Story of an abscess

April '10

May '10

June '10

July '10

August '10

Sept '10

You can see the diagonal split in the quarter of the April hoof, what you can't see is underneath an infection has run from the abscess hole right through to the solar end of the water line.

By May this has opened up and June sees a whole chunk of foot breaks away.

You can see how the foot grows down and forward, the hole is now disappearing towards the toe.  By August all that is left is a slightly odd shaped foot and an unseen 'nip' at the edge of the hoof wall.

By September you would never know that this horse had abscessed.  Interestingly as the abscess hole has grown out the 'matching' deviation to the inside has also disappeared.  Because I didn't see the horse prior to the abscess I can not tell if she grew the deviation at the same time as she abscessed.  But I wouldn't be surprised.  Horses have an innate ability to grow the foot they need if we are smart enough to let them.

When I first met the horse in April she was ouchy over stones - but this I think was more due to a rather weak foot overall rather than the abscess.  The horse now works quite hard over all surfaces very comfortably.  And by quite hard I mean much harder than 80% of horses I meet.

In terms of trimming what did I do?  Well nothing fancy, I stuck to the AANHCP guidelines.  There was no packing of the hole, fancy treatments or washes, flushes or anything else required.  The owner did pick out the feet everyday and bad back allowing washed the feet with either a solution of cider vinegar or salt water.

Easy! :-)  The horse has remained in full work throughout.

Heels - same horse, fore foot

RF Shod

RF Deshod approx 1 month

 

Solar views

 

RF Shod solar view

RF 3.5 weeks ago

RF just deshod

RF 2 days ago

 

This horse has abscessed in both fronts during the transition. This is unusual, but it does happen when the foot has a lot of rubbish to clear out. You can see how the shod foot is a different shape to the unshod foot, and over time it is changing shape.

 

Positive changes include:

 

• improved frog quality (denser, less thrush)
• heels broader
• buttresses becoming more robust
• sole depth improving
• foot becoming more front foot shaped

 

Some of the challenges faced include:

• abscess in each front outside quarter
• heavy thrush infection
• seedy toe
• tender soles
• pink in the white line

But the horse is making better than expected progress, allowing for where the feet started.  Boots would allow the horse to continue a moderate work load.

Broken quarters, abscess holes

Abscess split: heel - quarter (April 2010)

Split when weight bearing

Looks awful, horse still sound on all surfaces

Damage now at toe - nearly gone

Damage completely grown out (August 2010)

Shod - it appears abscess crack
has been 'dressed'

Looks awful, but horse sound.

'Super' structure grown in provides
natural support.  Previous 'dressing'
not apparently helpful

Solar view

Nearly grown out.  No 'help' other
 than AANHCP trimming,
a good diet and regular exercise

Solar view

All grown out - super structure remains

I thought you might like these photos as examples of how a horse can have a significant hole in a foot and still manage just fine. Without shoes and continue to work. No packing, filling, fancy goo, or other specialist ttreatment required. One of these hooves lives out 24/7 and works on a variety of surfaces several days a week. The other hoof is part or fully stabled and works every day. Both hooves are trimmed according to the principles as laid down by the AANHCP. The carers ensure the horses are properly fed and the hooves picked out effectively.