Long affects of abuse?

Question

I rescued a pony about a year ago and she has come a very long way. She has come from not being able to safely ride to eventing beginner novice. When we got her her owners said she had tangled her foot in barb wire and damaged her coronet band. They did not properly treat it causing her to have a very bad deformed foot. Our farrier has done very nice work on it but she has the tendency to be off on that leg every once in a while. I was wondering what the long affects of neglect on that foot will be and if their is anything else i can do such as shoes maybe to keep her sound? I am not familier with hoof deformaties so any suggestions or thoughts?

Answer 1

Really makes you angry that they didn't treat it, doesn't it?  Long term will probably be what they call "Ringbone", it's a build up of calcium on the coronet band.  Sounds like she's already got the ringbone if she's off and on sound.

Just keep her trimmed/shod regularly and keep an eye on it.  Just something you'll have to live with and give her some butte when she's sore.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

Rosi is on the mark in my opinion also.

The name for what your horse probably has is PYRAMIDAL DISEASE.

Here is a link

http://chestofbooks.com/animals/horses/D...

from the site:

"CAUSES

In the majority of cases buttress foot is brought about by fracture of the pyramidal process. Thus, although distinct evidence of such is nearly always wanting, we may assume that the original cause is violent injury to the part in question. Properly, therefore, one would say that this condition should be described under Fractures of the Os Pedis. It appears, however, that other cases of the kind arise in which fracture is altogether absent, or in which it is plainly seen to be subsequent to the diseased processes in the bone. For that reason, and also for the reason that the condition has come to be known by the name we have given, we give it special mention.

SYMPTOMS:

Later, however, changes in the form of the hoof and the coronet begin to appear. The skin of the coronet, especially in the region of the toe, becomes more or less thickened and indurated, and the same remark applies to the subcutaneous tissues. The most marked change, however, is the alteration in the shape of the hoof. The wall protrudes at the toe in a manner that has been termed 'buttress-like,' and has given to the condition one of its names. This, of course, entirely alters the contour of the horny box. From being more or less U-shaped, it approaches nearer the formation of the letter V, the point of the V being at the toe.

Treatment:  

Treatment. - Ordinary treatment, such as point or line firing, repeated blisters, or hoof section, each of which we have tried, appears to be utterly useless. So far as we have been able to gather from the writings of other practitioners, however, neurectomy returns the animal for a time to usefulness. If the fore-limb is the seat of trouble, either plantar or median neurectomy may be practised; if the hind, then the best results are obtained by section of the posterior tibial. "

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Go to the link I provided as it provides case studies and a pic.

I have seen some people that just used pads and shoes since there was nothing else that could be done.  I, myself have never had the exposure to this.  I only know what I have heard and read.

****edit****

Zephania is right though....Denerving is not my suggestion.  I just copied that off the website.  I know if it were my horse I'd get alot of opinions before choosing that.  Surgery would be my last resort.

Answer 3

Everything Rosi said, and this is something to discuss with your farrier to find solutions.he/she will know what can be done.

Answer 4

Neurectomy is a Baaaaddd idea, especially for an event horse!  Denerving, which is what neurectomy is, causes the horse to lose all feeling in the area served by the nerve.  While this technique has come a long way, it's still an absolute last resort!

Without a picture or detailed description of the foot, I can't really give much advice.  Certainly shoes and pads will probably help, as they'll keep the concussive forces lower.

The real problem is the coronet band.  I'd consult a vet or an equine surgeon to see if anything can be done there.  Maybe they can pull together the misshapen parts into something more even and workable; I really don't know.

You've only had a year.  With good trimming and shoeing, she'll probably continue to improve for some time.

PS - Here's a website you might find interesting on this issue:

http://www.horseshoes.com/farrierssites/...