Tica

1997 Andalusian Mare

Tica's left front is one of the scariest hooves I've seen lately: this is an EXTREME club foot, with extreme heel contraction.  The base of the foot is narrower than the coronary band, and the new growth directly under the coronary band is almost vertical.  There is an old injury to the heel bulb that probably initiated the club foot, but the extreme deformity of the hoof capsule was exacerbated by the way the hoof was managed.  Thrush accounts for some of the heel contraction, and Tica is going to be getting LOTS of hoof soaking.  Correcting the left front as much as possible will be a slow, cautious process!

09-25-08

Tica shed out a BIG layer of sole on both front feet at about 2 weeks.  As a result, her 4 wk trim was more dramatic than I might have expected.  Left front is so incredibly contracted with so much heel, cleaning deep in the collateral grooves and central sulcus was almost impossible, and the thrush I uncovered this trim was considerable. Eradicating that deep infection is critical to alleviating the extreme contraction. Heel on the left front is still outgrowing toe; the more exaggerated bevel on her flared toe will help, and should steadily improve as we get Tica using that hoof in a more natural manner.  Her right front, while much less deformed that the left, is still considerably contracted, and will also benefit from the Oxine soaks.

10-27-08

HUGE progress...a picture is worth a thousand words, so see for yourself:



Right front: 1st row after set up trim 08-28-08, 2nd row after trim 09-26-08, 3rd row 10-27-08




 

Left front: 1st row after set up trim 08-28-08, 2nd row after trim 09-26-08, 3rd row 10-27-08