Coal Update #6

Day 47 - 11/24/15

Some observations.  No big changes have happened since the last trim, but I wanted to put down some thoughts.  The founder rehabilitation case studies that I've been able to find don't seem to have a whole lot of detail.  So these details popped out to me as not having heard them before.  Going to put them out there in case someone in the future trips over my blog looking for information on founder rehab.

The weather has turned cold, and temperature seems to affect Coal's comfort a lot.  He has started toe walking over the past couple of days, the temps have been in the mid 20's - high 30's range (F).  Historically, his Right Front hoof is generally the one he favors the most.  I had assumed that was because it was the one with the most rotation.  With this new toe walking, he is favoring his Front Left instead.  

The consistency of Coal's soles are really, really weird.  Like a cross between hard plastic and petrified tree sap.  Slightly translucent, very hard, very.....weird.  When we started out, Coal's soles were nothing but mush.  Think fried corn mash that didn't spend enough time in the frying pan.  That's what they felt like.  They were full of infection, rot and disease.  Necrotic tissue abounded.  I had to wear only certain clothing to treat him each day because the stench was so bad, it permeated everything I wore when I had contact with him.

Now, fast forward 47 days:  The door has swung in the complete opposite direction.  The soles are plastic hard, almost impossible to cut with sharpened knives, freshly rebuilt nippers, or even a brand new rasp.  The frogs are equally as hard.  To get to this point, I spent the first 2 weeks soaking his hooves almost every day in Epsom salt/Dreft water.  Twice daily I either sprayed Vetricyn on his soles and in his infections, or used Pete's Goo (50/50 triple antibiotic-athlete's foot cream).  Since day 3 he has worn his padded hoof boots.  I wrap his hooves in diapers before putting them in his boots to draw moisture, pus, etc. away from his hooves.  

Apparently, it worked.  Maybe too well.  Perhaps the dryness, while clearing up any and all disease, has also created super dry and hardened hoof undersides and that makes them painful to walk on.  Today, after applying infrared light therapy to Coal's feet, I brushed melted coconut oil onto the soles of his hooves before applying the diapers and booting him.  Coconut oil is known to be a terrific softener as well as having antibacterial/fungal properties.  Plus it'll make his hooves smell nice.  Can't hurt to try, right? 

Two steps forward, one step back.  One day he's kicking Guinness' ass for trying to get his hay, the next he is practically crippled.  Then he's trotting around and playing.  Then he's stumbling up to his stall for supper.  This ordeal is such an emotional roller coaster.  

In spite of the setbacks, we've come a long way, baby.

We'll see how the coconut oil treats him.  I've contacted my hoof Sensei to get her perspective and opinion.  See if she has any additional knowledge to impart from her mounds of wisdom.

Ride Safe All,

~The RoadQueen

Coal Update #5

Well, now here we be in the land of daylight savings time - aka - no daylight after work hours to take pictures or video of anything.

Coal is still progressing on the two steps forward, one step back schedule.  He is on 24/7 turnout with the other two horses and his progress has steadied quite a bit.  Much less backsliding, more steady marching onward.  He still wears his padded hoof boots 24/7 as he is extremely uncomfortable without them.  Plus, it keeps nasty manure and dirt out of the spots where his white line is completely separated and hollow way up into the hoof capsule. Even if he becomes comfortable without them, he will continue to wear them until the holes have grown out so that they won't pack with foreign matter and become infected again.   He wears baby diapers inside the boots, and they are changed out at least every couple of days, if not daily, and soles sprayed with Vetricyn to prevent any fungus or bacteria from causing any issues.

This past weekend, I was finally able to get Coal trimmed with pictures of said trim.  I took off a lot more excess hoof capsule, and did a lot more balancing where there were major imbalances.  

Day 39:

Before trim without his boots on - he's uncomfortable even on the rubber mat.

Left Rear:

Before

After

Left Front:

Before

After

Right Front:

Before

After

Right Rear:

Before

After

A good and bad thing is that Coal's soles, frogs and wall have hardened.  A LOT.  As in, I can barely get my knife, nippers or rasp to cut them, they're so hard.  I would like to start hand-walking him in the soft grass barefoot a short stretch each day to help him use his hooves better.  The padded boots are a real godsend for him, but I'd love if he could start using his hooves as they were meant to a little bit.  I have to wonder if it will aid in his healing and progress.  I figure that I don't have much time before the ground becomes frozen, so we will be going on walks in the dark in the evenings.  I'll try it for a week or so and see how things are.  

So, things have been quite busy here in RoadQueenland, with the regular job, trimming job, winter preparations on the farm and attempting to have some time for myself here and there.  Will try and get video the next time I see Coal in the daylight of how he is moving at this juncture.  

Ride Safe All,

~The RoadQueen