The day after being deshod.

Why can't we just buy a horse that doesn't have issues from the start? OK, so, I know these animals are in need of great care too. Mouse arrived on the place seemingly sound. How ever, after almost a month, he is still lame on his front feet. We had him deshod yesterday, because I had several suspicions.

Firstly,

1. He walks in a boxy diagram. Always turning on the forehand and never picks up his front feet or crosses over unless he's forced to, and only if he's in-hand. When he moves forward or covers ground in a straight line, he never shows signs of lameness. And he only shows stress turning, to the right.
2. He shows signs of thrush.
3. Frog is extremely soft and spongy.
4. Sole is harder, but chalky.
5. Has a hint of wall separation.
6. The frog area has a foul smell.

Having let him settle in, and now, which I think has been is long enough for him to show signs of getting better, it's time to start an aggressive approach to finding out the problem. I made a vet appointment for next Saturday. We went to Tractor Supply today. I picked up a couple of products to combat the thrush. Having had the shoes removed, it'll be easier to care for the problem areas.

Hoof pick with plastic bristols, Small wire brush, Hoofles Thrush medicine and Hoof Heal Protectant.

The first view is of the dirty foot.

Second: is after cleaning and drying the area.

Third: after applying the thrush medicine and painting on the hoof protection.

When the job was done from underneath, I applied a protective moisture coating around the coronary band and heel bulb. I'll repeat this twice a day until I take him to the vet next week.