Can you ride a horse that has a quicked hoof even if it does not show signs of lameness?

Question

My farrier said he quicked my horse's hoof. He said to soak it in epson salt twice a day. It has been 3 days and the horse shows no signs of lameness. Can the horse be ridden. I have an important show tomorrow.

Answer 1

Hmmm WHen the farrier said he quicked the hoof, did he mean he trimmed too close to the sensitive laminae?  

If he shows absolutely no sign of being lame, then yes you can ride him, but soak the hoof as your farrier instructed anyway.

Good luck!

Answer 2

If i was u i wouldn't u don't no if it is completely OK unless u get a vet out to give u the OK     so hope u still get 2 go 4 your show!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Did your farrier trim to short or accidently quick him with a nail?

If he was nail quicked, and the nail removed then shod he should be fine as long as you keep the soaking up. But if he was trimmed too short and is still barefoot he will very easily get sore feet from the sole callous being removed. In that case ridding is out until he gets some hoof grown back. Compare it to trimming all your toenails down to the quick putting on tight sneakers and jogging. If they don't hurt at first they will be very painful before you've jogged very far.

The biggest worry with a horse being quicked is an abcess...that is the reason for the soaking, to draw out any foriegn material that might be there and keep it from going deeper into the foot.

You might could make it to the show, and have him do fine then the added stress on his hooves cause extreme lameness afterwards or an abcess  a few days later which could put him out of work for a month or more.

Even at this point he could already be cooking up an abcess in there that hasn't reached a size large enough to actually make him lame, again the added stress of riding is going to make it more painful.

If he was mine? I'd give him another week just to be certain he's fine, but that's just me.

Answer 4

I have had the same problem. If he is not lame you may ride him. The reason he wants you to soak it is to prevent an absess.

Answer 5

I would call the farrier for clarification - did he trim too short or was it just a hot nail? Does he recommend riding it? If the horse is sound, I'd probably go to the show, but I'd be taking a tub of Magic Cushion (best hoof packing EVER), my epsom salts & other soaking stuff, plus whatever amount of bute is legal to use.

If you do go, check the foot constantly for heat or soreness. At the first hint of lameness, you're done showing. Its a gamble, but I know what you mean about "important" shows - I've had to work a few miracles in my time to get a horse safely sound for an "important" show.

Good luck!