Can I just say that 2007 has not been my favorite year.  Without belly-aching about the events of life that make me say that, let me share why I am posting.  After being around horses for 30 something years I have been blessed with pretty healthy horses.  A few issues over time and some things to deal with that were not fun.  Then came this past Saturday.  Saturday was farrier day.  No biggie... a few trims and schedule for the next.  Granted, I have been out of town for a few weeks and my husband failed to mention that my mare was showing signs of being a little off the day before.  So as I watch her walk up for breakfast I see that she is not her normal self in her walk.  But I've seen way worse.  So we trot her out and check her over, nothing stands out as a major issue... give her a few days of rest and keep an eye on her.

My gelding was 1st up for a trim and he acts like it was his first time ever.  Just not being himself.  Long story short, huge hoof wall separation in left rear.  The entire toe area has about an 1/8" or so gap from the wall to the rest of the hoof deep enough to insert most of the hoof pick.  Not good!  No signs of issue before I left 2 weeks prior.  I'm not a happy horse mom!!!

Then my mare's up for her trim.  I guess the farrier decided she needed a hoof wall separation (just joking) so he slips and quicks her and she bleeds.  Well guess what, now she is really lame.  Poor thing.  I have never had that happen.  This farrier has been working with my horses for a long time and I know it was just an honest mistake.  He felt horrible.  So now I have to wait until her tender hoof heals to see if there is still a slight lameness going on else where.  Let me tell you this mare likes to be babied when she hurts and she is milking this one.  Thank goodness she is a mare & not my 2 year old daughter.

So I talk to the vet today and she says possible whiteline.  So I now have to take my horse to the clinic.  Radiographs and possible cutting off the hoof wall, depending on what they find.  Can I tell you I am not looking forward to this!!!

Anyone have to go thru this hoof wall reduction thing?  It sounds painful and gross.  I'm wondering if I should run tomorrow and get rubber mats for his stall (currently just earth) to help with keeping things clean if need be?  I just hope stall rest is not in my future.  But whatever needs to be done will be.

I dealt with white line once in a boarder's horse.  I'm sorry to say, it took YEARS to get under control.  The vet would dig out the hoof wall and repack it with an epoxy of some kind (can't remember all the details, this is 8 years ago), the horse would be fine for a few months, then go off again.  The problem really only went away when she moved her horse-not because she was receving bad care (the care could honestly not have been better), but the soil at that facility was just not good for this horse, I think.  I have heard that there are bacteria that live in the soil that contribute to white line. I hope it will all go well at the vets-good luck!

ps...try a mixture of venice turpentine, betadine, and pine tar painted on the bottom of your mare's feet to toughen them up more quickly.

I had a similar problem this summer with my mare...first time for me too.   I bought a new easy boot, the one with the strap that goes around the pastern...do NOT try the old kind as they dont stay on and there is an inside screw that is not friendly.    Anyway, I put the boot on her for the daytime ....can't leave it on 24/7...took it off at nite and stalled her.    She just got her first set of all around shoes in months and is now doing fine, finally!  

Guess I should also note that she had 2 abscesses during this time so I had to do the routine for that, bute, soaks, packing, etc.  and I did upgrade to the best possible farrier during this time.   He wants my mare for 3 more shoeings until he releases her to my regular farrier...who does a good job but get a nail too high one day. 

good luck!

Only the resections where they take the hoof wall all the way to the coronary are painful for the horse.  The others just look nasty.

You need to be investing in Coppertox and cleaning those feet every day.  (Treat both horses to be safe.)  Fighting a fungus is the toughest thing you'll possibly ever do with this horse, adding a feed supplement for hooves might help from a nutrition standpoint, ask your farrier.

The quick-ed horse just needs some Venice turpentine brushed on the soles and in a few days she'll be right as rain.

Update... due to my schedule/work demands and coordinating vet/farrier... we finally went to the vet's place today for the hoofwall separation issue w/ my gelding.  It is 'WLD'.  The R-hind was pretty bad off.  Majority of the hoofwall was removed all the way up to the c-band.  The L-hind had it too but not as bad.  Thank goodness he is not showing signs of lameness as of today.  So he is sporting his 1st set of shoes in the rear.  He did great w/ a little help from some ace :).  Anyhow, now it will be a long, slow ride down recovery lane.  I will have to say I was shocked at the price of just the farrier bill.  $150 for 2 pair of shoes & some cutting on the hoof wall, and did I mention I hauled 30 minutes to meet him.  Ouch!  But no complaints cause he did a great job & was very knowledgeable.  Positive note, the farrier was impressed with the amount/thinkness of his hoofwalls.  Other positive note, I think, I'm finally being forced into making the time to finish the flooring in my barn and install rubber mats.

By the way, thanks for the info everyone...

I've seen farrier bills over $1000 for a PAIR of shoes, not a full set of 4.  You are lucky to be out just $150.

How are you treating the remaining hooves?