Ricky Bobby is now at just over three weeks since his shoes were pulled. Last Saturday his right front sole was showing signs of shedding. I gently scraped the surface of it with a knife, and sure enough, the sole peeled off near the center and the front half of the frog came off with it too.
When you look at the structure and shape of the right front hoof capsule, it makes you wonder how it makes sense to continue shoeing a horse when this much flaring is present. Ricky was in wedge pads to help offset the flaring but I see no signs in the foot below that things were improving.
When you look at the sole of this same foot, there is plenty of hemoglobin around the apex of the frog, the heel buttress and especially at the toe. This photo was taken two days after his sole peeled and there was less redness there than when it first happened. The hoof wall separating from the lamina is causing significant bruising. I suspect there is some pain associated with it, too.
I’m pleased to see the beginnings of concavity to the sole so quickly after the shoes and pads came off. I’m also pleased to see more distinction between the bars and the sole.
He was very sore on this right front in the day or so leading up to the sole/frog peeling and immediately after it peeled. I put a pair of Easyboot Gloves on the front for two days to afford him more comfort and he was able to run around and play with the five other horses in his paddock.
There is no rubbing from the gaitors and when I let him go back to barefoot on Monday morning he was much more confident in his stride.
The photo below shows his left front foot – the lines on the sole are from the inside of the base of the boot, obviously. This foot is getting ready to shed its sole too. Look at how stretched out the frog is at the apex. You can see there is less hoof wall seperation on this foot: it looks like he will have nice round feet.
RB is getting another week without any work while I head up to the Mt. Carmel XP multi-day in Utah. I’m really looking forward to getting him onto a regular training program once I get back next week.
Keep up the bootlegging!
Kevin Myers
Director of Marketing
I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.
