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Discussion on Coronary Band Peeling Away from Hoof?
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 8:05 am:
Hi all,
One of the horses at the barn last night had a weird thing I haven't seen before: It looked like the coronary band was peeling away from the hoof on both back feet. At first, I thought it was mud stuck in the fringe of hair that grows over the very top of the hoof, but when we rinsed it off, it was clear that wasn't what it was. It almost looked like a plastic fringe and felt like that too. The horse did not appear to be lame and there was no tenderness when I played with the "fringe". The light wasn't good, but from what I could see, everything else around these two feet seemed to be OK.
We have had abysmal conditions lately - it's been warmer than normal and the ground has not frozen. The horses are standing more than ankle deep in mud and have been for weeks. Not sure if this has anything to do with it.
We kept the horse in last night to give his feet and legs a chance to dry.
Anyone have any ideas what this might be? Should we be concerned?
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 8:38 am:
Hi Fran, my horses get that also in wet conditions and I think it is quite normal. I hope it is anyway It never seems to bother them and goes away when it dries up.
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 9:25 am:
Fran, this happens to my horses too, mostly in wet conditions. It's never bothered them either!
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Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 - 11:08 pm:
Fran,
I saw the same thing and called my vet in a panic...we have just moved to a new climate and his response was an amused but reassuring statement that this happens in this climate, to his own horses too, and that there is no cause for concern unless the hoof starts to split or the condition becomes severe.
Hope this helps.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Friday, Dec 15, 2006 - 7:56 am:
Thanks, ladies for your responses. It's kind of weird - this is not the first time the horses have been exposed to a lengthy period of wet conditions (I live in Michigan, afterall!), but it is the first time I've seen this, but it was only on the one horse. Had it been my horse, I probably would have freaked out and called the vet, but I was able to keep a cooler head and come right here to HA where I knew I'd get good info.
Thanks so much!
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Friday, Dec 15, 2006 - 12:25 pm:
Wow I have been in a tiz 'cause the same thing is happening to old Chippewa poor old soul if it is not one thing is the other.
It has been raining here solid for three weeks but I feel more at ease now.
Dr. O can you give us any thoughts on this?
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Friday, Dec 15, 2006 - 10:54 pm:
When the coronets are constantly wet, they get soft and translucent . . . and start to lift away from the hoof. Think about your hand soaking in water for an hour . . . and how the skin changes and softens . . . same here. If we trimmed the cuticles of horses, this would be the time to do it.
Notice the same thing happen when you have to bandage a horse's hoof due to injury.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 - 7:44 am:
Liliana, everyone above has it right: this is the appearance of the coronet when soaked through. This horn has not properly hardened yet and is susceptible to excessive moisture. As a rare event the foot tolerates this quite well but when it happens repeatedly the hoof wall dries out and becomes weakened. During such conditions we recommend hoof protectors (not moisturizers) as described in the article Care of the Hoof: an Overview.
DrO
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 - 2:34 pm:
Thank you very much Dr.O I read the article as always invaluable and now I have prepared a run in shelter with shavings bed.
The poor thing, being a TB he just cannot cope with heavy heather changes. The rest of the guys had no problem but Prince Chippewa…They are sooo delicate
Thanks again
Liliana
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 - 7:49 pm:
DrO, thanks for weighing in on this. I'm thinking it might be wise to by some protector, as you recommend to prevent this from happening to the other horses as well.
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