Riding/Horses

Crippled

roamingridersite

Ugh.

(Trying to take a selfie generally ends up with a big spotted nose taking up the entire field)

Tuesday was the first time Eeyore was out in the big pasture with our other two and he came in that evening for dinner sans right hind shoe. I already talked about my farrier coming out Wednesday evening to trim and reset but that right hind shoe had pulled off most of the hoof wall with it and a shoe wasn’t able to be put back on. That led to my decision to go barefoot on the back and see how he did.

Well, turns out he didn’t do so well.

(Licking my shirt. He is the most mouthy horse I’ve ever met though he never tries to bite. He licks. And uses his lips. And plays.)

Thursday morning he came in crippled. He would have been three legged lame had it not been for the fact that both hinds were killing him and he couldn’t walk on the front legs only. It took a very long time to get him in his stall. Dusty ran to work and got bute for the big guy and I changed his 3pm chiro appointment with Trainer’s vet to a regular appointment to see what could be done for him.

By the time the bute hit he was doing somewhat better but was still barely able to walk and don’t even think about trotting. I felt terrible for him. The vet examined him the best she could and noted that his right hind had the lamina exposed. She kept blaming the farrier but honestly that damage was done when the shoe was lost and the farrier barely touched that hoof as there wasn’t much to do beyond trimming some rough edges left behind.

(Better. He tried to eat my phone though)

She wrapped him with cotton padding and elasticon, recommended hoof boots as there isn’t enough hoof to attach a shoe to, and to use farriers barrier or the like on the hoof and sole.

Of course it was 7pm when we finished and the tack store closes at 6 so the big guy kept his wraps on overnight in his stall until I could get out at 10 am the next day when they re opened. I picked up some Cavallo boots, farriers barrier, treats and a fly mask to protect his pink third eye lids from the sun.

Once back home he got the wraps off, barrier applied and I re wrapped the hoof with cotton and vet wrap before putting on the boots. By Saturday morning he was walking a little high stepped in the back, but at a normal pace and was even standing normally to graze again instead both hinds tucked under him.

(His new kicks. New horse is expensive but worth it. Thankfully the legs have remained cold and tight)

Saturday night he came in for dinner with only a few bad steps here and there and walked back out to the pasture after just fine. I threw him out first because I’m tired of cleaning up his water mess as he plays with his bucket as soon as he finishes eating. It took Gem and Pete a bit to finish and when I went to take her out I caught Eeyore cantering a big circle by the gate looking for his friends. It made me so happy to see him cantering again and looking like he was on the mend.

I can’t tell you all how worried I was about him. He was so crippled I thought I’d killed him. Once he grows out enough hoof to attach a shoe he will return to them permanently. Big guy needs his foot wear apparently.

(Saturday morning. He was starting to stand more normal when grazing but he still looked tucked up and tight in the back end)

By Sunday night he came trotting happily over to be brought in for dinner so I think it’s safe to maybe say he is mostly over this. I cut his bute in half and pulled the boots to see how he does barefoot. The ground is super soft right now after a week of rain every single day so I’m not worried about hard ground. If he goes back to showing some soreness I’ll throw the boots back on him again.

The plan is to stop the bute today or tomorrow and see how he does. If it ever stops raining I’d like to get a short ride on him the middle of this week to see how he feels under saddle. If that goes well then I’ll start getting him conditioned to his new riding life.

Published by roamingridersite

25 thoughts on “Crippled”

  1. OMG how scary. And what a delicate flower he is 🙂 HA

    My friend had good success with her high maintenance tbred mare with the glue on shoes too (talk about expensive though) but good luck. I am glad you got the boots for him and that they helped 🙂

    and his nose is just kissable. LOVE HIM

    if nothing else he will work as the extra dog in the family? 🙂

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    1. It is hard because I do not know him well enough to know if he is a big baby or if I nearly killed him. Pete is so stoic that his hoof could be chopped off and he would stand there without flinching. Gem is honest and won’t work through pain but won’t over react either. I’m thinking Eeyore is a bit of a big baby about things.

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  2. oh man, OUCH!!! poor guy, so glad to hear the ground has softened up a bit recently tho. it was seriously like concrete around here for a little while. glad you were able to get him comfortable quickly with the boots – hopefully he can grow some more hoof asap to get shoes back on!

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    1. I was so hoping I could pull his hinds at least, but I don’t think that is going to happen. At least he is getting over it and with all the rain last week I could not have ridden any way. Where is the sun?

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  5. I’ve been there with Subi too. Crippled without a shoe. Years later he’s barefoot all around (and was barefoot while I was riding him after a year of really good hoof care and pulling shoes during time off for mud/snow). So, eventually he might be ok without shoes if you want to explore that route again. I always planned to put shoes on again and then was shocked that Subi was 100% without them. Timing and planning is everything. He lost a shoe one summer and had an Eeyore like reaction after the farrier couldn’t get a shoe back on. So we were barefoot all around for about 5 weeks? In dry hard summer… more to the story but… for a horse who was shod all around he was crippled and miserable. I wrapped and painted his soles until he was pasture sound and comfortable, but that’s why I’m so surprised he ended up barefoot 2 or 3 years later with a new farrier.

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  7. Oh dear! How scary! Amber was barefoot for a while up until she was about 4 because once we started riding in earnest, she would always get a bit sore on her front soles. And her back feet chip a bit so she lives in shoes too lol. Plus, it’s super rocky here so it’s a bit needed lol. Glad he’s feeling so much better and hope you can ride soon!

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    1. Thanks! He has really strong frogs and great heels I was a bit surprised at just how pitiful he was. He will go back in shoes for a while and we will see how the future unfolds with him. Hopefully the rain holds off for a few days so I can hop on him

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  9. Poor pitiful pony!!!! Where are his fabulous Appaloosa feet that are supposed to be like little boulders attached to legs???? 😂 Hope he feels better soon and this rain slows down! (Though still want rain, just not 10” in 1 week!) He still is such a cutie pie 😊

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    1. I think it was the onslaught of changes. He went from a lot of stall time and a small flat paddock to mostly outside on hills, had his feet revamped and then the shoes off. I figured he’d be a little sore which is why I scheduled the chiro but big man was way more than sore

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  11. Glad he is feeling better! There is nothing worse than a horse innocently hurting themselves in a way that makes them hurt so much. Here’s hoping for no more hoof/shoe issues!!

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