I wish I could describe to you the strange feeling of this filly's flesh under her skin, especially under her belly where there's no soft muscle. The closest I can think of is how a newborn person feels. Too loose skin over a body with no excess fat. It feels so vulnerable. Brings out the concerned mother in me.
She's a neat girl. Interesting. At times she has an attitude but she's also easily scared.
"Feed me"
I trimmed her front feet today. Her feet are so bad. They look foundered, but she's just a baby.
Before
After
I'm most worried about this hind foot
Thin
7 comments:
Wow, her feet DO look awful! She's lucky that you've taken over! The after trim looks so much better. It's possible that she has some chronic laminitis going on at such a young age just because of her rough start. Just be careful with starting her on concentrated feeds! That hind foot looks really scary, but maybe with some time, it'll grow out better. I wonder if there was a break or something in there...or a sprained pastern. Is she lame on it?
I was wondering if a young horse could founder. I haven't heard of it but then I've never dealt much with starved youngsters - just oldsters. She has what appears to be a lamellar wedge although I suppose that could be more of a "road founder" sort of leverage caused situation. But the growth rings are pretty weird and she's got the elf slipper thing going on where it looks like the heel has grown downward/forward while the front has just compressed on itself and curled up. It sure looks like chronic laminitis. I'm sure we can get it under control.
That back foot I'm not sure about. I think it looks worse in the picture than it actually is, and I haven't noticed lameness. But it is weird looking. I'll post more about it when I get a good feel of it and look underneath. Hopefully I can trim tomorrow.
Her feet DO look bad. That is very sad. I've never dealt with laminitis so I can't add any thoughts.
She is so lucky she found such a responsible care giver. I'm sure you'll be able to get her back to soundness.
Where was she kept before? Maybe she was confined in a tiny space and wasn't able to move and that's why she feels so tender and soft. If she stood in her own muck and had no solid surface it might be why her hooves are deformed. I don't have experience with abused horses, so I'm just guessing.
At my neighbor's these past months she's had the same conditions we have here. Soft mud, frozen mud, and soft pasture, but no really bad mud. Plenty of room to move but she didn't move around for a long while, she was too busy eating. Lately she's roamed more, exploring all his property. Before that I have no idea what went on, but I'd guess she didn't have her hooves trimmed.
I sure hope you can help your little filly to become sound and healthy, in her body and mind.
Good luck!!
Petra Christensen
Parelli 1Star Junior Instructor
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