NATURAL FARRIER HELP FOR FOUNDERED PONIES – BEFORE AND AFTER

Foundered horses and ponies need regular trimming, proper diet, exercise, and horsie friends. Here are some before and after pictures of a foundered pony who is now quite sound.

The pictures are from Summer of 2017 when she was very lame and on grass.

The 2nd and 3rd sets of pictures are from after she was off grass, and receiving regular trims.

The initial pictures may look as if this pony might never become sound, but she has and is!

This is a series of before and after pictures.

The notes for each photo explain the stage that the hoof is at.

Sumer 2017 front left, after trimming – the heel is a much healthier height, the hoof wall is trimmed, and a lot of the softened white powder left by moisture and bacteria has been removed.

Before picture of the front left again. What a difference a trim and exercise make! The heel is a much healthier height, the hoof soul is stronger and not full of bacteria, the hoof wall/lamina (connective tissue) are stronger, and the heel is not so contracted. This is a before picture, we still trimmed to make sure she is on the right path to full recovery.

Second trim, after. Heels are better, hoof wall/lamina connection is tight and healthy. The frog needs to recover, and will do so in time as now we have a healthy foot and a sound pony who will walk around on hard ground and develop a frog.

Second trim, hind left – before – but much healthier. Notice, however, that at the toe and quarter area the hoof wall is pulled away from the soul – proper trimming and filing removes the mechanical force of a long toe pulling on the ground when the pony walks. By filing we remove the mechanical force that pulls the hoof wall away and we allow the natural healing to occur as the pony walks around on hard ground.

Second trim hind left after – the toe is filed, the hoof wall and soul are loading when she walks without the long hoof wall pulling. The hoof needs more time and more trims to fully rehabilitate. There is still a gap at the hoof wall. She will need a few more trims, every 3 weeks in order to ensure that the hoof wall grows in with a strong connective tissue. Frequent small trims ensure that the pony does not ever go through major hoof adjustments that the earlier pictures showed. Frequent small trims also ensure that the hoof wall connective tissue remains stress free and can become stronger. This pony is sound, she walks on gravel without discomfort.

Compare the front hooves – the left one is trimmed, the right one is not. We can see that the left one still has pressure at the coronary band and tension. Even though this left one is trimmed, it still needs to rehabilitate. To rehabilitate this pony needs to walk around and get circulation moving in her legs and hooves. The right one is over gown and underslung. You can see swelling at the hairline from a hoof that is not functioning properly.

Both front hooves after the 2nd trim. The swelling at the hairline of the front hooves is gone. Blood flow improves with proper angles from trimming. Movement also helps with circulation. There is no undue pressure on he tendons, ligaments, or joints. Much happier and healthier.