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:
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| Before trim without his boots on - he's uncomfortable even on the rubber mat. |
Left Rear:
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| Before |
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| After |
Left Front:
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| Before |
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| After |
Right Front:
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| Before |
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| After |
Right Rear:
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| Before |
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| 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
3 comments:
Look into the "Hoof Cinch" immediate relief. Has reversed rotation -proven by xrays- on my horse.
Hey RoadQueen! I've not been bloggin it up much lately, but that had the bonus effect of being able to binge-read Coal updates! Keep up the good work, and when you feel kinda discouraged or bummed, read the first Coal post! I'm no horse person, but you seem to be doing great things.
Hey Rantwick! LOL on the binge reading!!! Thanks for the encouragement, my friend!
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