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RE: [RC] to shoe or not... - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.


The one thing that's really making a big difference with some of my horses
is an idea that Pete Ramey suggested, a loose pea gravel loafing area to
toughen feet, particularly feet that are soft because of seasonal moisture.
One of my clients hopped on the idea and I'm seeing great feet in just a
few
weeks. The pea gravel really massages and toughens the sole.

However, I would be careful with pea gravel in horses with *really* soft
soles.  After the wet winter, I'm treating a lot more solar abscesses, and
even a small rock seems to be sufficient to cause a bruise and subsequent
abscess in *some* horses.  I have one horse in my practice with very thin
soles on pea gravel that was just miserable until we put him onto shavings.

I don't have any objection to using pea gravel, just be vigilant in causing
ouchiness until the feet do have a chance to toughen up.  And, I probably
wouldn't advise using it in laminitic horses until well past the acute
stage.

JMO.

Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS



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Replies
RE: [RC] to shoe or not..., Linda Cowles