Hoof Repair

Due to the destruction of the hoof walls, it's impossible to put nails into these hooves. To complete shoeing without nails, and the reconstruction of the horse's feet, two distinct stages must be completed:

• adhering the shoe to the foot
  
• rebuilding the hoof wall
  

Because the product is so fast-setting, practice and familiarity are an advantage - there's a need to move swiftly and smoothly.

When one hoof is being rebuilt, the horse has to stand on the other foot for an extended period. If there is a marked difference in the severity of the condition, I prefer to work on the worst of the two hooves first. This is one way of alleviating the discomfort the horse is feeling.

The shoe now has to be held in place, firmly pressed against the hoof, for four minutes. During this time, the horse must not put his foot on the ground. This is one of the areas where the written theory can be challenged by the on-the-job practical. (see notes below about sedating a horse.)

Note to those lab guys: Why don't they include a cheap alarm clock or a big, old-fashioned (plastic) eggtimer in the kit. If you're holding up the hoof, it's difficult to consult your watch. I usually take along the kitchen clock - and Josephine knows the routine well!

Remember, those clips are 50mm high - nearly three times the normal height - and the white line disease had invaded even beyond that.

Once that had set, I applied Adhere to the hoof, all across the area where

Another 10 minutes or so for that to dry - this time with the foot on the ground.

File off the excess Adhere, and the hoof repair on the first foot is completed.

Same process for the second foot. This time round, Rolex was getting fretty, and José administered a sedative. We're in agreement that we want to achieve the hoof repair - or any other job we're working on - with the least distress to the horse. An analgesic/sedative helps the horse to get through an unpleasant time with minimal discomfort. I don't believe in using a twitch - why cause pain on top of the pain the horse is already feeling?

If a horse has suffered a painful complaint for some time - as did Rolex with the white line disease - he begins to anticipate the pain, and to react to that anticipation. A horse is a living creature with feelings and intelligence. He's also a powerful animal. We want to get the work done with his co-operation - as much as is possible. If a horse this size decides that he's had enough, and he is going to put his foot on the ground, it takes more than José and myself to withstand him.

This is one of the areas where a sympathetic vet can assess the horse's temperament, allow for external circumstances, and administer the appropriate amount of sedative. Result: the horse is comfortable, and the farrier can continue his work.

The initial case of white line disease in Rolex's feet was severe. There was hoof damage, and the situation was intensified by the sheer weight of this horse.

Rolex has whiteline disease in his hind hooves as well. José and I are in agreement that the front hooves demanded treatment first. For now we're simply containing the white line disease in the hind feet and we'll be addressing that situation as soon as possible.

This is page 6 of the pages on treating white line disease in horses, and hoof repair and reconstruction in co-operation with farrier and vet.