogens to flourish. So, I suggest you use a dremel tool and a small de-burring bit to gently clean those areas out. Then, again soak the area with an activated White Lightning solution, dry thoroughly, wait a few more days and if no infection shows up, then apply the patch. It would be preferable to put a drain in there so that the area could be treated prophylactically, but again, if the horse is going out in the mud and slop, that won't work. Truth is, its probably better to not patch that area, rather to regularly/routinely have the owner clean it with a wire brush and let it grow down of its own accord.
Rick, I thought about the drain thing, but now spring has sprung and we are getting mud mess now, so that won't work. I have advised the owner to: 1. Make sure box is clean at all times. 2. Late afternoon when she brings the horse in, clean it out as good as she can first washing, drying, then using hydrogen peroxide to clean, dry, then coat with iodine. Do this everyday for about a week to harden up the area. With the wet environment this is the best I can hope for.
Today was one of those days I really enjoy being a farrier. My last horse, a 4yr old Danish Warmblood who is just beginning his training. His left hind is really sliding to the inside and the horn wall on the lateral side is growing straight down. I a piece of 25 x 8 , cut it 30cm long and made a lateral support shoe. After the shoe was on we took the horse outside to walk. The owner was real pleased with the results. She was also stated it wasn't every day you see a farrier pull out the steel and make shoes. I then asked her what was I to do? You can't buy them, and what should I do but make it. Leaving seeing the horse go much better than when I arrived. Great Day.
Horse was forging every step and occasionally fell over with rider on top. Hind foot was rotating into the ground. French Hind stopped it from rotating. Eric Russell
Eric, I wish we could see the video of that horse's front end movement before/after the shoeing; that's some serious mechanics you got there. Well done!
Brian, I put 3 different sets of shoes on in one day. I moved where he was hitting but couldn't get it to stop. It was interesting to watch. These are from 3/8 x 1 Eric Russell
Eric, Was this the first time you worked on the horse? If not, has the forging been a regular/ongoing problem?
Rick, I think that was the second shoeing. The first time, he had just gotten done a couple times that week, so I wasn't able to trim. Just fit shoes and modifications a few times. The horse had a history of forging but the severe forging and falling down is new. Eric Russell
