Hi! My mare is 27 years old and her front left knee is 100% fused. As a result of her fused knee and cannot bend it to walk so she mostly pulls the leg through the shoulder. She doesn’t get great ground clearance with her way of walking and so her toe is very short. In the winter time her hoof is normally only 3 inches long. The farrier is worried that if she drags the toe any more she will hit bone and then we will have a much bigger problem. I just started turning her out in a barrier boot but I am terrified she is going to trip with the added length to her foot. I’m reallt just looking for anything I can do to maybe take some swelling out of her knobby knee so she can move a little more or maybe another way to keep the toe from being dragged. I’m sure there’s no miracle out there to help with a fused knee but if there is I’d like to hear about it!! She’s currently taking Previcox and Cosequin and is obviously never ridden I just want to keep her happy and pasture sound. Thanks for any ideas!
I hate to say it, but sometimes euth is the kindest thing for these horses. With a knee that won’t bend, the risk of a catastrophic trip increases a lot 
Swelling or not, of the joints are fused, there isn’t any bending.
What about a shoe that has a toe clip? That will prevent a lot of wear on her actual hoof.
A toe clip was an option but since she can’t bend the knee the farrier thought she’d probably have to be sedated to put it on. I can’t think about euth yet she’s happy and healthy and eating and galloping around the field with the herd still I couldn’t bring myself to do it
There are ways to pull the foot forward and screw (yes, screws!) a shoe on 
If that isn’t going to happen, you’d be surprised how far back a straight leg can go to expose the sole of the foot to get a shoe nailed on.
A fused joint means the leg CANNOT bend, so I don’t know why the farrier would think that sedation would help 
He needs to think outside the box
That’s not a bad idea! She really gets along great I’m just so worried about her dragging that toe down to the bone. Do you think that being out 24/7 would be better for her? I don’t exactly understand fusing so would being out keep her more comfortable like a horse with arthritis or with a fuse does it not matter cause they essentially can’t feel it?
It’s definitely something to consider that she could wear that toe too short.
This isn’t about feeling. It’s about movement. A fused knee has little to no bend. That’s why she has to swing the leg from the shoulder, which mean to no ground clearance, depending on the shoulder conformation.
Maybe the farrier thinks the mare will need to be laid down to be shod?
What boots are you using, Kparton? I wonder if something that fits slim like the easy boot glove would be less of a trip hazard (and if you’d even be able to get it on?)
Oh! JB–you would know better than I would. Could casting work here??
Does she wear her hoof more in the winter because of the hard ground? Or is her movement compromised even more than “normal” by other joints that get stiff and sore in the cold? If the latter, keeping her warmer and on something to help her joints work as well as they can might help. Adequan or Legend? Pentosan? MSM?
Do consider what it will be like, though, if you’re not able to solve this problem and she does wear her foot too far. That’s a pretty grim way to go It’s awesome that you’re trying so hard to find a solution, but if you can’t, it would be better to put her down on a sunny day with a bucket of carrots than wait until the worst happens. :sadsmile:
At 27 year old i’d be inclined to let her go before winter got to bad. Only a matter of time and she’ll have a tragic accident,do to leg not being able to bend. Better a day too soon then a day too late. Spare her the fear and pain, give her a few good days then let he pass on peacefully.
