Dorny - 23-year old - change from horseshoes to bare hoof

Previous medical history

Dorny was freed 8 years ago from a riding academy by her present owner. Because the former owner's breeding ambitions had lately been disappointed - Dorny, who had foaled several times earlier, did not gestate any more - she had to earn her keep exclusively as a school horse. Dorny was worn-out by that time and therefore wasn't a favourite school horse. She resisted more and more and her vices as a school horse became worse because of her afflictions. Dorny was to go to the slaughter house.

Dorny already had a massive lung damage caused by mouldy roughage. Additionally, she had severe problems with arthritis in several joints and an aching back.

She moved with her new owner to a new stable. There was the usual loose box maintenance, but with a guaranteed stay in the fields or paddock everyday. This had not been common in her previous stable. To Dorny, the move meant at least more fresh air and exercise during the daytime.

A friend moved together with Dorny and her owner. Her horse also suffered, though not as bad as Dorny, from a disease of the lungs and of arthritis in her extremities. The four of them stayed together in the new stable for 2 years. During that time the friend's mare got a damaged sinew. It was treated over the time of one year but constantly broke out just after being cured. The friend started to look for alternatives. She informed herself about the different possibilities of hoof care and at last decided against the farrier and for a hoof orthopaedist.

Encouraged by her friend's example, whose mare had successfully changed from horseshoes to bare hooves and could move into an open stable, Dorny's owner decided to try the same with her own ill mare. She wanted to follow her friend's example and move to an open stable as well. This meant that Dorny's four horseshoes had to be taken off. The positive experiences of her friend with the hoof orthopaedic encouraged Dorny's owner in her decision.

In April 2004, at the age of 23 years, Dorny's horseshoes were removed, which she had been wearing all her life except for the times she had a foal at her side.

The hoof orthopaedist informed the owner that the change from horseshoes to bare hoof could cause Dorny additional problems due to her bad physical condition.

The suspected problems were

Because of her lung damage, Dorny had to be exercised, but then sometimes briskly, on a daily basis depending on the weather. But it was obvious that Dorny would not be able to do that afterhaving her horseshoes removed. The time of the change-over in April was propitious because her troubles always became less during the warmer seasons.
Dorny had regrettably small hooves. Fortunately, the 170 cm (16 hands 3) high mare had always been a bad eater and had always stayed slim.
Due to her multiple arthritis, Dorny had an adverse way of moving. She used to ram her back hooves into the ground. The hoof orthopaedist was very concerned if the unshod back hooves would be able to bear that strain.

Conditions of the hooves

Different fore hooves, the right one is smaller, already steeper at the fetlock
Both fore extremities are in a hyperextension position; long slanting toes, on the right sinking heels, on the left, sinking and rolled-in heels
All four hooves were contracted
The fore hooves had developed extreme thrush
The left back hoof is due to her knee problems (arthritis), always standing more to the front, so that Dorny shifts her bodyweight to the right
The right legs - the fore and back hoof - are loaded more on the outside; the left legs - the fore and the back hoof - are loaded more on the inside
All hoof and heel walls are cracked, except for the inner side of right back hoof
The white line is torn and putrid in the toe and quarter areas

Phase of re-adjustment

Dornys movement changed quickly, the hard relentless stamping gave way to a cautious feeling gait; Dorny thought carefully where to put her feet on her way from the stable to the paddock and back.
With the exception of this path, Dorny did not have to walk on hard ground. Dorny had hardly any problems on soft ground, considering her restrictions in moving caused by the arthritis.
After approximately 2 months the owner started working with Dorny on the riding ground, only walking in the beginning, after a while also in trot and under a saddle.
Just about 4 months after taking off the horseshoes, Dorny moved to an open stable. This caused Dorny problems in the beginning, because the hard ground still maltreated her sensitive hooves.
Dorny remained brave; for a long time she walked lightly when she was on an uneven, hard ground but she was enjoying life again. In the paddock, she was just like the other horses and took part in their speedy races and their frolicsome bucking.
From September 2004, Dorny could be ridden by her owner on the riding ground.
Since January 2005 both of them are going into the countryside, her owner is, of course, careful to choose paths and soft grounds.
Dorny still moves carefully on hard, stony or uneven grounds.

Course of treatment

In the beginning, Dorny’s hooves were treated on a three weekly basis, after 4 months, on a four weekly basis.
Depending on the condition of the arthritis pain, the hooves either thrived or had throwbacks; the winter with its low temperature brought difficulties for Dornys movement, she had more problems with the carpal joint of her left fore leg and with both of her hocks. Because of this Dorny loaded the right fore hoof more at the outside.
All in all, the hooves have become steeper, the thrush und contracted hooves have disappeared, the wall of the hooves have smoothed out.

Since April Dorny's owner, who had taken a basic hoof course in the meantime, started treating Dornys hooves; in the beginning between the regular appointments, later in rotation with the hoof orthopaedist.
The pictures from 08/30/05 document the condition of the hooves eight weeks after the treatment by the hoof orthopaedist and four weeks after the treatment by the owner; currently Dorny stands 24 hours in moist, soft meadows (right now she doesn't stay in the open stable with its different and intensively abrasive grounds) so that her hooves are becoming longer than usual; this and some minor errors of her owners hoof work caused the hooves to bend more again in the bottom area.
The hoof orthopaedist realized this on her regular appointments and was able to treat against these developments so that no further damage arose.
All in all, one can say that Dorny, in spite of her age and health, is very able to walk without crutches. The situation of the hooves has improved very much, as compared to her condition with horse shoes. The uncomfortable and unhealthy hyperextension position has changed to a relaxed and nearly unbroken hoof-pastern axis. The white line is intact. The heel bulbs have lost their pointed, squeezed form. The thrush has disappeared. Underrun, broken heels and quarters belong to the past.