PISTOL - THE LITTLE HORSE WHO DID (Page 4)
Lane used Boa Boots on the front feet with full pads to support the soles. Later Epic Boots were also used. Lane tried a real variety of pads/support. For hours some days he simply watched Pistol move - watched the mechanics - watched and studied!
Variety of ‘Supports’
Boots with Socks
What a Mess!
May 20th - The front left hoof began to abscess and the soles on both front feet continued to bulge or drop. We used poultices on his feet to draw out the poison. We used natural ones with comfry and flax seed; we also used commercial equine ones. Pistol abscessed only once around the coronary band, which healed very quickly. The soles were where he was abscessing and draining!
By June 15th the front right hoof was also abscessing so we continued with the poultices, pads and hoof boots as well as soaking with Epsom Salts.
It is important to note that: What to do and how to do, how much to do and why to do things with a laminitic horse are ‘educated’ judgment calls. When Pistol first arrived we walked him and stood him in the ice cold creek. Then we had him in a large paddock with plenty of grass hay and fresh water, where he would have to walk from the hay to the water. He laid down a lot. We were able to tend to his hooves whilst he was lying down – he was a very co-operative patient! When he worsened with the coffin bone exposures, we stabled him because he wasn’t moving much anyways. We also felt we had to cover the soles because of the abscessing – if infection ever entered here and got into his bones – he would be finished.
Soaking Feet
Cooperative Patient
Coffin Bone Exposed
Pistol was on small doses of Banamine for the pain until one day Lane decided to stop the pain killers altogether (after reading lots of information by Jackson and others). Pistol needed ‘detoxing’! He was on straight hay and water. We added beet pulp and finally we put Pistol on a Premium ‘Nature’s Blend’ of Equine Mineral Supplement. The beet pulp helped him with his weight (he had lost a lot through all of his ordeal). The grass hay we had tested for ‘sugar content’ and it was low. The mineral included much recommended doses of Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese, and many other ‘natural’ ingredients. We are certain that this menu was beneficial for Pistol’s overall health and certainly has helped in the overall well being and his hoof recovery. Also, with operating the guest ranch, there are always horses coming and going in the barn and surrounding pastures. Pistol had lots of equine company and he was always delighted when mares were close by!
June and July the front hooves were still open and draining and the smell was pretty ghastly! Pistol could move slowly with boots and pads. By August the new growth on his hind feet was down 1 ½ inches. He was shedding his back soles but fortunately they could still support his weight very well. Founder and the movement that goes with it is often hard on the muscles and we massaged and rubbed him down a lot with apple cider vinegar (with positive results). Pistol had/has MUCH SUPPORT both local and International!
Susan from Ireland - Massaging Pistol
Helping hands from Holland -- Sakia in Red
