Hoof issue? Lame? Sore? Soft? HELP!

So glad you're accepting opinions!!!
Zag is VERY sensitive on rocks BUT he's gotten better.  Sounds like she might have been quicked but don't worry too much.  It'll grow out.  One thing that will toughen their feet is regularly walking on hard surfaces and gravel - like our feet in the summer when we were kids.  My trimmer, who trims to achieve the "natural" hoof (whole 'nother argument there) complete with mustang roll and the concave sole etc etc, suggests putting gravel around the water tank so they have to walk on it and their feet will benefit.  I hope you have a good trimmer who will be careful with her feet.
For the record, however anyone wants to keep their horse's feet, shod or not is their business.  I can't afford shoes on horses never ridden (except Zag and that's not really frequently) AND we don't have rocks to speak of here in the MidSouth.

Getting her back in shape and nutrionally sound will make a difference in her feet.  Something that I was told years ago that does run true is a box of jello in grain will help their feet.  It does work.
 
A vitamin supplement that I use, swear by and have discussed with MORE than a few vets is Necessity by Loomix.  It is NOT cheap, but has all the vitamin supplements and hoof supplements you will need.  You can get it in liquid or powder form.
 
Just my thoughts.

"Quicking" is not about a quick trim, but about "quicking" the foot. Like you quick your nails when you trim them too close. Exposing blood vessels/laminate.
 
Though of course it can also be because someone hurries through trimming.
 
 
 
 

[quote=hunterseat]

So glad you're accepting opinions!!!
Zag is VERY sensitive on rocks BUT he's gotten better.  Sounds like she might have been quicked but don't worry too much.  It'll grow out.  One thing that will toughen their feet is regularly walking on hard surfaces and gravel - like our feet in the summer when we were kids.  My trimmer, who trims to achieve the "natural" hoof (whole 'nother argument there) complete with mustang roll and the concave sole etc etc, suggests putting gravel around the water tank so they have to walk on it and their feet will benefit.  I hope you have a good trimmer who will be careful with her feet.
For the record, however anyone wants to keep their horse's feet, shod or not is their business.  I can't afford shoes on horses never ridden (except Zag and that's not really frequently) AND we don't have rocks to speak of here in the MidSouth.


We raised our colts on straight up and down rocky hills. The concussion results in strong bone, and the uneven ground and rocky pasture means they #1, learn to look where they're going, and #2, toughens their  hooves.
 
I had a filly who could stand on an 8 inch stone with all four feet and spin around in circles without tripping, stepping off, or losing her balance.
 
Now that's a horse. That's a lot of horse. You have to be pretty quick on your feet to outsmart them....she could kick a fly off a piece of paper without making the paper move, as well. But she only did it when you bathed her.
 
 

Hi,

Yes, if the farrier trimmed into her sole or dropped her heels a lot, it definitely could be the trim causing her pain. It could also be that she's laminitic &/or foundered. If she was rather flat footed, this is an indication that her foot has 'sunk'(foundered) in the hoof capsule. The hoof may look long, but the coffin bone is low down. Therefore, any trimming of the sole will bring the internal sensitive structures even closer to the surface & remove more protection. Laminitis is generally the precursor of founder, and the mechanics(or lack of) & trimming(or lack of) will cause the prob to progress to founder. If the major problem is the back of her feet(does she appear to 'tiptoe'?) then it may be due to too suddenly dropping heel height & forcing weak heels into too strong a role.

I would not advise painting anything onto her soles. They don't need to be made harder, they need to *grow* thicker. I would also not advise forcing her to walk on gravel or rocks without protection, because her feet obviously aren't in a position to handle it. Apart from it not being nice for her, forcing her to walk on sore, thin soles can easily cause stone bruises/abscesses, which will cause her more pain & setback her rehab further. Also, if she's too sore to use her feet properly, she may be doing more damage in toe-first impacts. It's best to keep her as comfortable as possible & help her grow healthy feet before trying to 'condition' them on gravel & the likes.

I would suggest you get her some boots or such to protect her feet where she's uncomfortable. If she's apparently comfortable in the paddock & on soft surfaces, no need for boots there, and the more (comfortable) exercise the better, so I'd see it as a good thing physically that she spends her time pacing the fence.

I would advise you ensure she's on a healthy diet - lots of hay/roughage, no grain or sweet 'junk food' and a good complete supp to ensure she's getting good nutrition. Especially if she looks like she may have foundered through obesity, extra magnesium may also be helpful.

Above all, educate yourself on hoof function, etc. One good source is hoofrehab.com You can also send us hoof pics - a variety of angles, for more specific info.

It's best to keep her as comfortable as possible & help her grow healthy feet before trying to 'condition' them on gravel & the likes.

Absolutely.  If it's trim related it really needs to grow out but that shouldn't take long.
AND she's walking fine on grass. 
I had a mild founder and there was no walking fine ANYWHERE!  Also, gravel around the water tank isn't really forcing her to walk on painful rocks.  Just a trip to the water tank a few times a day.... not razor blades or broken glass, just some pea gravel or what have you.