Horse feet

[Mo]

At the moment I am 'doing' my daughters horses - bringing them in every morning and letting them out at lunch time.

When do other people stop this - how long does the laminitis season last?

This morning one of the hoof-shaped lumps of mud had a layer of stuff (hoof?) in it. From the sole (I googled anatomy). They are trimmed not shod.
Does this happen often and should I worry. Neither seemed to be limping.

[Grannyof4]

How long is a piece of string? It all depends on the grass. In my 50+ yrs of being horsey, they can go down with laminitis in October. One of the checks for anything going off in the foot is to feel the top of the hoof for any sign of heat. Bringing in off the grass from am to lunch may be enough to keep it at bay but it is very difficult to advise when not knowing the animal/s. Some people seem to think that putting the pony out at night will mean it doesn't eat as much....not true. When I had my livery yard I used to work with my Vet and take on any serious cases. I used to have a starvation paddock (hardly any grass) so it meant the animal could be out and not confined. Bits will flake off the sole. It is a nightmare problem. In bad cases as much as only an hours grass can cause a flare up. People don't realise it can be a killer. If the pedal bone starts to rotate that can be the end. There is treatment for this but very expensive. Special shoes can be fitted and a hoof resection done.

[Mo]

So is bits flaking off the sole always a sign of a problem?

[Grannyof4]

No...have replied to you.

[Mo]

Well, I've just done something new.
Thought I was just volunteering for routine bring them in, let them out, muck out, do food & water. And that someone else would be actually looking after them though obviously I'd notice if anything major was wrong.
No-one told me I have to touch their hooves.

So I went out and felt their feet. Couldn't feel any heat.

Thanks granny.

[Grannyof4]

Keeping you out of mischief. The farrier would also know when he trims the feet(usually about every 6-8 weeks) if there was any sign of laminitis....they sound fine.

[sandy]

My goodness you learn something new everyday! Never knew being in a field upset horses feet. Know about farriers though OMG the smell of them