Changing dressings on Connor's hooves

Slide show below shows Connor's left hoof, then right hoof. Notice on both, the abscesses (small, nickel sized reddish bulge) are healing; the edges of the abscesses are closing in with healthy hoof material. Side view shows high heel of Connor's right hoof.



For more information on holistic hoof care approach, see Hoof Rehab.

Tango - Here We Go 'Round and 'Round

Four things to note about the video:

1. Turn your volume down!!! - there is something really wrong with the sound pick-up on my little camera.

2. No, he's not sweaty from a long, hard work-out - he just had a bath!

3. This is the first time in recent history that we have been able to get Tango to canter on the lounge line. When we first got him (about a year and a half ago), he was reasonably obliging on the lounge line. Then, one day out of the blue, he decided he'd had enough of going around in circles, and he just stopped and refused to go!! And quite honestly, his attitude towards work has been questionable. Anyhow, we're glad to see that he is finally coming out of his funk, many thanks to Jessika's persistent working with him.

4. We're not just working on hoof care! There's still plenty of daily training going on! (Just not enough hours in the day to write about it all!!)

Vet Visit Today

During an early morning lesson, Star was not her usual self; she was slower than usual and seemed to be off in her hindquarters, then, all of a sudden, her muscles started twitching (shoulders and hips). A few days ago, she was off her feed - wouldn't touch her pellets or hay. She also has ridges of swelling on her belly, which I assumed were the returning annual allergic reactions to gnat bits. But everything added up to something wrong - so I called Dr. Bender from Creekside Veterinary Services and he came out this afternoon to have a look at her. She checked out ok for all vital signs; he gave her a shot of lasix-type drug to reduce the edema and a steroid to help reduce the allergic reaction.

Star was eating ok this evening.

Connor's Hoof Wraps - Holistic Hoof Care

Holistic Hoof Practitioner, Joanna Schwartzel was back Saturday to work on Connor's hooves.
The first thing we did was bathe Connor; he had laid in urine and actually looked like he might have peed himself while laying down! A good blast of water cleaned out his hooves nicely. Then rotting hoof was trimmed away as much as possible, then the toe was filed. The sole was sprayed with a natural antibiotic, Banixx, then packed with "Q-shot" ointment, covered with gauze and wrapped in blue vet tape. A clothe diaper waterproof cover, that has a wear proof hoof sole made of Vettec Equi-Thane "Adhere" glue-on hoof repair, wraps around the entire hoof and is held in place with...duct tape! (where would we be without duct tape!)

Two things to note:

1. In the slide show above, the roundish, reddish bulge (about 1/2 inch in diameter) is the result of the hoof abscess pushing out of the sole.

2. In the photos below, the picture on the top is Connor's left front hoof; the photo on the bottom was taken off the internet and shows a very healthy, naturally trimmed hoof for comparison. (Beautiful!)

Connor's Week at the Spa

All week, since Holistic Hoof Practitioner Joanna Schwartzel first addressed Connor's major hoof problems, the old grey Thoroughbred has had daily treatments of Calcium Bentonite (Indian Healing Clay - the kind you use as a mud pack at a health spa!) with lavender oil packed into clean hooves; and then hand walked for 5 minutes. He walks slowly, but his mobility is improving!

Joanna was here yesterday and got some great photos and treatments to post after Mother's Day dinner.

PS I get no kickbacks from any of these links - they are just there to inform you!

Star Off Her Feed

This morning, Star was not interested in her feed. Walked away from her Senior Pellets/Biotin Plus/soaked Beet Pulp haute cuisine. Well, I'll keep an eye on her, since this is very unusual behavior for her or any horse. (The dreaded "colic" pops into mind).

At lunch, she had eaten about 3/4 of her pelleted breakfast, and no Bermuda grass. My son had already mucked so don't know if she passing any manure. She looks a little down. If this continues into the evening, will have to call vet.

"Walkin' Wild" - Holistic Approach to Hoof Care

I had the pleasure of meeting up with a horsewoman and hoof trimmer whose holistic approach to horse care in general and hoof care in specific appealed to my intellectual and emotional desire to provide the best possible care for my horses in the rather unnatural environment that most of us must subject our backyard horses to.

Fresh in from Utah, Joanna Schwartzel immediately presents herself in a professional, knowledgeable manner with the horse's whole health and well being foremost in her concerns.

I talked with her over the phone about my concerns for Connor and the hoof problems we've been dealing with over the last few months. Earlier posts include: Rotated Coffin Bone, Connor's Abscess , Initial Diagnosis, From Laminitis to Abscesses, and Radiograph Update.Connor still has a great deal of difficulty moving around in a smaller stall cushioned with wood shavings. He is extremely reluctant to pick-up his hooves for any cleaning and medication (i.e. douse with iodine), and my concern for his prognosis has been bleak.

Joanna came right over and began to work on Connor's hooves with such passion and knowledge I felt hope spring eternal! I think Connor sensed good thinks happening, too! He was cooperative and alert.

First, watch the slide show and you will see how bad his front hooves are. The red on point of frog is blood, and dead, rotting tissue is evident all over the sole.

You will then see Joanna cleaning out the dead tissue and lowering the heel to ease pressure on the coffin bone sole area when he walks.



Right hoof, the worst one, is then soaked in a solution of apple cider vinegar. A poultice of Betadiene, Arrow Root, Golden Seed Powder, Grapefruit Seed extract, Epsom Salts, Apple Cider Vinegar, "Sore No More" (a natural herbal liniment) and "Q-Shot" (a super oxygenated antiseptic spray manufactured by Bio3X,) is pressed into the sole and wrapped in a disposable diaper (actual it's a "pull-up") and fastened with duct tape. This was left on all night.

In the morning, Joanna was over early to remove the poultice, and what a difference in Connor's hoof - you can see for yourself, and he was walking with no signs of lameness!!! Obviously, he's got a ways to go before his hoof is returned to natural state of health, but...WOW!!